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Isiah Collier Hype and Appreciation Thread

Collier's defense is probably his best attribute right now.

Everything else I'm kind of meh on. He can definitely get downhill, but I dont really believe in his finishing or passing ability all that much, but I like that he wants to pass. Just has to be less of a "Ok I have the ball I'm going to reset the entire offense for 10 seconds and drive with no time left". He really got exposed playing against Shead. Couldnt dribble against him at all and had to arm bar the entire time.

Can he be like Eric Bledsoe? A really dynamic high level backup, but kind of a mid-ish starter?
 
14, 6 and 11. Since he's been back, it's clear his ability to make plays and find guys in scoring position is unique on this roster.

I'm the biggest Collier apologist on the board and even I wondered if there simply wasn't a place for him in the guard rotation with Key and WCJ. I underestimated the fact he's just damn good at basketball. The offense is different and the team is just so much more fun to watch when IC is out there.

Also, it's very early, the sample is ridiculously small but it looks like he may have figured out nba length and understands how to finish at the rim.
 
After three games Collier is averaging 7 APG, equal to Keyonte but in way less minutes. And way ahead of WCJ. Collier is simply by far the best natural passer on the team, the fact that many people keep forgetting. He is also as good as WCJ in bringing the ball up while being pressured (looking at you, Keyonte!) and is as good as Keyonte in being able to drive inside and score (looking at you, Clayton!). If Isaiah can learn to knock down wide-open threes at the 35% clip he will be the (low-level) starter in the NBA.
 
I’m interested to see if Collier can take advantage of the NBA’s officiating as Keyonte has. Free throw rates have soared and it’s because the NBA has decided to side with the offensive player when they create contact on straight line drives. Collier isn’t exactly like Keyonte, but he does naturally create a lot of contact on his drives. Collier has a great first step and even if the defense backs off he could be very difficult to stop.

Obviously the shooting is what will take his game to the next level, but he has real FT merchant potential. It was one of his best traits at USC.
 
^^^^If anyone was wondering, there’s been almost a 20% increase in FTr compared to last season. I haven’t broken it down, but if I had to bet the group of players getting rewarded the most are guards getting bumped off their line on drives.

See #3 here: https://official.nba.com/2025-26-points-of-emphasis/

You basically got to get of the way if an offensive player gets a half step on you.
 
**Heresy warning**

I haven't seen passing like his since Stock. Seems like every pass is to someone ready to shoot in rhythm. And do you notice anyone trying to harrass him bringing the ball up the court? Uh, no. And he's 100% from 3 this year! Talk about massive improvement.
 
JohnnyClutch said:
**Heresy warning**

I haven't seen passing like his since Stock. Seems like every pass is to someone ready to shoot in rhythm. And do you notice anyone trying to harrass him bringing the ball up the court? Uh, no. And he's 100% from 3 this year! Talk about massive improvement.
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He was 1-2 from 3 last night. But yeah he looked pretty amazing.
 
jazznik said:
After three games Collier is averaging 7 APG, equal to Keyonte but in way less minutes. And way ahead of WCJ. Collier is simply by far the best natural passer on the team, the fact that many people keep forgetting. He is also as good as WCJ in bringing the ball up while being pressured (looking at you, Keyonte!) and is as good as Keyonte in being able to drive inside and score (looking at you, Clayton!). If Isaiah can learn to knock down wide-open threes at the 35% clip he will be the (low-level) starter in the NBA.
Click to expand...
Agreed but it’s not just his passing ability, it’s the fact that he’s actually out there looking to be a facilitator. He’s pass first which is maybe a bit unique in today’s NBA but not a detriment as his quickness and muscular frame allows him to penetrate and finish at the rim at a level seldom seen in the NBA. This ability is real and has to be defended allowing him to kick out to wide open shooters.

How after starting even beating out Key last season, his stock around here fell so low pre and early season is a head scratcher to me. I imagine that his acquisition stock is as high or even higher than Key’s around the league due to his unique ability to draw defenders and find open shooters.

I like WCJ but have never considered him a threat to Key or Collier’s playing time. He’s fine coming in ad hoc as a sixth man type and could maybe even aspire to a McConnell type role. But he doesn’t have physical assets like Key and Collier (or Bailey for that matter).
 
Isaiah 1:13 said:
Agreed but it’s not just his passing ability, it’s the fact that he’s actually out there looking to be a facilitator. He’s pass first which is maybe a bit unique in today’s NBA but not a detriment as his quickness and muscular frame allows him to penetrate and finish at the rim at a level seldom seen in the NBA. This ability is real and has to be defended allowing him to kick out to wide open shooters.

How after starting even beating out Key last season, his stock around here fell so low pre and early season is a head scratcher to me. I imagine that his acquisition stock is as high or even higher than Key’s around the league due to his unique ability to draw defenders and find open shooters.

I like WCJ but have never considered him a threat to Key or Collier’s playing time. He’s fine coming in ad hoc as a sixth man type and could maybe even aspire to a McConnell type role. But he doesn’t have physical assets like Key and Collier (or Bailey for that matter).
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I was starting to doubt a bit because he should have been blasting the other players off the court in summer league and just didn't look good and his shot looked even worse than last year- like the opposite of Keyonte as far as progressing in the off-season.

Now those concerns are alleviated, generally. Still needs to fix his shot, but his elite quickness will be rewarded immensely by the new rules emphasis, like Keyonte (who likewise suffers from his 3pt shooting.)

I loved his passing last year and it is indeed obvious he is the best we've had since Stock in that category. He is stocky and athletic enough that worries about pairing him w/Key defensively are probably overblown with Key showing a modicum of effort now.

I'm comfortable with both of them that I think PG is our last need in the draft. Go get a 6-8 to 7 ft ball handling wing with vision to add to our collection of long-fellows...
 
JazzFever said:
I was starting to doubt a bit because he should have been blasting the other players off the court in summer league and just didn't look good and his shot looked even worse than last year- like the opposite of Keyonte as far as progressing in the off-season.

Now those concerns are alleviated, generally. Still needs to fix his shot, but his elite quickness will be rewarded immensely by the new rules emphasis, like Keyonte (who likewise suffers from his 3pt shooting.)

I loved his passing last year and it is indeed obvious he is the best we've had since Stock in that category. He is stocky and athletic enough that worries about pairing him w/Key defensively are probably overblown with Key showing a modicum of effort now.

I'm comfortable with both of them that I think PG is our last need in the draft. Go get a 6-8 to 7 ft ball handling wing with vision to add to our collection of long-fellows...
Click to expand...
Yeah, I guess he kinda mailed in Summer League. He looks like the kind of guy that enjoys the offseason and he was probably chagrined after last season that he even had to participate in it. Can’t say as I blame him really.

I’ve brought this up before, but he was the numero uno recruit in the Country coming out of High School. I don’t think all the distractions associated with playing with Bronny James helped his cause but he’s seen a lot and done a lot and he’s not easily intimidated.

No question that we got an absolute steal at #29 with him. He, Key, Ace, Brice, Flip and I say Kessler are our treasure trove as good as anyone’s three year haul I believe including Orlando and Detroit. But don’t anybody kid yourselves, Collier is in that group - he’s a unicorn, he has special talents and abilities and he’s just getting started.
 
Thwomp.
 
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