Blazer's Edge Nov 16, 2018
Round Table: Evaluating The Blazers’ Hot Start
Members of the Blazer’s Edge staff deliver their opinions regarding Portland’s superb start to the 2018-19 season. The Trail Blazers have shaken off their woeful performance in the 2018 NBA Playoffs by amassing a 10-4 record to start the year. As we rapidly approach the quarter-mark of the season, we asked members of the Blazer’s Edge staff to share their thoughts on Portland’s hot start. From lingering questions, to caution optimism, we have a bit of everything in our first Blazer’s Edge Round Table of the regular season. Steve Dewald: The level of play from Zach Collins and...
Blazer's Edge Nov 13, 2018
Zach Collins’ Defense Gets National Attention
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor describes Collins as “one of the NBA’s best young big men at defending in space.” Zach Collins’ improvement in his second year has been a significant part of the Trail Blazers hot start to the season. It’s earned him praise from Damian Lillard and Terry Stotts, and national NBA writers are starting to notice. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer praised Collins in a recent article evaluating the improvement (or lack of improvement) of NBA sophomores. O’Connor was especially impressed with Collins’ defensive positioning and quickness: Damian Lillard...
Rip City Project Nov 10, 2018
Portland Trail Blazers: The Collins-Nurkic tandem is becoming elite
Utilizing a big lineup with Zach Collins at the four and Jusuf Nurkic at the five may be the Portland Trail Blazers best means to a deep playoff run come April and May. In today’s small-ball league, most teams are playing traditional three-men at the four position to increase their spacing and allow for constant […] Portland Trail Blazers: The Collins-Nurkic tandem is becoming elite - Rip City Project - Rip City Project - A Portland Trailblazers Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Blazer's Edge Nov 9, 2018
Terry Stotts Compares Zach Collins to Joel Przybilla
Portland’s sophomore sensation reminds his coach of a defender from years of old. Portland Trail Blazers reserve big man Zach Collins is drawing raves for the start of his second NBA season. Collins is averaging 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in a dozen appearances so far, but his impact goes deeper than that, especially on the defensive end. According to Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts, Collins reminds him of another impressive Blazers defender from years of yore. Mike Richman of NBCSports Northwest has the quote: “I was with Joel Przybilla his rookie season in Milwaukee,”...
Blazer's Edge Nov 8, 2018
It’s Time to Jump on the Zach Collins Bandwagon
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report lists Collins as a player whose bandwagon you should jump on right now. Zach Collins is drawing praise for his performance early on in the Portland Trail Blazers’ season, easing nerves about the loss of Ed Davis in free agency. Dan Favale of Bleacher Report lists him among the super subs whose bandwagon will likely grow: Spending more time at the 5 hasn’t fazed him. His offense was never a question. His spattering of post moves is a nice surprise, but someone who trails plays behind the three-point line, pops off screens and backs out of the paint while...
Blazer's Edge Nov 8, 2018
Damian Lillard is Having the Best Season of His Career Thus Far
A somehow underrated part of the Blazers’ strong start this season has been the standout play of Damian Lillard. The 2018-2019 campaign is still young, but the Portland Trail Blazers certainly look legit. There are lots of reasons for this, of course. Evan Turner seems rejuvenated in a different role than he’s played in the past couple years. Nik Stauskas has provided much-needed scoring and shooting off the bench. Zach Collins has taken a massive step forward in year two, and looks every bit like a franchise cornerstone for years to come. However, one reason for their success doesn’t...
Blazer's Edge Nov 7, 2018
Collins Ranked Highly Among NBA Sophomores
Collins’ strong start to the season has moved him up Jonathan Wasserman’s sophomore rankings. Last season, the argument for the top rookie centered around the previously injured Aussie Ben Simmons, the scoring dervish of Donovan Mitchell, and the unstoppable paternal hype train of Lonzo Ball. Portland Trail Blazers first-round pick Zach Collins was an afterthought, playing 66 games off the bench and averaging just 4.4 points and 3.3 rebounds a game. Yet just eleven games into the new season, Collins has vaulted into the top ten sophomores, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher...
