John Collins has a message to Atlanta fans

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, RedDawg#8 said:

Just going to keep bumping until we consolidate or lock the other thread.

JC’s catch-all does not need to be a trade watch thread.

Hella disrespectful.

Higher. Lol. Stop dissing guy. -Cap  

#raps #drake #samueljax #scottbarnesthefirst #wedanoth (not Chris Noth).

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

Great read!

 

Quote

Last year you were coming off the high of a great playoff run. How different is it going into this season?

It’s a little refreshing. To not have that cloud, not arrogance, but the confidence from the year before. It grounds you. There’s an extra layer of confidence you get from doing that well. 

How early did you realize, “Oh, it’s not last year anymore?”

Really the playoffs. I think we still had that air of confidence of, “We didn’t have a great regular season, but when the playoffs come, we can turn it on.” But it doesn’t work like that. Life doesn’t work out like you plan

 

I noticed you working extra after practice on some inside moves. What are you really looking to improve on?

Creating — creating for myself in terms of scoring and making more plays. That’s the majority of what I want to get done as far as understanding the game mentally, to allow the game to slow down more, see certain cuts and angles and easier ways I can score. 

Have you found people tend to get on you the most about the need to create more?

I feel like I’ve heard every opinion, from I’m not a great scorer to I’m a great scorer to I’m OK to I’m terrible. Not to say it motivates me. It’s more about what I feel I can get better from watching film 

Everybody saw the highlights of you playing in the offseason with Trae and Dejounte. What was that like?

It was cool. We felt like we wanted to go to Seattle, (Murray’s) hometown, hopefully ingratiate ourselves and (create) a bond with him by playing in the pro-am. We didn’t have too much expectation. We just want to get on the court, have fun and get it out.

How will Dejounte impact the team and you?

He changes the face and the dynamic of what we do a lot. … I feel like he gives me more of an opportunity to score off the ball. Having another nine-assist guy, a high-level playmaker, he creates more scoring opportunities. More space, more pace, more easy baskets. I start thinking about all the possibilities. I just want to get our chemistry down and get the flow right.

After all that, why do you want to stay here?

It’s just how I’m built. I’m as loyal as anyone. Military background. Single-parent home. Where I went to school, relationships, I built through basketball. It’s how I’ve been taught. I’m not a quitter. It wasn’t supposed to be easy in my journey. I just knew it was going to be a journey. I’m not asking for sympathy. It’s just understanding what I’m walking into and that I’ve built something here. I feel like my fingerprints are on a lot of stuff in the new generation of the Hawks. 

[sturt]

3 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

I noticed you working extra after practice on some inside moves. What are you really looking to improve on?

Creating — creating for myself in terms of scoring and making more plays.

If you look at tape specifically of the limited minutes that he and Delon were on the court w/o Trae, this was happening. Then, as DJM has been the lead this preseason, that's been happening.

Think it was all just a misnomer rooted in the fact that he and Trae have had such PnR and kick-out chemistry, and so that's not lent itself to JC the Creator making his mark.

 

[Final_quest]

Wow, that's a hard lesson to learn, but glad it is behind us.  He said they had a confidence that they could turn it on once the playoffs start.  It lasted all season then.  

One reason I am high on this team is the attitude should be different from day one.  They learned something about bringing it everyday and letting that fuel your playoff run.  Plus we added a true alpha dog in DJM, and I'm excited to see the approach to the game flow from him to everyone else. 

If anyone has watched the new Netflix documentary on the Redeem Team, the impact of adding Kobe to the group that was losing to Puerto Rico and other lesser teams changed their mentality.  Lebron is a different type of alpha.  Kobe doesn't greet anyone on the team he just shows up at practice and changes the entire level of intensity.  He wakes up and is in the gym at 5 AM and then everyone else gets up earlier and joins in.  

We've spent a lot of time this offseason talking about acquisitions, rookies, rotations etc.  I am really interested to see our energy level.  We are set up to have a completely different tone.  DJM isn't Kobe, but I think he adds to a shift in attitude from "we'll turn it on when the playoffs start" to "destroy a rookie during the pro-am."  

