Blazers: 5 goals for Zach Collins to achieve in the 2018-2019 season

5 of 6

PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 17: Zach Collins #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Run in transition more

The Blazers ranked dead last in transition points per game last year despite recording more steals than four other teams. Outside of the guards and Evan Turner, no player felt comfortable taking the ball up the court, so they would wait until a safe outlet pass became available.

Collins shouldn’t solve this problem by improving his ball handling skills, though. As a power forward in the modern NBA, he won’t be in the paint for a majority of the opponent’s shot attempts. Instead, rebounding responsibilities will fall on the reserve center (Swanigan or Meyers Leonard).

His role in improving Portland’s transition scoring, therefore, is to run the floor when a teammate corrals the rebound. As a lanky seven-footer, Collins can catch his power forward matchup off guard and outpace him down to the other basket.

It will then be up to the rebounder to see the full-court pass opportunity and connect with Collins like a quarterback would with a receiver. Collins then gathers the pass and throws down an uncontested dunk, the easiest two points a team can create.