Zach Collins Has Forced Himself Into The Bulls’ Rotation

Zach Collins was included in the Zach LaVine trade but did not get minutes until injuries to Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith opened up opportunities.

Collins’ minutes skyrocketed over a three-game period. He went from zero, to 17, to 28 minutes and starting. His strong performances as a starter should earn him a regular spot in the rotation, even when Vucevic is back.

FROM DNP TO 40 MINUTES

Collins played a total of 12 minutes in his first five games as a Chicago Bull. All 12 of the minutes came in one game, a blowout loss against the Detroit Pistons.

The Bulls got Collins in the LaVine trade assuming they would ship Vucevic at the deadline. Vucevic stayed, leaving Collins as the odd man out, as Smith was the Bulls’ backup big.

Having a third center on the roster quickly became important. After playing two minutes, Smith suffered a concussion against the New York Knicks, causing Collins to assume the backup center role for most of the game. The concussion sidelined Smith for three games.

Collins served as the backup against the Suns in the following game. Vucevic had a calf strain entering that game and played through it, but hasn’t played since.

Collins went from getting no playing time to being the only healthy big man on the roster in three games. He started his first game for the Bulls against the 76ers. In that game, he had 19 points and a positive plus/minus of 41, the highest on the team.

In the next game, Collins grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds and played 38 minutes against the Clippers. He remained the starter after Smith returned from his concussion. Even though Collins wasn’t the only healthy big on the roster, he played a career-high 40 minutes against the Raptors.

BRINGS YOUTH TO THE CENTER POSITION

Nobody thinks Collins is better than Vucevic, but he brings something to the center position that Vucevic doesn’t.

Vucevic is the oldest player on the Bulls roster. He lacks physicality and aggressiveness, making him a poor rim protector. He also rarely runs the floor.

Collins has excelled at being physical as the starter. He consistently competes for rebounds and contests shots. His athleticism allows him to run the floor which benefits Chicago’s fast-pace playstyle.

Collins is averaging 15.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as a starter. Those numbers were even better before Thursday’s game against the Magic, where Collins fouled out in 12 minutes.

Collins has also made an immediate impact defensively. The Bulls are 13th in opponent points in the paint over the last six games. Why should being league average be celebrated? Because the Bulls have been the league’s worst in that category the entire season.

The production Collins brings to the team has forced Billy Donovan to make a decision.

The Bulls must either introduce lineups with two big men or reduce Smith’s minutes because Collins isn’t going anywhere.