Nuggets gifted Clippers the blueprint on how to maximize John Collins in shocking way

Although the LA Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the postseason in a disastrous fashion, the majority of the series went surprisingly well. Head coach Tyronn Lue prepared for Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić, and the pre-planning worked, as neither player exploded to the point where LA had no answer for them.

Conversely, Aaron Gordon is someone about whom there was not enough information in the scouting report. In seven games, Gordon shot 51.6% from the field and averaged 18.9 points with 5.7 rebounds, making LA wish they could rewind time to analyze his regular-season film.

Most teams in the Clippers' position would simply learn from their mistakes, and when they face the Nuggets in the future, they would know that Gordon is someone who deserves star-level pre-planning.

However, Lawrence Frank and the Clippers observed the benefits Gordon brought to the Nuggets this season, as well as during their championship run in 2023, and subsequently added John Collins, who is similar in multiple ways.

Tyronn Lue already knows how to use John Collins through the Clippers’ series loss to the Nuggets

Given that Aaron Gordon was the x-factor for the Denver Nuggets in their win against the LA Clippers in round one and their seven-game series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in round two, Tyronn Lue can use the notes he put together on stopping the former NBA champion to maximize John Collins.

This only works because, according to the NBA’s website, they are only nine pounds and one inch apart, with the height difference favoring Collins. Their wingspans are also neck and neck.

Granted, Gordon brings his strengths, which are primarily finishing around the rim and defense, while Collins brings his ability to score both inside and outside the paint. On the other hand, both are great rebounders who had close to identical vertical jumps measured in their draft combines.

Moreover, during training camp days ago, Lue commented on Collins in transition, noting that he tends to look for mismatches against smaller guards to score, and compared it to Gordon, whom he also sees doing the same for the Nuggets. In fact, Lue may have only drawn this comparison because he saw Gordon do it throughout seven games in a row.

That said, Collins’ career year is expected to take off this season, and he is being coached in the perfect system, with Lue knowing exactly where to get him involved and what to do, especially during transition possessions.