http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/966972 Collier begins comeback Recovery from injury-shortened rookie season on track By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The first-round draft choice looked the part in practices, but he had shown himself in practices before. The signs were encouraging through two-a-day workouts, but as hard as the Rockets coaches pushed, they needed to see him in games. This is why they play these games, why they so carefully examine the players they have chosen. The Rockets would give their first-round draft choice all the minutes he could handle, test him in any way they could. They also were somewhat curious about Eddie Griffin. But the Rockets were at least as eager to see their other first-round pick, center Jason Collier, playing in the Los Angeles Summer Pro League. "It's time to get back in the flow," Collier said. "I need to get out there and get back my rhythm. I got a little bit of that in practice. There were some times I felt really good, some moves just didn't feel right. "I want to do as much as I can now, take on as much as possible and then when it's time for the preseason, to be really ready." Collier, the 15th player chosen in the 2000 draft, played in 23 games last season when the decision was made to end his season with surgery to repair quadriceps tendinitis. He had shown signs of potential in playing 11 of the first 13 games, scoring in double figures against the Los Angeles Lakers twice, and against Portland. But arthroscopic knee surgery put him out for three weeks and when he returned, he was not the same, struggling through the next month before a second surgery ended his season early enough that he could recover in time to play with the Rockets' summer league teams. "You never know until you get thrown into the fire, but Rudy (Tomjanovich) gave me a lot of opportunities to get some experience last year before the injury," Collier said. "I think I showed a little bit of what I could do. I'd like to continue it this year. "I want to do the same things I was beginning to do last year, giving my all, playing 20 minutes sometimes, sometimes scoring in double figures, rebounding." The Rockets' decision to shelve Collier early last season was considered an indication of their hopes for him. Rather than carry him on the end of the bench or injured reserve list, a priority was placed on getting him ready for next season. "He's going to come in and contribute," Rockets assistant coach Larry Smith, the head coach for Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, said of the expectations for Collier next season. "He was hurt a lot last year, but he's going to be a positive if he stays healthy. He's going to get playing time, and I think he's going to contribute a lot." Collier is aware that such predictions come in complete contrast to the draft-night judgments of fans hoping to land a more coveted name, or those disappointed in his aborted rookie season. Doubts, even sharp criticisms, don't concern him, Collier said. He's aware of the questions about him, in direct contrast with the excitement brought by the trade this summer for Griffin. "It's something I have to deal with," he said. "I've had doubts before. I just have to do what I can do, do the job the best I can. It doesn't matter to me if I'm doing the best job I can do. "Everybody gets criticism sometimes. People criticize me, think I'm not any good. I want people in Houston to know that not only I'm a good player, I'm a good person. But I'll just let my play speak for me." Unable to play for four months, he took his most meaningful steps in that direction Thursday. The Rockets' first Los Angeles Summer Pro League game was more of a step in his comeback from knee surgery than a breakthrough. Though he was able to take on almost all of the two-a-day practices to be deemed ready to start and test the knee, Collier said that on some moves he could feel a missing burst. He struggled at times to protect defensive boards and blew a first-half layup. But he was able to get free for the sort of midrange jumpers that are considered his strength, though without finding his touch. He scored on a strong move early on the Clippers' Zendon Hamilton and later flashed a quick fake that lost Hamilton before a jump hook rolled out. "These games are very important for Jason, very important," Rockets assistant coach Jim Boylen said. "It's an opportunity to get reps he needs, to get NBA play. He can get in pressure situations and learn from it." Collier has learned how important these games are. Married six days ago, he rejoined the team two days later. "I'm glad she understood enough to let me come out here," he said. "But she was not going to stop me anyway. I needed to be here." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
That's good to hear. Collier got a bad rap. People saw a big white guy, who isn't flashy, and is fundamentally sound and assumed he was a bust. People hadn't even seen the guy in action before they considered him a wasted pick. I think he will be a solid contributor for years to come. Serviceable big men who can hit the shot is hard to find. I'm not comparing him to him because he's white, but I think he can be similar to Luc Longley. Until recently, Longley was a center who could hit the deep shot, was a nice passer, got to the boards and scored garbage points. Collier can be that for the Rockets in limited action, say about 20 minutes of action a night. ------------------ "Instruments are like women: After a while, you want to make love to another." - Nicolas Godin of the musical duo Air [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited July 13, 2001).]
