Rapid reaction to an Atlanta Hawks 116-100 loss at the hands of the red-hot Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
Coming off a tight, exciting 104-101 loss to the East-front runner Toronto Raptors in Canada the night before, the Atlanta Hawks started strong before falling flat in a 116-100 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
The meeting at the Barclays Center was the second this season between the two teams–Brooklyn took the first rodeo 144-127 back on Dec. 16.
This time around, we appeared headed for a different conclusion after the game started off splendidly for the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
They jumped out to a commanding 38-23 lead on the tatted shoulders of a certain All-Star hopeful. John Collins was a whirling dervish of muscled activity, taking advantage of mismatches down low to punish the Nets with both slams and soft finishes around the rim.
Interestingly, Brooklyn stuck Jared Dudley on Collins for most of the game in an effort to slow the second-year stud down. Head-scratching considering that fellow second-year stud Jarrett Allen conceivably could have had more success.
Collins won’t complain though, he tallied another monster outing: 30 points and 14 rebounds (9 of them offensive).
Get this man to Charlotte.