SACRAMENTO -- The eight seed in the Western Conference playoff race is up for grabs and the Sacramento Kings are right in the mix. At 14-18, they aren’t setting the world on fire, but there is still major room for improvement.
One area that they haven’t reached their potential quite yet is at the point guard spot, where starter Darren Collison has had an uncharacteristically inconsistent season. Following practice on Friday afternoon, Collison was cozied up next to a computer screen doing film study along with lead assistant Elston Turner and big man DeMarcus Cousins.
“We’re still trying to figure this thing out,” Collison said. “We’re still still trying to figure out a way where it’s beneficial for my style and for the bigs we’re playing with. It’s been a little bit of a contrast in style.”
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Ty Lawson had similar struggles with a starting unit that includes two bigs in Cousins and Kosta Koufos. Since moving to the second unit, Lawson has found his stride, while Collison is now the one searching for answers.
Collison missed the first eight games of the season, but he spent a lot of that time watching footage of Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley Jr. in preparation for the season. Watching Conley is one thing, but there is not another big man that plays like Cousins.
“I’m so used to playing up and down, that’s more my style of play,” Collison said. “But I have to mindful of Cuz and Kosta. We’re still trying to get it right.”
Over his last eight games, Collison is posting just 7.0 points and 2.0 assists per game on 30.4 percent shooting from the field. The 29-year-old guard is struggling to find his niche with the team.
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“I take pride in going out there and trying to doing my job,” Collison said. “But I feel like I haven’t been as impactful the last 4 or 5 games or so. That’s kind of been frustrating, but I know it will come.”
Collison was quick to point out that coming from George Karl’s dribble-drive motion offense to the more structured high-post system that Dave Joerger runs has taken a major adjustment. The former UCLA star has struggled with the transition, but so has Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Omri Casspi, Ben McLemore and Willie Cauley-Stein.
“Anytime you’re in a new system, with new coaches, these things are expected,” Collison said.
Thirty two games into the season, the Kings are finding their groove as a team, but they still need Collison if they hope to take another big step forward. Still the team’s third leading scorer, the 6-foot-1 Collison has seen his points per game dip to just 11.7 on the season, his lowest since joining the Kings on a three-year, $15 million deal in 2014. Those aren’t the numbers Collison was hoping for heading into free agency again this summer.
It doesn’t help that there has been a revolving door at the shooting guard position since Collison took over the starting job 20 games ago. Afflalo started 18 of Sacramento’s first 20 games at the two, but has since been in and out of the rotation. McLemore has logged 11 games as a starter, but his production is down all across the board. Veteran Garrett Temple has started three games as well, but Joerger likes him better off the bench.
Film study is a logical step for Collison. Despite playing together for the last three seasons, he and Cousins have to find a new common ground as the All-Star big’s role has blossomed in Joerger’s system. There’s no finger pointing, just an understanding that more is needed from everyone involved.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” Collison said of his struggles. “I’ve got to be more aggressive, along with my teammates doing their part as well.”
The Sacramento Kings need Darren Collison. And he needs them. With 50 games remaining in the season, the veteran point guard might be the missing link that helps this squad take the big leap. It’s all hands on deck if the Kings hope to snap their decade long playoff drought.