I have a feeling he can do more. I just wonder if he's a SF in a center's body? He doesn't bang. But wait, I thought that position was filled??? Is he really just a SG with a growth problem? I have high hopes for the guy, I'm just not real high on the confidence. This debut was not exactly inspiring if the #s are anything to go by. Maybe he had the rookie jitters... ------------------
A few weeks ago, I looked at the roster on the Rockets official site and THEY list him as a PF not a Center. ------------------ "How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak. Because someday you will have been all of these."
Collier is a 7 foot stiff who couldn't guard my 81 year old grandmother. ------------------ "Oh No..." -Bill Walton in 97 just before Stockton's buzzer beater
But somehow he and Hakeem teamed together to hold Shaq to his two lowest performances of the season, 24 points and 7 rebounds in one game and 14 points and 5 rebounds in the other. Your grandmother must be pretty good! ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
Cat, for once you need to take off your Rocket-Red goggles and see Collier for what he is... ------------------ "Oh No..." -Bill Walton in 97 just before Stockton's buzzer beater
Geez Baqui, the guy hasn't even played a full season yet, give the guy a chance to prove himself before you call him a bust! Funny how Collier barely plays and people call him a bust, but Langhi barely plays and people think he is going to be a very good player. ------------------ "Instruments are like women: After a while, you want to make love to another." - Nicolas Godin of the musical duo Air [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited July 13, 2001).]
Doubts, even sharp criticisms, don't concern him, Collier said. He's aware of the questions about him, in direct contrast with the excitement brought by the trade this summer for Griffin. "It's something I have to deal with," he said. "I've had doubts before. I just have to do what I can do, do the job the best I can. It doesn't matter to me if I'm doing the best job I can do. "Everybody gets criticism sometimes. People criticize me, think I'm not any good. I want people in Houston to know that not only I'm a good player, I'm a good person. But I'll just let my play speak for me." ...sounds like a loser to me Langhi has some skills, and may prove he belongs in the league. Collier is nothing but a big dumb oaf. ------------------ "Oh No..." -Bill Walton in 97 just before Stockton's buzzer beater
You know Baqui, there is a difference between pessimism and realism. Just because one person sees a player in a more positive light than you doesn't mean they are being biased towards them because they're Rockets... Rocks, Langhi is a player with "athletism", so he has potential. Collier knows the fundamentals of the game, but doesn't exactly have "mad hops", so he has no chance. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
Collier will, I think, will land in the Michael Doleac category. Think of it this way, at the worst his presence here because of the trade with Milwaukee for Godzilla, enabled us to nab Griffin. In retrospect, a pretty good finesse by CD/RT.
I really think Collier will be a solid center in this league, and was a great pickup for us last year (for free, basically). Much, much better than Pryzbilla. I sincerely hope that Jason can succeed. He's got a good shot, and he plays very hard. ------------------ I'm looking for a job, so hire me "And I just have to smile and say 'well, I hope so' while I'm really thinking inside how I'd like to just strangle them and take their job."
Maybe we should give him a Kelvinesque like 5 years to prove he can play. The kid has nothing to offer the Rox that Langhi, Cato, Dream, Thomas or Bullard cant give, and give better, already. But lets keep clinging on to the ol "Give him some more time" Ugh. Did he exactly shine in games last year. Where was that "led the ACC in rebounding" laneability. Where was that shot blocking prowess. I understand he didnt get a world of time, but he showed no promise, or even small glimpses while in games that he even had the ability to do what a 4 or 5 should. Rebound, play some D, and block some shots. Even his "killa" touch sang to the tune of what 42 percent in FG percentage. Im not a fan of Kenny T's game so far, but Im willing to listen when people say "give Kenny time" because at least KT has shown glimpses of ability, signs of a game What does Collier offer to the Rox that KT or Langhi doesnt? I just dont see Colliers game improving much from what last year showed us. Even in limited time. To me Collier is a poor mans Eric Montross with a tad more shot, but a bit less ability in the lane. ------------------ "I have amazing, powers of observation"...Pink [This message has been edited by Dreamshake (edited July 13, 2001).]