Blazer's Edge Nov 2, 2018
Analyst Says Collins May Be “Best Backup Center in the League”
Michael Pina of Vice Sports praises Portland’s sophomore center and bench. The Portland Trail Blazers are off to a 6-2 start this season. Damian Lillard has played a huge role in their winning record, but eyes are also drifting towards the Blazers bench unit, in particular second-year center Zach Collins. Playing 21 minutes per game, Collins is producing nearly 11 points and 2 blocks while anchoring Portland’s defensive attack. In a column yesterday, Michael Pina of Vice Sports credited Collins’ work while marveling at the improvement of Portland’s reserve unit. Last season, the...
Blazer's Edge Oct 30, 2018
Lillard Sees DPOY Potential in Collins
“I think he has potential to be defensive player of the year,” Lillard told reporters, via NBC Sports Northwest’s Jamie Hudson. Zach Collins has made his mark on the defensive end for the Portland Trail Blazers, racking up 12 blocks in just six games so far. His defense makes his case to earn more minutes already. Teammate Damian Lillard is making Collins’ case for a potential Defensive Player of the Year run, he told reporters after the Pacers game, via NBC Sports Northwest’s Jamie Hudson: “I ended up making first team All-NBA because of our team’s success was and I think...
Blazer's Edge Oct 29, 2018
Blazers Ride Bench To Overcome Shaky Start, Beat Pacers
Portland’s second unit, led by Zach Collins, stole the show in a 103-93 victory in Indianapolis. The Portland Trail Blazers bounced back from a lackadaisical performance against the Miami Heat to knock off a quality Indiana Pacers team 103-93 on Monday, led by a career-high 17 points from Zach Collins. On a night when two-thirds of their big three couldn’t get anything going, the Blazers bench gave the team a huge jolt, spurring the impressive road win. Darren Collison led the Pacers with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. After an extremely rough start to the game, thanks to...
www.columbian.com Oct 29, 2018
Trail Blazers use 2nd-half charge to get past Pacers 103-93
Zach Collins matched his career high with 17 points and C.J. McCollum also had 17 to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 103-93 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Blazer's Edge Oct 29, 2018
Zach Collins Leads Blazers over Pacers
The Blazers don’t play pretty in Indiana, but they get help from unconventional sources. The Portland Trail Blazers didn’t look pretty as they faced the Indiana Pacers on Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Neither Damian Lillard nor CJ McCollum topped 20 points. Portland’s starters played with the consistency of day-old Cream o’ Wheat. The Pacers didn’t flourish on offense, but they had the defensive game locked down, limiting Portland’s three-point attempts and offensive rebounds. But just when things looked bleakest for the Blazers, their bench crew arrived. Indiana had no...
Blazer's Edge Oct 29, 2018
The Blazers Need to Get Zach Collins More Minutes
Collins has grown enough to merit playing time, but at what position and whose expense? Portland Trail Blazers fans know that it’s easy to get carried away early in the season. Each new year features a player coming like gangbusters, throwing up eye-popping numbers that inflame hope. This year, it’s Portland’s second-year big man Zach Collins and his ridiculous efficiency numbers. Acknowledging the lack of data may be the smart move, but no matter how unsustainable his small-sample stats may be, Collins’ performance merits more playing time. So far on the season, Collins is...
Blazer's Edge Oct 28, 2018
Video: Terry Stotts Discusses Blazers First Half Struggles, Collins-Leonard Pairing
In an interview after the Blazers loss to the Heat, Stotts talked about Portland’s slow start in the first half, and other deciding factors. Following Miami’s 120-111 victory over the Portland last night, Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts spoke to assembled media about the Heat’s late-game three-point shooting, the resurgent effort in the second half, and his decision to play Zach Collins down the stretch. Stotts felt that the Heat played with more “bounce” in the first half. Along with Miami’s effort, he felt that Portland struggled to capitalize on good looks on the...
Rip City Project Oct 25, 2018
Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard’s second half surge overwhelms Orlando
The Portland Trail Blazers start their first road trip of the season off right, beating the Orlando Magic 128-114. The Portland Trail Blazers win over the Magic was a tale of two halves. In the first, Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins set Orlando up, and in the second, Damian Lillard knocked them down. Right off […] Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard’s second half surge overwhelms Orlando - Rip City Project - Rip City Project - A Portland Trailblazers Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