[Spud2nique]

9 minutes ago, Final_quest said:

"destroy a rookie

That dude wasn’t even in the league and he bounced it off his head. Ya, we are bringing intensity this year from the tip of game 1, at least I know us fans are ready to roll and the players should be as well.

 

Go Hawks!

[Final_quest]

40 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

That dude wasn’t even in the league and he bounced it off his head. Ya, we are bringing intensity this year from the tip of game 1, at least I know us fans are ready to roll and the players should be as well.

 

Go Hawks!

I was talking about the Paolo Banchero moment.  

[macdaddy]

10 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

I feel like my fingerprints are on a lot of stuff in the new generation of the Hawks. 

exactly.   

[Wretch]

15 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Great read!

 

 

I noticed you working extra after practice on some inside moves. What are you really looking to improve on?

Creating — creating for myself in terms of scoring and making more plays. That’s the majority of what I want to get done as far as understanding the game mentally, to allow the game to slow down more, see certain cuts and angles and easier ways I can score. 

Have you found people tend to get on you the most about the need to create more?

I feel like I’ve heard every opinion, from I’m not a great scorer to I’m a great scorer to I’m OK to I’m terrible. Not to say it motivates me. It’s more about what I feel I can get better from watching film 

Everybody saw the highlights of you playing in the offseason with Trae and Dejounte. What was that like?

It was cool. We felt like we wanted to go to Seattle, (Murray’s) hometown, hopefully ingratiate ourselves and (create) a bond with him by playing in the pro-am. We didn’t have too much expectation. We just want to get on the court, have fun and get it out.

How will Dejounte impact the team and you?

He changes the face and the dynamic of what we do a lot. … I feel like he gives me more of an opportunity to score off the ball. Having another nine-assist guy, a high-level playmaker, he creates more scoring opportunities. More space, more pace, more easy baskets. I start thinking about all the possibilities. I just want to get our chemistry down and get the flow right.

After all that, why do you want to stay here?

It’s just how I’m built. I’m as loyal as anyone. Military background. Single-parent home. Where I went to school, relationships, I built through basketball. It’s how I’ve been taught. I’m not a quitter. It wasn’t supposed to be easy in my journey. I just knew it was going to be a journey. I’m not asking for sympathy. It’s just understanding what I’m walking into and that I’ve built something here. I feel like my fingerprints are on a lot of stuff in the new generation of the Hawks. 

I can see the work that he's put in to get better.  He has been looking real good all over the court, but it's more than that.  He's aggressive with his shot, he's putting it up faster, and he's looking WAY more comfortable going to work. If we continue to move the ball, he will have so many more opportunities to score. I love it.  

Side note...this hit me in the feels:

Quote

After all that, why do you want to stay here?
It’s just how I’m built. I’m as loyal as anyone. Military background. Single-parent home. Where I went to school, relationships, I built through basketball. It’s how I’ve been taught. I’m not a quitter. It wasn’t supposed to be easy in my journey. I just knew it was going to be a journey. I’m not asking for sympathy. It’s just understanding what I’m walking into and that I’ve built something here. I feel like my fingerprints are on a lot of stuff in the new generation of the Hawks. 

Man, I can't get enough of listening to JC talk.  I want to see him win here and I can't believe how ready I was to deal him two seasons ago.

[Spud2nique]

4 hours ago, Final_quest said:

I was talking about the Paolo Banchero moment.  

Oh I see, ya that too. He was clowning everyone I guess.

[AHF]

1 hour ago, Spud2nique said:

Oh I see, ya that too. He was clowning everyone I guess.

Seems like Paolo did something to really piss DM off and wasn't just a clowning type of moment.

[JayBirdHawk]

You know who you are! 

 

[RedDawg#8]

Speaking to the debate about getting him more touches. 

Still a small sample size, but it shows up in the W/L column when we are involving JC and other guys who are more efficient on offense.

