Jazz’s Playbook: The Secret Sauce Behind John Collins’ Career Renaissance
The Utah Jazz might not be off to the perfect start in the 2023-24 season, but amidst the early struggles, there’s a shining star named John Collins who’s turning heads.
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Collins’ Rocky Road
When Collins joined the Jazz, he was coming off what some might call the “yikes” season of his career. His stats resembled a downward ski slope, and his role with the Atlanta Hawks was about as stable as a Jenga tower in an earthquake.
His offensive game resembled a sinking ship, with shooting percentages hitting rock bottom. Picture this: career lows in field goal percentage and three-point percentage. Ouch.
Jazz Magic: Collins’ Renaissance
Fast forward to his stint with the Jazz, and it’s like we’re witnessing the comeback of the century. In just 10 games, Collins has flipped the script.
So, How’s Collins Doing?
Picture this: 31 minutes a night, 15.0 points per game, and 8.0 rebounds. That’s almost two points better than last season and a rebound stat that hasn’t been seen since the Stone Age (okay, 2019-20 season, but close enough).
Coach Hardy’s Nuggets of Wisdom
Coach Will Hardy spilled the beans on the secret sauce. “Dribble, pass, and shoot,” he told Collins from day one. No rocket science here, just good old basketball. And guess what? It seems to be working.
Collins’ role in Atlanta? Limited to corner threes and pick and rolls. But with the Jazz, he’s got the freedom to spread his wings, and boy, is he soaring.
Freedom Feels Good
“I think he’s more comfortable with the freedom that he has,” Coach Hardy chuckled. “I’m not going to put [John] in a box of like, this is your position and these are the only things you do and these are things you don’t do.”
Collins Unleashed
So, what’s Collins doing with all this newfound freedom? Everything. Attacking the basket, blocking shots like he’s auditioning for a superhero role, and, oh, did we mention he’s become a sniper from beyond the arc?
Three-Point Symphony
Hold on to your hats, folks. Collins, the guy who once struggled with shooting, is now the Jazz’s second-best three-point shooter at a jaw-dropping 43 percent. That’s right up there with sharpshooter Simone Fontecchio and just a smidge below All-Star Lauri Markkanen.
“We’re comfortable with him taking those shots,” Markkanen said, adjusting to his new frontcourt buddy. “We see the work he puts in every day, and I think it’s been easier than I thought, really.”
Collins 2.0
Collins has notched up 15 made threes in the first 10 games, second only to his stellar 2019-20 campaign. Remember that season when he averaged a career-high 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game? Yeah, those were the days.
So, there you have it. The Jazz might be stumbling a bit, but John Collins is strutting his stuff and bringing a dash of flair, a sprinkle of humor, and a whole lot of game to the court. Watch out, NBA, Collins is on the rise! Cue the applause.
