Atlanta Hawks: 3 Takeaways From Blowout Win Over OKC
John Collins deserves to be an All-Star
Yes, it is true that John Collins has a long way to go on the defensive side of the ball but the way he is playing this season, he 100% deserves to be an All-Star, and at the very least, a serious contender to make the final cut. Night’s like Tuesday show why.
Collins, as per usual, got off to a hot start in this one. In the opening frame he went 3/3 from the field, and his steadily improving ability to finish through contact helped the Hawks stay within striking distance many different times throughout the evening.
Collins would go on to finish the game a stellar 12/14 from the field for 26 points, with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and no turnovers, showing off some solid playmaking ability as well.
John Collins has a zillion dunks and so does his dunking partner-in-crime, Alex Len, in part, because JC found him with this ridiculous touch pass. pic.twitter.com/XsEry4fjJF
— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) January 16, 2019
Whether it was Steven Adams, Jerami Grant or Patrick Patterson, Collins was able to get over or around them to get a bucket in the paint.
Sheesh pic.twitter.com/jwaXTgmKSH
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 16, 2019
This game continued the trend of dominating at home for Collins, who is shooting an incredibly impressive 63.2% from the field over 13 games at State Farm Arena.
The question of if John Collins can play the 5 long-term will continue to be an intriguing question for the franchise. But against a great Thunder defense, he showed the ability to play PF just fine in lineups with Omari Spellman and Alex Len, two very different types of centers.
But worry about long-term projections later, right now, John Collins is a one-man wrecking crew inside the paint, averaging 23 points and 10.6 rebounds on 60% shooting over his last five games, which also included a win over the Philadelphia 76ers.