Clippers’ Darren Collison plays bigger than his size

They list Darren Collison as 6 feet and 175 pounds, but the Clippers point guard appears to be shorter and slighter.

But Collison can’t be judged by that because he plays bigger than his measurements.

The shorter Collison has been forced to start as a shooting guard because the 6-foot-5 Jamal Crawford is out with a strained left calf and the 6-foot-4 J.J. Redick is out with a bulging disk in his lower back.

“I think playing against bigger guards this year has been real helpful for me, in terms of improving my defense and getting me better anyway that I can,” Collison said. “It’s been fun. I like taking on the challenge of guarding the bigger guards.”

Collison will be presented with another challenge when he has to try to defend Utah’s
6-foot-8 guard Gordon Hayward on Friday night when the Clippers play the Jazz at Energy Solutions Arena.

Collison had to defend Golden State’s 6-foot-7 Klay Thompson and 6-foot-6 Andre Iguodala on Wednesday and held his own.

“With bigger guards, you’ve got to worry about them posting you,” Collison said. “You kind
of got to work on your post ‘D’ [defense] early, some things that point guards are not accustomed to doing.”

Collison will actually start his 26^th game this season.

He started 18 games at point guard when Chris Paul was out with a separated right shoulder.

As a starter in the first 25 games, Collison is averaging 14.2 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals. He is shooting 48.6% from the field, 42.3% from three-point range.

“I think you play with the same energy,” Collison said. “Right now, it’s go time. Playoffs are right around the corner. You got to give it all right now.”

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broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter:@BA_Turner