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2017-18 Pacers Player Reviews: Darren Collison

By Tony East

DENVER, CO - APRIL 03: Darren Collison of the Indiana Pacers brings the bal down the court against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on April 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 03: Darren Collison of the Indiana Pacers brings the bal down the court against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on April 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Darren Collison Indiana Pacers
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 21: Darren Collison #2 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

The Bad

There really isn’t a ton of negative things to say about Collison. Offensively, his game is very polished and methodical, and outside of a few hiccups, there isn’t much to complain about.

If there is something bad to say about Collison’s play this past season, it is all about his defense. HIs 106.6 defensive rating was one of the worst marks of anyone in the Pacers rotation this past season, showing that the team simply didn’t defend as well with DC on the floor.

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Some of this is that he is short and lacks strength. He can easily be bullied for positioning, and it allows the other team to be in the right place more often than they would be if Cory Joseph were defending the point of attack.

The other challenge for DC is defending on the catch. His closeouts aren’t great, and at age 30, his foot speed is beginning to dwindle. Opponents can blow right past him on closeouts and get to the rim, rendering him useless.

His small stature gets him killed on screens a lot too. Many Pacers defensive challenges with pick and rolls can be pinpointed to their trouble getting Collision to avert screeners and get back into a solid guarding position.

But he was fine enough as a defender. He never gambles, he usually exerts some effort, and he is never heinously out of position. This season was about average compared to the rest of his career defensively, so it is now clear what to expect from Collison defensively; not good, but not awful either.

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