Darren Collison Thread

Post #1 » by **boomershadow** » Sun Feb 4, 2018 7:26 pm

I've noticed some pretty strong opinions on this board about Collison both positive and negative, and I wanted to put together a thread highlighting some of his accomplishments here. I wanted to do it now just in case a deadline trade moves him out the door for future assets. (Though I very much expect him to stay).

I know there is a lot to be said about his downsides. The defense is suspect, and he is small. He is older and not likely to still be on the team when Turner and Sabonis really hit their stride.

But he is also averaging 12.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. He is doing that while shooting .495/.432/.897. That's just some ridiculous shooting from a guy making 10 million a year. If anything, my biggest problem with him as a player might be that, with an eFG% of .566, maybe he isn't shooting nearly enough.

Wizop · Post #2 » by **Wizop** » Sun Feb 4, 2018 7:43 pm

I wasn't a Collison fan the first time around. I thought his shot looked like a six grader who had to jack knife to get the ball to the basket. I like him now and hope he retires a Pacer. I hope we can draft his successor but I don't expect a rookie to go around him next year. The last rookie to start here at point was Tinsley and many think IT made a mistake giving him the job too soon.

Sent from my phone.

Jermainevent · Post #3 » by **Jermainevent** » Sun Feb 4, 2018 7:53 pm

DC is who he is, nothing more nothing less, good shooter, average facilitator. Definitely undersized, but overall I really like what DC brings to the team. Lowkey, professional who doesn't play outside of himself. Teams have to respect his range, which opens things up for VO when he drives.

Post #4 » by **Jake0890** » Sun Feb 4, 2018 8:04 pm

DC is a very average starting PG who by all accounts is a great locker room presence and teammate.

But the problem with the point guard position in the NBA is that you're either the franchise guy or a stopgap until as the franchise attempts to find someone they like for the long-term. No one in the NBA wants an average starting point guard because it makes all the difference when games are on the line and in the playoffs. DC falls into that stopgap category as does Corey Joseph. It's only a matter of time before the team either moves Oladipo to PG or draft/trades/signs a new one, and at that point one of CoJo or DC has to go.

I don't think there's an easy solution to our point guard roster problem but if we have the chance to get a potential future starter, I think we'd be foolish to not take it.

Tom White · Post #5 » by **Tom White** » Sun Feb 4, 2018 11:05 pm

I'll just add the last time I looked DC also had a 4 to 1 assist to turnover ratio.
That's beyond darned good.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #6 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Sun Feb 4, 2018 11:31 pm

Darren Collison has been good for us this season. He has actually built up some trade value.

As good as he has been for us this season, he is not apart of our future plans at all. We should trade him for someone who could fit into our future plans.

Wizop · Post #7 » by **Wizop** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 12:18 am

Jake0890 wrote:and at that point one of CoJo or DC has to go.

why? you need 3. JYoung isn't on anyone's long term list. CoJo can backup 2 and 3. DC can become a backup as he ages. I agree our long term answer is not on the roster unless it's Victor but team chemistry benefits from not discarding your former starters.

of course someone may make him an offer he can't refuse. being average means half the teams have worse point guards.

Sent from my phone.

Post #8 » by **Miller4ever** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 12:38 am

Collison > Teague

Post #9 » by **Miller4ever** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 12:40 am

*For the Pacers

Post #10 » by **Jake0890** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 2:02 am

Wizop wrote:
Jake0890 wrote:and at that point one of CoJo or DC has to go.

why? you need 3. JYoung isn't on anyone's long term list. CoJo can backup 2 and 3. DC can become a backup as he ages. I agree our long term answer is not on the roster unless it's Victor but team chemistry benefits from not discarding your former starters.

of course someone may make him an offer he can't refuse. being average means half the teams have worse point guards.

Sent from my phone.

They’re both too good too expensive to have them as backup point guards and neither of them play off ball. Not to mention neither would be happy in a 3rd string point guard role.

Joe Young, as not good as he is, is an adequate 3rd string point guard on a reasonable contract for a third stringer. Neither Joseph nor DC are third string PGs.

Wizop · Post #11 » by **Wizop** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 2:08 am

Jake0890 wrote:They’re both too good too expensive to have them as backup point guards and neither of them play off ball.

CoJo plays off the ball with Lance but more basically I think we have different time lines in mind. DC will accept 2nd string when he's a few years older.

Sent from my phone.

Post #12 » by **Grang33r** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 4:22 am

Jake0890 wrote:DC is a very average starting PG who by all accounts is a great locker room presence and teammate.

This right here is so true. I don't see how the Pacers are able to move him mid-season with the success we have had. Breaking up this teams brotherhood and chemistry could sink us. All you have to do is watch any game to see how close this group is and how much they love each other. I understand it's a business and KP has to look out for the team at all times but i just think trading DC mid-season, while we're in the middle of a playoff run, is not ideal and i just don't see it.

