Portland Trail Blazers: 5 rookie season goals for Zach Collins

2. Be a presence defensively

While it’s true that the Portland Trail Blazers could have used a defender on the perimeter, a reliable rim protector is quite possibly the next best thing, which is probably why they ended up drafting a big man that averaged 19.2 rebounds and 5.8 blocks per 100 possessions in college.

It’s also true that Zach Collins’ numbers are a bit inflated due to the fact he averaged just under 20 minutes off the bench for the Bulldogs; that is why it’s so important that he proves he can continue to defend at a high level now that he’s in the NBA.

Related Story: 5 Reasons Why Zach Collins was a Good Pick

What Collins has going for him is his agility and defensive instincts, which could prove useful when hedging screens or switching onto perimeter players. If Collins can mold into a solid pick-and-roll defender, he’ll earn consistent minutes in the rotation.

But in terms of defending opposing bigs, Collins will need to get stronger and put on a lot more muscle to help him hold his ground inside. In addition, Collins will have to work on being more disciplined on defense, where he averaged 8.8 fouls per 100 possessions.