06-12-2021, 05:14 PM
(06-12-2021, 11:56 AM)vfromlmf Wrote: Revisiting this post-playoffs.
3. Collins is an upgrade to Maxi on offense but Maxi is a more versatile defender. But what strikes me most about watching the Hawks vs Sixers, is Collins occupies the exact role Carlisle envisioned for KP vs the Clippers. Neither player is a primary initiator or playmaker, neither is the primary screener, and neither player anchors the defense. This would seem to make them redundant. Or you're going to have to ask one of them to change their game.
4. KP can play center against some teams, but clearly not all teams. And I certainly don't think Collins and KP will be any better defensively than Kleber and KP.
5. Valid point but in the modern NBA KP and Collins are both finishers who will get their points off Luka or the occasional offensive rebound. I don't think either player is a guy you want to run a modern offense through.
7. Eh, I don't think so. Collins is a very good, efficient player who arguably does what the Mavs want KP to do, (only he does it better than KP does). He'll get you 20 in the playoffs and find ways to impact the game. But I just think the real stars in today's NBA are guys you can throw it to, and they'll get you a bucket or an open three for a teammate. I just don't see Collins as that guy. I think Collins is an ELITE third guy who will put up efficient numbers.
Most importantly, it's clear from these playoffs the Mavs don't need another guy who will stand in the corner looking for threes or get a few garbage buckets off of offensive rebounds. The Mavs need serious interior defensive help and they need a dynamic secondary creator. Unfortunately, Collins offers neither.
Boy a lot has changed in a month. I differ with you on a few things, though not on your base premise that KP and Collins are not an attractive pairing. KP's lack or rim protection may have crushed that dream. The question we are faced with now is who can you pair with KP? If he can't protect the rim or the perimeter there is no PF who can make both of those things OK. That is the true unicorn here, because that player truly doesn't exist. The question is whether you pass on an opportunity for Collins because KP went bad on you. Or, do you go get a more offensively diverse player and relegate KP to just the things he can actually do (or clean him up to sell when the market for used KP's gets better).
Collins is much more offensively diverse than KP. He is Powell-like when asked to PnR as the roll man. He can also PnPop and is in the 89th percentile in 3% ATB and 85th percentile overall from 3. He can play in isolation, 85th percentile for isolation EFG%. He can post up, 86th percentile in frequency and 92nd percentile in Post Up Impact. He is a multi level scorer as a big man. We just don't know it because he doesn't get that many opportunities in Atlanta. His rebounding and interior D are decent, but I wouldn't call him a rim protector. In fact, his Rim Deterrence is in the 37th percentile. So, you need a specific type of big next to him (he and Myles Turner would be terrific).
IF (capitalized for emphasis) there is a world in which Atlanta won't pay up for Collins (and there might be). I think I go get him and figure out what to do with KP later.