The Detroit Pistons received a welcome reminder of what John Collins brings to the table on Nov. 9. With Detroit undermanned and faced with the need to bounce back from a tough loss, Collins led the team in scoring and gave Cade Cunningham a rare night on which he could be a part of the puzzle rather than the piece that holds everything together.
The key was Collins starting at center and helping Detroit thrive with a new-look lineup that also included Cunningham, Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, and Ausar Thompson. The question: How often can that effective group play together once Jalen Duren and Paul Reed are back?
Collins finished the 122-111 win over the Washington Wizards with 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. It was a welcome display of offensive value from a player who was acquired to replace Tobias Harris but had struggled to find his footing in recent games.
In saying that, Collins' best game of the season came with Duren and Reed both sidelined and his position changed from power forward to center.
The good news is that Cunningham not only had another player lead the team in scoring, but actually ranked fourth on the Pistons in points. The offense still ran through him, of course, but the success of those around him alleviated significant pressure on offense.
The question, however, is how the Pistons can help Collins continue to perform at this level once Duren and Reed are back in the rotation.
Pistons' small-ball lineup optimized spacing, offensive optionality
Detroit's makeshift lineup saw Cunningham and Jenkins in the backcourt, Robinson and Thompson working the wings, and Collins anchoring the interior in a small-ball unit. Wizards big Anthony Davis dominated with 44 points and 13 rebounds, but the Pistons got the win due in no small part to how effective their starting five was.
Collins, Jenkins, and Robinson all scored at least 22 points, and Cunningham's 17 helped round out an excellent performance that enabled the bench to play more freely.
Moving forward, Detroit can't be afraid to go to this lineup construction for stretches of games even once it's at full strength. Minus Thompson, everyone on the court was a capable shooter and thus provided optimal spacing that enhanced their efficacy at all three levels.
It's the type of shift in strategy that not only unlocked Collins' abilities within the Pistons' offense, but allowed Cunningham to operate as a part of the system instead of having to end extended droughts.
Is John Collins better at the 5? Can he play the 4 with Duren or Reed?
The hurdles that J.B. Bickerstaff and company will have to clear are tenfold, but two stand out among the rest. One is figuring out how to optimize Collins' impact when he's playing the 4 next to Duren or Reed, which will likely be his most consistent role.
The next is staggering Duren and Reed's minutes in a way that allows Collins to play the situational 5 without compromising the rhythm that they need to establish for themselves.
If the Pistons are able to toe that thin line and figure this out, then Collins could transform their offense. If they're unable to, however, then things could get awkward between Dec. 15, when he becomes eligible to be traded, and Feb. 11, when the trade deadline is scheduled for.
Thankfully, the win over the Wizards revealed how much potential there is in a Collins' offensive role within the Pistons' rotation.
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