To move beyond the middle of the Western Conference, Coach Tyronn Lue needs to make one straightforward adjustment for the LA Clippers involving John Collins. With four games completed and the fifth scheduled tonight at Intuit Dome, the team stands at 2-2, currently the ninth seed, tied with the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets.
The best description of the Clippers’ current status is mediocre. To improve, Lue should guarantee that John Collins gets at least 15 minutes per half. Presently, the forward averages 25.5 minutes a game, often coming off the bench in place of Ivica Zubac, Kawhi Leonard, or Derrick Jones Jr. This limited time prevents the Clippers from securing more comfortable wins.
Expanding Collins’ minutes would be a consistent and effective response to the team’s ongoing fluctuations on both offense and defense. When the starting lineup was being finalized, the coaching staff relied heavily on data from last season.
They wanted a player with a similar level of “pop” as Norman Powell, so Bradley Beal earned the role of starting shooting guard.
Because the Clippers lacked sufficient data on John Collins, and Derrick Jones Jr. is performing solidly, there has been no immediate need to alter the starting unit.
Tyronn Lue can elevate the Clippers from mediocrity by expanding John Collins’ minutes, offering needed balance and consistency to the team’s rotation.