Zach Collins: MIP?

[ABM]

https://ripcityproject.com/2019/07/21/portland-trail-blazers-zach-collins-win-improved-player-award/

Portland Trail Blazers: Can Zach Collins win Most Improved Player?

In a year where the Portland Trail Blazers will be relying heavily on production from the young talent, Zach Collins will have his chance to shine.

Zach Collins is heading into an offseason where an increased role should be expected with Jusuf Nurkic’s injury, the departure of Enes Kanter and the lack of offensive ability from Hassan Whiteside. Don’t be surprised if Collins thrives under his new featured role on the Portland Trail Blazers.

His ability to space the floor with a polished mid-range game and a 3-point shot that seems to be improving on a nightly basis will make him the obvious choice for Terry Stotts to start him at either the power forward or center position in various flexibility lineups.

An uptick in his role with the team would come with a vast increase in minutes, which could lead to Collins’ name being called at next year’s NBA awards ceremony as recipient for the Most Improved Player award.

Collins’ ability to defend at the rim as well as the energy he brings every night could play a major role in all of this coming together. Collins averaged nearly a block a game in under eighteen minutes a night which excites me and helps to believe that he could potentially be a top-five shot blocker throughout the entire league next year.

Also with Collins being so reliable from the free throw line — shooting it at nearly 75 percent — it’ll make him a tough player to take off the court with how thin the Trail Blazers frontcourt currently sits.

What this mainly comes down to is the minutes. Obviously, increased production comes with an increase in opportunity and Collins is in a perfect system for his play style and is ready to make the leap.

With the intense style of play and an offensive arsenal that continues to grow watch for Collins to end up being a double-double guy this year along with a few blocks a game which would propel into the Most Improved Player conversation at years end.

 

[Mediocre Man]

No.

 

[ripcity67]

Like Zach, but his stats wont stand up to other MIP cadidates. Not enough points to go around on this team for him.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I have always felt that the 3rd season for one-and-done college players is the telling sign for what you have. Not that they won't get better each year after that, but that the first two years are too soon to know for sure. I expect a big jump for Zach this year as well.

I'll gladly take 10 points, 7 or 8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

 

[mook]

It's kind of interesting to see the progress he made from his first to second season.


Went from a 7.5 PER to 13.5 as a result.

If he has a similar leap in performance in his third year, we could have something. With starters minutes and a bigger role, 15ppg isn't impossible based on those numbers.

Unfortunately, he's made no progress in personal fouls per 36min--it was exactly 4.6 in both seasons. I really hope this changes. You look at how Myles Turner drove down his PF's per 36 after his first couple of seasons and there's reason for hope. But Turner's worst season was his first, and was "only" 4.2.

Interestingly, Myles Turner got 2500 minutes in just his second year, compared to 1300 by Zach. I don't think Zach really fouls as much as refs think he does. Hopefully with more minutes he'll get a little more latitude like Turner does.

 

[wizenheimer]

I can't keep track of all the awards Simons and Zach will be collecting next season. Somebody needs to make a spreadsheet

 

[tlongII]

I think it will be Ant.

 

[HailBlazers]

No.

He can't?

 

[SIeepwalker]

I can't keep track of all the awards Simons and Zach will be collecting next season. Somebody needs to make a spreadsheet

I got you

Zach: DPOY
Ant: MIP, MVP, 6MOTY, COTY

 

[Defender]

He'd need to be about 17-7 this year considering that what Siakim did. Given the talent we have on offense he's not going to get the touches to achieve this.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I got you

Zach: DPOY
Ant: MIP, MVP, 6MOTY, COTY

FMVP, too!

 

[James lamphear]

A lot of people think Zach going to score about 14-15 point a game. I see between 10-12 point a game. The reason is if he start he is going play along side Dame and CJ and just like some say the touches is not there. Now if can get 12 and 7-8 rebounds and 2 blocks a came and change shots at the rim to me that will be successful season for Zach. Now if he does more then that then yes he will in the running for MIP and maybe one of the teams all defense.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I can't keep track of all the awards Simons and Zach will be collecting next season. Somebody needs to make a spreadsheet

iT WILL ROLL OUT LIKE A KINGS SCROLL YOU KNOW.

hahaha

 

[SIeepwalker]

FMVP, too!

No, it will be given to Giannis because, even though his team will lose the finals, holding Ant to just 35ppg, 20 below his season average, is a formidable feat.

