The Pistons offense needs some more juice next season and that’s why they brought in John Collins. Everyone knows that Collins is a devastating off-ball threat with his 3-point shooting and lob-catching abilities, but it’s his post scoring which could truly unlock another level for the Pistons.
Collins has proven throughout his career that he can attack mismatches in the post, including last season on the Clippers. With his well-rounded scoring arsenal, Collins could be the do-it-all forward that the Pistons have desperately needed to complement their young core.Â
John Collins can be the perfect fit next to Cade Cunningham
The Pistons will likely use Collins a lot in pick-and-rolls since he’s such a great play finisher from the power forward spot. That's a new button to press compared to Tobias Harris, who was a great post scorer but not as much of a play finisher. But a shift in offensive philosophy to take advantage of Collins' talents could also lead to some obvious defensive adjustments, especially in the playoffs.
For one, opposing defenses could simply blitz Cade Cunningham off the pick-and-roll and force the ball out of his hands. Cade has been turnover-prone in the past, but made some strides towards better ball security last season. Defenses will continue to challenge him in the same way all throughout next season and the ensuing playoff series, so he must improve his ball security even more.
Another common tactic to guard a Cunningham-Collins pick-and-roll will be switching. Since Cade is a bigger guard at 6'6", he's often guarded by bigger wings who should be capable of holding their own against Collins too. That's where Collins' post scoring talents need to shine, since he should have plenty of opportunities to back down smaller players after Cade forces a switch.
The Pistons can obviously ask Cade to break down his new slower-footed matchup after a switch too, but giving him a break through other scorers is always a welcome reprieve. If Collins can exploit mismatches to score off switches consistently, that'll be another go-to action for the Pistons and a way to preserve Cade during intense playoff games.
Collins knows exactly what he needs to do
John Collins has always had all the talent in the world since being drafted in 2017 thanks to his incredible athleticism. His highlight reel of poster dunks holds up with the best high flyers in the NBA today. But veteran experience and development have clarified Collins' role and skillset to be more well-rounded heading into his age 29 season.
After seeing the impact that Tobias Harris had in Detroit the past two seasons, Collins should have no confusion about how he can help the Pistons win. Harris' post scoring and individual shot creation were a huge crutch for the Pistons in last season's playoffs, especially whenever Cade left the floor. Collins should relish the opportunity to play the same role when needed and showcase the most underrated part of his game.
At the same time, it's pretty easy to see how Harris could have been even more impactful for the Pistons if he could shoot threes or catch lobs like Collins can. If Collins can embrace his role as a supporting piece mainly focused on play finishing, defense and rebounding, he has a perfect opportunity to win big in Detroit. Sprinkle in the occasional post scoring, and he could have the makings of a local legend.
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