No NBA player is perfect, they all have their strengths and weaknesses. In this love/hate series, we will review those attributes for each player on the Indiana Pacers. In this installment, we will take a look at Darren Collison.
Darren Collison is one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. In an era where almost every competitive team boasts at least a borderline All-Star point guard, the Indiana Pacers have found a way to remain a top team in the East. That being said, their starting point guard, Darren Collison, is absolutely no slouch.
The veteran floor general is one of the, if not the best role-playing point guards in the NBA. Collison isn’t flashy and won’t ever be an All-Star but he brings so many positives to the team. Every organization in the NBA covets a player like Collison, whether it be as a starter or off of the bench.
When the Pacers drafted UCLA floor general Aaron Holiday with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 draft, many fans began to forget about Collison. And after Holiday’s impressive Summer League showing, some have already penciled him in as the starter over Collison down the line. As for now, I’ll tell those people to pump the brakes.
Holiday is very talented but Collison is still the guy. He doesn’t have a high ceiling and has his flaws in his age, but Collison’s positives still warrant him playing heavy minutes in 2018-19.
With all of that being said, let’s break down Darren Collison’s strengths and weaknesses.
What we love about Darren Collison
Darren Collison is the embodiment of consistency, stability, and reliability at the point guard position. His 2017 splits of 12.4 points, 5.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.3 rebounds don’t appear to be too impressive. However, when you dig deeper into the statistics, you can begin to understand the impact Collison has on the game.
Among qualifying players, Collison led the NBA in three-point percentage at 46.8%. He obviously isn’t an elite level shooter like Stephen Curry but he hits his open three-pointers at a very consistent level. His low volume (three attempts per game) could also be inflating his percentage. Playing off of the ball often, he got a lot of good looks last season due to the attention that Victor Oladipo commands.
Collison also ranked 10th in the NBA in free throw percentage (88.2%), 20th in effective FG% (57.1%), fourth in offensive rating (126), 20th in offensive win shares (5.8), and 18th in offensive box plus-minus (3.1), per basketball reference. He is also an excellent passer, leading the Pacers in AST% (25.7). These advanced numbers paint Collison as one of the best offensive players in the NBA despite the fact that he is objectively not. What we can learn from the stats is that Collison is one of the most efficient offensive players in the NBA and the tape backs this up.
Collison’s favorite way to initiate his own offense is through the pick and roll. Here he uses the screen and uses arguably his most effective offensive weapon, the mid-range pull up jumper:
Using the pick and roll again, Collison displays his good vision and patience here. Jayson Tatum is too late on the switch and Collison wraps a gorgeous bounce pass around Daniel Theis before the weak side help can get to Sabonis:
Collison’s high basketball IQ won’t show up in the stat sheet. He first rejects this Turner screen, flowing into an impromptu pinch post action with Thad Young. A quick cut gets Collison open in the teeth of the defense, where he shows good body control and vision to find Oladipo open in the corner:
This is the textbook example of a play that most young point guard just cannot make. The Pelicans botch their pick and roll coverage here and Collison notices right away. Emeka Okafor looks like he wants to switch but Rajon Rondo thinks Okafor is going to hedge. Due to this miscommunication, Anthony Davis now has to cover both Myles Turner and Thad Young. Davis has to respect Turner’s mid-range and leaves just enough room for Collison to rifle in a pass to Young for a layup:
Despite his lack of great athleticism and quickness, Collison can still take advantages of mismatches on switches:
Collison is also a solid positional defender despite not being anything special or being able to guard multiple positions. He can hold his own against most opposing point guards and is a very smart off-ball defender. He should be an excellent mentor for the young Aaron Holiday. Collison isn’t a world-beater in any sense but his consistency, efficiency, and veteran leadership will be vital for the Pacers this year.
What we don’t love about Darren Collison
Despite all of the positives I have detailed about Darren Collison, he will never be anything close to an All-Star point guard which could be a problem. Most true contenders have an elite point guard in on their roster. The last team to win an NBA championship without an All-Star floor general (LeBron James included) was the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 with Jason Kidd at the helm, and even he had an all-star pedigree.
Collison will be 31 at the start of the NBA season and isn’t getting any better in all likelihood. Keeping up his league-leading offensive numbers is likely impossible for DC in his 10th NBA season. One more year will further zap Collison’s athleticism and quickness. As is, Collison doesn’t have the quickness to beat good defenders off of the dribble.
Collison’s biggest flaw is nothing he can control. He isn’t overly talented and he may need to be replaced if the Pacers want to truly contend for a championship in the coming seasons.
Darren Collison’s projected role this coming season
Darren Collison’s role won’t change much next season. He is still the best point guard on the Pacers’ roster, even in a room that is becoming increasingly deep. Cory Joseph will still be the backup point guard. Tyreke Evans is at his best when he is a primary ball handler but the Pacers won’t likely start him at the one due to his lack of spacing. And Aaron Holiday, despite his immense potential, likely won’t be ready to be thrown into the fire right away.
Next: Indiana Pacers Love/Hate Series: Cory Joseph
Collison is part of the glue that holds the Pacers’ offense together. His floor spacing, passing ability, and leadership make him an invaluable asset for Indiana. He won’t be around forever and the Pacers will eventually look to pass the torch to Aaron Holiday who will hopefully develop into an All-Star caliber guard. Until he is ready, though, Collison is the perfect bridge point guard for Indiana and will play a large role this season and in near future.