 

[Mediocre Man]

He can't?

In the same way I can't have sex with Jessica Alba. I technically could, but no, I can't

 

[HailBlazers]

In the same way I can't have sex with Jessica Alba. I technically could, but no, I can't

Is it because you're so low on Zach or because MIP is really hard award to win in general?

 

[wizenheimer]

Is it because you're so low on Zach or because MIP is really hard award to win in general?

he's not thinking about Zach...he's thinking about Jessica Alba....keep up

I mean, it's summer, who would you rather think about:

or:

 

[oldfisherman]

In the same way I can't have sex with Jessica Alba. I technically could, but no, I can't

Then start wearing Nikes, and just do it. Zack wears Nikes, so he can do it.

 

[julius]

He's not a minor, so no he won't get MIP.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Is it because you're so low on Zach or because MIP is really hard award to win in general?

Low on Zach right now

 

[BonesJones]

Low on Zach right now

Right now?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Right now?

He could take a giant leap

 

[Pinwheel1]

. Now if can get 12 and 7-8 rebounds and 2 blocks a came and change shots at the rim to me that will be successful season for Zach. .

I was surprised to see that only 5 players averaged 2 blocks per game last year. And with him also spending a lot of his time on the perimeter guarding stretch 4's if they start him, I doubt Zach can average 2. Whiteside was tied for 6th at 1.9 per game.

And for some of you stats lovers, Whiteside was also listed as #1 in
Defensive Rebound Percentage,
Total Rebound Percentage,
and Defensive Rating.

 

[illmatic99]

Dejounte Murray has this locked up

 

[riverman]

Zach should benefit from practicing against Whiteside ...bit different from Meyers and Biggie,,,,when Zach is better than Ed Davis....he'll get my attention. He is getting better

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I think Zach could win it. He SHOULD benefit from being in the starting line up by being wide open a lot. I think his PPG could easily jump to 15-16ish. Not playing with the bench I think will help him to perform much better and he has shown to be a decent shooter. Also maybe in a better position to get rebounds if whiteside or Nurk are the ones in the PNR.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Like Zach, but his stats wont stand up to other MIP cadidates. Not enough points to go around on this team for him.

5 addition put-backs per game would probably put him over 20ppg.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Then start wearing Nikes, and just do it. Zack wears Nikes, so he can do it.

I'm pretty sure you can get in trouble for that...

 

[mook]

I think Portland will roll out some of their old Aldridge pick-and-pop offense for Collins to get him a few open touches early in the game. Also a lot of the pick and roll action we ran with Nurk. It's an opportunity that was never given to Zach last year, but as teams continue to double Dame and CJ in the post season I think it's going to be important to give Zach more experience making decisions foul line and extended.

Whiteside just isn't the passer Plumlee or Nurkic was, and he's not the "pop" threat that Aldridge was, so I see us using him more as the garbage man under the basket who doesn't get a lot of plays run for him (aka, Robin Lopez). But there just won't be the space near the rim if Zach rolls a lot to the rim.

I bet our offense looks a lot like the Dame/Aldridge/Rolo offense, especially when either Dame or CJ sits. Zach won't get anywhere close to Aldridge's 17 shots/night, but I bet it's a lot more than the 5 shots/night he got last year.

Assuming he can get a handle on his fouling. That's a big if.

 

[ABM]

I think Portland will roll out some of their old Aldridge pick-and-pop offense for Collins to get him a few open touches early in the game. Also a lot of the pick and roll action we ran with Nurk. It's an opportunity that was never given to Zach last year, but as teams continue to double Dame and CJ in the post season I think it's going to be important to give Zach more experience making decisions foul line and extended.

Whiteside just isn't the passer Plumlee or Nurkic was, and he's not the "pop" threat that Aldridge was, so I see us using him more as the garbage man under the basket who doesn't get a lot of plays run for him (aka, Robin Lopez). But there just won't be the space near the rim if Zach rolls a lot to the rim.

I bet our offense looks a lot like the Dame/Aldridge/Rolo offense, especially when either Dame or CJ sits. Zach won't get anywhere close to Aldridge's 17 shots/night, but I bet it's a lot more than the 5 shots/night he got last year.

Assuming he can get a handle on his fouling. That's a big if.

As an aside, barring some type of trade, etc., is it a foregone conclusion that Bazemore will be our starting 3? It'll be interesting to see how he fits into all this new offense.