[JayBirdHawk]

John Collins dishes out keys to Hawks reaching full potential amid outside noise

"I've been able to move around and get a little bit more work in," Collins said of his progress. "I'm getting back in rhythm and doing my best to get back on the court."

For a team like the Hawks, getting into a rhythm will be crucial.

During Collins' absence, Young dealt with a shoulder injury, De'Andre Hunter missed time with a hip injury, Clint Capela strained his calf and Murray sprained his ankle. Add in the fact that Bogdan Bogdanovic missed each of Atlanta's first 22 games, and it's impressive that the team is hovering around .500.

 

While Collins isn't in the business of making excuses, he did admit that injuries have only made the process of integrating new pieces more difficult.

"Every year is new, there's a new challenge every year — but obviously, trying to integrate new guys while other guys are out, it's hard for us to get that natural flow that teams need to be successful.

"It's been a challenge but we've been trying to push through and we're trying to be professionals. It's been rocky, but we'll figure it out."

 

With rocky times comes conflict, be it external or external. From trade rumors involving Collins to reports of uneasiness between Young and head coach Nate McMillan, the outside noise regarding the Hawks is seemingly louder than it's ever been.

 

For Collins, the key to minimizing that noise is transparency and connectedness.

"The first thing I would say is just having those conversations within the locker room," Collins told me in response to the noise surrounding the team. "Just trying to keep it in-house."

"Other than that, just trying to keep the locker room light, making sure guys aren't too high or too low, making sure we keep the pace to where we're trying to go and what we're trying to do and stay focused.

"All the outside noise is a distraction that can hinder us if we let it. We try to have that tunnel vision and keep looking forward."

'Keep it in-house': Hawks' John Collins dishes out keys to team reaching full potential amid outside noise | Sporting News

[cam1218]

2 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

John Collins dishes out keys to Hawks reaching full potential amid outside noise

"I've been able to move around and get a little bit more work in," Collins said of his progress. "I'm getting back in rhythm and doing my best to get back on the court."

For a team like the Hawks, getting into a rhythm will be crucial.

During Collins' absence, Young dealt with a shoulder injury, De'Andre Hunter missed time with a hip injury, Clint Capela strained his calf and Murray sprained his ankle. Add in the fact that Bogdan Bogdanovic missed each of Atlanta's first 22 games, and it's impressive that the team is hovering around .500.

 

While Collins isn't in the business of making excuses, he did admit that injuries have only made the process of integrating new pieces more difficult.

"Every year is new, there's a new challenge every year — but obviously, trying to integrate new guys while other guys are out, it's hard for us to get that natural flow that teams need to be successful.

"It's been a challenge but we've been trying to push through and we're trying to be professionals. It's been rocky, but we'll figure it out."

 

With rocky times comes conflict, be it external or external. From trade rumors involving Collins to reports of uneasiness between Young and head coach Nate McMillan, the outside noise regarding the Hawks is seemingly louder than it's ever been.

 

For Collins, the key to minimizing that noise is transparency and connectedness.

"The first thing I would say is just having those conversations within the locker room," Collins told me in response to the noise surrounding the team. "Just trying to keep it in-house."

"Other than that, just trying to keep the locker room light, making sure guys aren't too high or too low, making sure we keep the pace to where we're trying to go and what we're trying to do and stay focused.

"All the outside noise is a distraction that can hinder us if we let it. We try to have that tunnel vision and keep looking forward."

'Keep it in-house': Hawks' John Collins dishes out keys to team reaching full potential amid outside noise | Sporting News

This is why I’m not giving up John. I love our guys, but JC seems to be the only one who understands what is going on and can vocalize it too. Nothing against the likes of (insert most of the rest of the team reporters talk to) but his perspective is always spot on and doesn’t seem like a programmed video game response.

[RedDawg#8]

On 11/15/2022 at 8:00 AM, RedDawg#8 said:

Speaking to the debate about getting him more touches. 

Still a small sample size, but it shows up in the W/L column when we are involving JC and other guys who are more efficient on offense.

We are now 8-4 in games he gets 10 or more shots and 5-6 in games he doesn't, 3-5 in games he misses altogether.