Jason Collins' Troubles

[Henacy]

Jason Collins' play recently has hit an all-time low even by his standards. The play of Collins or lack there of...is having a direct impact on the Nets winning (or in the case of their 9 game losing streak) and losing games. If you take a look at the Nets play with Collins at the starting power forward position you can easy see the difference between them and their given opponents on that night. Now, we all Know Collins was never the greatest finisher around the basket. But now he cant even make his 5-10 foot jumpshot. And has become a serious liablity on offense.

The Nets in alot of circumstances are playing 4 offensive players against an opponents 5 on defense. That is horrible for a team that doesnt have much offense to began with..Not having to even think about guarding Collins is allowing defenses to take away things from other guys like sending double teams sometimes even 3 guys toward Jefferson. You always see Collins man rotating away from him to become a help defender against another Net. Anyway here is the noticable difference between the Nets and their opponents at the starting power forward spot.


Vs. Wizards...Jason Collins 5pts/Antwan Jamison 27pts.....Wizards starting powerforward edge +22...Margin of Wizards game victory- 11pts.

Vs. Nuggets....Jason Collins 0pts/Kenyon Martin 22pts....Nuggets starting Powerforward edge +22....Margin of Nuggets game victory- 2pts.

Vs. Clippers....Jason Collins 2pts/Elton Brand 17pts...Clippers starting Power forward edge +15...Margin of Clippers game victory- 13pts

Vs. Portland...Jason Collins 3pts/Zach Randolph 23pts...Blazers starting Power Forward edge +20...Margin of Portland game victory-12pts

...Now I hate to just point out one player for losses. But a team giving up plus 20 almost every game, just does not allow a team to be competive. I dont want to speculate what is exactly the reason JC is struggling. People are making alot of excuses, specifically commentators during the game. I know Collins had an ankle injury early in the season. And maybe that still having an affect. Also Collins made the switch to the power foward spot, which is more talented then the Center postion nowadays. But really their is no excuse that can cover up these type of performances we are seeing from Collins.

It seems to me that Collins started the season with motivation of the Nets holding a future contract over his held. And once he got that long term payday 4 years averaging out to about 6 million per year, he no longer has anything to prove. He already got his cash. I think the Nets paying Collins was an extremely poor decision. But anyway something has to be done to make up these type of difference we are seeing in Power Forward output between the Nets & their opponents.

I think we should bench Collins for a few games, just to send a message to him that his performance just isnt cutting. Sometimes it takes a strong shot of a player loosing his spot in the lineup or rotation for them to get the Message. Right now Iam willing to role the dice and go with Brain Scalabrine, Nenad Kristic and never used Aaron Williams to go along with Zo, in our bigman rotation with Collins benched for a few games.

Maybe, the Nets can even activate Jabari Smith from IR, to see what he can bring to the table. He filled in pretty solid, when Webber was out last season in Sac-town. I would like to see what he can possibly bring to the table.

Anyway what do you guys thing of the Nets frontcourt troubles and Jason Collins as well?

 

[Mr. J]

I'm not going to badger Collins too much because he was playing elite big men in the league. You can't really blame him. I do think Collins isn't good and the Nets did really overpay him for someone who does not too much on the court. But, untill they play worse players I don't think that I can make a proper judgement on him.

 

[Henacy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not going to badger Collins too much because he was playing elite big men in the league. You can't really blame him. I do think Collins isn't good and the Nets did really overpay him for someone who does not too much on the court. But, untill they play worse players I don't think that I can make a proper judgement on him.</div>

I understand he was playing the elite, so I agree with you we must cut him some slack. I am not asking him to match any of those players out put, that would just be crazy of me..Iam not even asking him to come close to matching their production. Iam just asking for more production then consistent outputs of 2 or 3pts at best. I dont care what level of competion you are playing against..if you are a starter in this league there is no way that output is exceptable imo.

 

[Mr. J]

Ooo. I had know idea Collins was averaging so low. I thought he was putting up like his usual 6 and 5. You know I thought Collins at the 4 would be really beneficial for him. He will mostly be going against smaller opponenets. But, there is more talent at that position. I do agree with you that Collins should be averaging way better numbers starting. I also agree with you about benching sending a message however, I don't think that it will affect Collins at all. Collins to me seem to be the kind of person that doesn't care about anything once he cops his cash. I also thought very differently of what he did to TT in the playoffs. He seemed liked he didn't care. I'm not at all the biggest TT fan but, I really think that what Collins did is right. But, getting back on topic, Collins I think could be something special if he worked on his game. I don't know his work ethic but, he doesn't seem to be that kind of a person who will put in that extra hour after practice working on his game. Thus his game is be affected by this. Btw, do you know if his brother is even better than him?

 

[Henacy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ooo. I had know idea Collins was averaging so low. I thought he was putting up like his usual 6 and 5. You know I thought Collins at the 4 would be really beneficial for him. He will mostly be going against smaller opponenets. But, there is more talent at that position. I do agree with you that Collins should be averaging way better numbers starting.</div>

Yeah, I figured moving to the poer forward would lead to an upgrade in his performance as well. Collins always had a power forward style to his game, standing out on the perimeter taking alot of mid-range jumpers like alot of todays traditional power forwards do ie Kurt Thomas. But I guess we were wrong, playing the Center spot had nothing to do with his struggles all these years. I just dont think that he is fit to be a starter at this level of basketball.



<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> I also agree with you about benching sending a message however, I don't think that it will affect Collins at all. Collins to me seem to be the kind of person that doesn't care about anything once he cops his cash. I also thought very differently of what he did to TT in the playoffs. He seemed liked he didn't care. I'm not at all the biggest TT fan but, I really think that what Collins did is right. </div>

I think Collins has reached out to Tim Thomas to express his feelings. But Thomas would have none of it, mainly because he still holds a grudge against Kenyon Martin. Martin said alot of stuff about, they went back & forth in the papers alot this year. And Thomas still associates K-Mart with this group of Nets. So he is still holding grudges against all of them



<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> But, getting back on topic, Collins I think could be something special if he worked on his game. I don't know his work ethic but, he doesn't seem to be that kind of a person who will put in that extra hour after practice working on his game. Thus his game is be affected by this. Btw, do you know if his brother is even better than him?</div>

I dont know about his practice work ethic. I know that people have praised him in the past for his willinginess to do the dirty work. And I just dont see it the same way they do.

As far as Jaren Collins goes, he was just about the same as Jason except a better finisher around the basket. And they put up about the same # with Jarron playing alot less minutes in Utah last year then Jason did here. This year I think his role has gotten reduced even more with the pressence of Boozer now in Utah.