John Collins is finding himself in a significant position within the Los Angeles Clippers’ system as a result of Ivica Zubac’s injury, which is keeping the starting center out until at least January. Without Zubac, the priority is for the Los Angeles Clippers to figure out who they are on the frontcourt. Collins is an instant solution in this new look, and rather than being used primarily to space the floor and give his teammates opportunities, Collins is now seeing touches and playing minutes at the five and being allowed to freelance on offense in ways that he had not been at the beginning of this season and at the end of last season. Collins’ athleticism allows him now to offer something different for his new franchise.
The John Collins Effect
On offense, the bigger workload has revealed parts of Collins’ arsenal that had been underutilized before. He has been more featured in the pick and roll, in transition, and spotting up for shots when the defense collapses on the Clippers’ star players like James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Without the presence of Zubac in the painted area, there has been more spacing in the lineup, which has enabled Collins to enjoy better freedom to move in the painted area. His ability to shoot has also taken league big men out of their comfort zones in defending him.
On the defensive end, Collins’ role has expanded as well. He may not have Zubac’s ability to protect the rim, but Collins offers improvement in terms of athleticism, hustle, and versatility. The Clippers have increasingly featured Collins in schemes that involve hedging and recovering, and they trust him to make defensive stops in space. Additionally, Collins’ contributions can be considered essential to securing rebounds, as Los Angeles lacks traditional bulk to anchor them. There are still adjusting periods, but Collins has brought energy to a seemingly depleted frontcourt. Looking forward, this may be the start of something major for Collins' future role within the Clippers organization, even after the return of Zubac. If Collins can continue his success, they very well could find an ideal rotation. The play of Collins during this stretch of play is not only important for filling a void, but also for demonstrating that Collins can positively contribute to an overall rotation. Collins has seen an opportunity due to an injury and is taking it. He has established himself as an important factor within their rotation.