To say the LA Clippers had much higher hopes for John Collins than a sub-par 11.7 points per game is one-hundred percent valid. He was supposed to be a proven veteran scorer who would be of tremendous help to James Harden, yet there are insufficiencies in how many shots he puts up, which Tyronn Lue needs to fix before the front office makes a decision that there is no coming back from.
The 4.2 fewer attempts he is taking this season than last may not seem like a huge difference, but when examining the number under a microscope, that is a significant amount of points left off the board that Lue can help increase.
If Lue is just expecting Collins to score in a system that does not have a place for him, Lawrence Frank may get the impression that fit is the issue. This will result in a trade, as fans know best, that when Frank’s mind is made up, the odds of it changing are slim to none.
Tyronn Lue needs to operate around John Collins’ weaknesses to evolve his game
The LA Clippers have made losing a habit because James Harden is forced to lead a one-man show. Though he is playing well, the details are not checked out, as a three-level scorer in John Collins is one of his teammates in the starting five.
Tyronn Lue and the eye test can attest to why Collins is barely shooting the ball. He is efficient at 50.4% from the floor, yet his handle is weak. Therefore, if the championship head coach aims to reduce turnovers, he cannot let the Wake Forest product, who is third on the team in turnovers per game, dribble the ball in isolation.
However, the art of being limited in basketball means a route to maneuver may be present. In Collins’ case, it involves his teammates more than him.
Defenses that play the help can have players ignore their assignment to surround Collins, knowing his hands and eyes are not in sync. Ultimately, all an opponent needs is one clean poke, and the ball is loose.
Thus, spacing is the issue. The easy and only fix is to pair his minutes with Brook Lopez and ensure that three-point shooting is a strength for every player around Collins on the court.
That said, 14 games have not unleashed Collins, but a low-effort remedy will, portraying him as deserving of a second chance before he is discussed in trade talks with the Clippers to improve his reputation on the court.