“I felt a connection with Blake Griffin”

His first official basket in a Clippers jersey? Dunk facing a modest defense from Guangzhou Loong-Lions in the preseason. John Collins he marked his arrival in Los Angeles with the promise that other actions of this type would follow. Because the former jazzer, who had the Clippers in mind when the rumors about him appeared this summer, found a very natural connection with his first contacts with the local public.

« Obviously, I think it’s because of the relationship with Blake Griffin… People called me Blake, like Blake Griffin. Athletic side in fourth position. So I know there was that. But other than that, maybe I just thought they liked to watch good basketball. But I was happy to see that the Clippers fans were excited to see me. Or that you want me », he delivers The Athletic.

It must be said that the 4 position has been rare in the Clippers for several years now. Tyronn Lue was instead able to rely on a constellation of wing players (Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr…) who were forced to play at the 4 position alongside Ivica Zubac.

So much so that some consider Blake Griffin to be the last true forward on the local team. As long as we forget Tobias Harris or Marcus Morris who later took that position. This problem may have resurfaced during the last playoffs when Aaron Gordon crushed the rim at the buzzer of a pivotal Game 4which would allow the Clippers to have a foothold in the second round. This action alone spoke volumes about the team’s lack of size and athleticism.

The arrival of John Collins, who has been followed by the local team for two years and was included in the trade for Norman Powell, aims to remedy that. ” It gives us the opportunity to have a little more versatility. Now we can play Kawhi a little more at the three position, John at the four position. John can even play a little pivot in the small ball version » recently imagined Lawrence Frank, the president.

Holder or 6th man?

« He’s a guy that can go against a player that gives us a lot of problems. I’m not going to name names, but in this position… John Collins would be ideal for this matchup and for what we’re trying to set up. “, adds Tyronn Lue, who appreciates “ size and strength » from his recruit.

We do not yet know if the latter will inject it into his five in addition to James Harden, Bradley Beal, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac. In the preseason, he started only once, while Derrick Jones Jr. makes well established with Kawhi Leonard. The former Atlanta player also had the best game off the bench against the Kings (24 points on 7/8 shooting), and he scored mostly from below the circle thanks to Chris Paul’s vision.

« that’s great. When you have a big guy like John on the court next to Kawhi, teams have a real headache for matchups. Do you want to put a smaller player on John, or a smaller player on Kawhi? Collins’ versatility on both sides of the court is a huge asset for us », formulates Tyronn Lue while his player does not take offense at this status.

And last year he sometimes came off the jazz bench. ” I will work hard every day on the field. What if it doesn’t get me a starting spot? So I will continue to get high every day I come off the bench. I don’t see it any other way “, promises John Collins, who will receive $26.6 million this season before becoming a “free agent” next summer.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=5vv1CkUpMav

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / 3 points in an attempt; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.