Box out. Re-position. Battle for a loose ball. Knock down a mid-range jumper. Dive on the floor. Take a charge. Rinse. Repeat.
Nick Collison knows his role and he lives in that space every time he steps on the basketball court – expending every ounce of energy bubbling under his skin until the final buzzer sounds. Those moments of effort aren’t altogether noticeable. In fact, compared to the fluidity and grace of Kevin Durant, the careening and soaring of Russell Westbrook and the precision and dexterity of Serge Ibaka, Collison’s grit and technical execution can get missed by the naked eye.