They will no doubt have to address the position in the summer though. They can't go into next season with DC as the starting PG.

xxSnEaKyPxx · Post #13 » by **xxSnEaKyPxx** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 5:11 am

Grang33r wrote:
Jake0890 wrote:DC is a very average starting PG who by all accounts is a great locker room presence and teammate.

This right here is so true. I don't see how the Pacers are able to move him mid-season with the success we have had. Breaking up this teams brotherhood and chemistry could sink us. All you have to do is watch any game to see how close this group is and how much they love each other. I understand it's a business and KP has to look out for the team at all times but i just think trading DC mid-season, while we're in the middle of a playoff run, is not ideal and i just don't see it.

They will no doubt have to address the position in the summer though. They can't go into next season with DC as the starting PG.

Right. I get that and agree.

Here is the thing: What do you think our ceiling is this year?

Post #14 » by **Grang33r** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 6:28 am

xxSnEaKyPxx wrote:
Grang33r wrote:
Jake0890 wrote:DC is a very average starting PG who by all accounts is a great locker room presence and teammate.

This right here is so true. I don't see how the Pacers are able to move him mid-season with the success we have had. Breaking up this teams brotherhood and chemistry could sink us. All you have to do is watch any game to see how close this group is and how much they love each other. I understand it's a business and KP has to look out for the team at all times but i just think trading DC mid-season, while we're in the middle of a playoff run, is not ideal and i just don't see it.

They will no doubt have to address the position in the summer though. They can't go into next season with DC as the starting PG.

Right. I get that and agree.

Here is the thing: What do you think our ceiling is this year?

Im not the right person to ask because before the season started i was saying bottom 5 in the NBA. Even after the first few games where we looked good, i said we were bound to come back to reality and drop like a rock in the standings. They keep proving me wrong though.

If you wanted an honest answer, i'd say their peak is a one-n-done with a very hard fought 6-7 game series vs. whoever.

Post #15 » by **Grang33r** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 6:33 am

I was really down on this season going in. Usually, with training camp and all that, i get very excited for the season and have decent hopes. Even when most people were down, like when JOB was coaching, i still kinda always thought maybe they can make a push and make a run for the playoffs. But this season, i was very down on them. I was considering not getting league pass but i decided to get it literally on opening night, and just saw very little for this team. I hated last season because they seemed to play with no energy or heart so often. I would watch games with my roommate and would tell him you pretty much know if we have a chance to win or not after the first 5 minutes or so just based on how they are playing and if they are looking like they care at all.

But, to my surprise, this has been one of my favorite teams to watch. I cant get enough of this team.

Topofthekey · Post #16 » by **Topofthekey** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 6:48 am

As far as the point guard situation goes, I think a mid season trade is more favourable compared to waiting till the off-season.

I like both DC and CoJo. DC has been an adequate starter, and CoJo has so far performed quite remarkably off the bench. But neither is the long term PG for the team, and with Lance in the mix, it's overkill to move both of them to the bench. Therefore it's reasonable to conclude that trading one of them is a logical move.

Why mid season though?

Well, first of all, they both have played quite well, and therefore have some trade value now. You want to trade them when their value is high.

Secondly, CoJo is likely going to opt out at the end of the season. If the Pacers do not re-sign him, then he'll be gone for nothing.

Not saying that Pacers definitely have to make a move by the trade deadline. Just that it seems ideal if they can.

BTW, I won't be sad to see DC remain with the team. It'll be a luxury to have him on the bench.

In the end, I guess it all depends on who is available for the Pacers on the trade market

Vorda · Post #17 » by **Vorda** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 7:21 am

Miller4ever wrote:Collison > Teague

Teague is better passer... I dont see any real DC advantage...

Vorda · Post #18 » by **Vorda** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 7:21 am

Miller4ever wrote:Collison > Teague

Teague is better passer... I dont see any real DC advantage...

Vorda · Post #19 » by **Vorda** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 7:35 am

DC is average PG, he is old and there is no place for him if Pacers want to become contenders in next 2-3 years... we should force trade for while he still has trade value... ideal trade would be DC+Leaf+1st round for Kemba

JeffFosters · Post #20 » by **JeffFosters** » Mon Feb 5, 2018 8:22 am

Vorda wrote:DC is average PG, he is old and there is no place for him if Pacers want to become contenders in next 2-3 years... we should force trade for while he still has trade value... ideal trade would be DC+Leaf+1st round for Kemba

Kemba is better than DC, no question. But DC is a much, much better fit with Vic and its not even close. Putting Kemba next to Vic would be like putting him back with Westbrook.