As I recall, DreamShake, that last month before Collier was injured, he was getting excellent backup stats behind Hakeem. Something along the lines of 8-10 points and 5-6 rebs. I can't remember for certain, but I remember being pleasantly surprised at his progress at the time. Then he was injured, and that was the only small taste we would get of Collier until this year. ------------------ Rockets need power forward. Mo near now. Go near Mo. You can Run from the bet, you can Rave at the bet...but you just can't hide.
Dreamshake, When Collier got the backup center minutes and was healthy, he got us between 8-10 pts and 2-4 reb in 15 minutes on average. Those are fine numbers for a rookie when healthy. And I have to challenge for claim that he can't play defense... Cato was injured in the 2nd game of the season. The Rockets had Dream and Collier as their only two centers, and they held Shaq to two of the lowest performances of his season. 24 points and 7 rebounds in the first game, 14 points and 5 rebounds in the second. The Rockets still need Collier, because a center who can stretch the defense and score off the bench is always a plus, and Langhi is in no way fit to be a center. He's a 2 or a 3, definitely not a 5. KT might can get away with playing the 5 against a couple of teams, but he's 6'7, and I wouldn't want him playing Collier's role consistently. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
NO WAY Collier can be considered a servicable Center in the NBA. Never ever. He is best suited for the 4 spot. You think that maybe Shaq didnt put up big numbers because Kobe was on his way to almost 100 pts between those two games? Maybe just maybe that had more to do with it than Colliers D. Dont use that line again in defending Collier's D. Cause let me be the first to tell you Cat, that if you Rox put Collier on Shaq for the duration of the game, and there was no Kobe eating up shots on the wing, O'Neal might go for 80 pts if he wanted to. When I said Langhi, Bullard, Dream, KT had more to offer I meant in certain aspects of the game. Not at the 5 spot. KT shows more promise at the 4 spot, which is what Collier should be playing. Because hiding out at the 3 point line as a center = no rebounding, no blocks. Bullard has a better shot, Langhi shows much more atheleticism (sp?) And a broken, old Dream is lightyears ahead of Collier. Heck Ill take Cato over Collier anyday of the week. His first year he showed some promise in the post as ally oop partner, shot blocker. Even though personally I think Cato is done. Ill make a friendly wager with you. When this season is over Collier will not average 5 pts and 4 boards a game. (assuming Hakeem resigns and doesnt miss 60 games and Cato doesnt miss 60 games also) If he does...well we can figure out something fun ------------------ "I have amazing, powers of observation"...Pink [This message has been edited by Dreamshake (edited July 14, 2001).]
So you'll make that wager assuming that Collier won't play much this year then? That's pretty brave isn't it? As far as scoring goes, I know Collier hit a pretty poor clip, but let's give him the "rookie" excuse for that - I mean he still beats out KennyT and KelvinC in terms of point production per minute of court time... imagine if he was shooting a better % (something that he is capable of doing!). If Collier is as bad as you say he is, then there's no way that he could average 5 points and 4 boards even if he wasn't injured! ------------------
This statement puts him light years ahead of Cato imo. He's got the right attitude & apparently wants to be on the floor, unlike Cato. I really liked what he showed during the stretch before he got injured & can't wait to see the improvement he'll show with a full year under his belt. So many people want instant gratification these days. With the exception of the really special players, most big men take 2-3 years to develop their games. Have patience grasshopper. ------------------ A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.
I was really impressed with Collier's "return". 4 points and 4 boards, against summer league competition. Wow. ------------------ Protrolls.com! "I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea... Keep the ???? alive!
