Mr Mean on Jason

http://www.ajc.com/tuesday/content/epaper/editions/tuesday/sports_0465ea536455e05e007b.html

Collier won't let chance go to waste
Michael Lee - Staff Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Larry Smith, who spent the past three seasons with Collier in Houston. "Sometimes you have good players in the wrong situation, then they go elsewhere and they're productive. He's proving that he can play in this league. It all depends on where you're at."

Jason Collier's first week back in the NBA merely confirms what he never stopped believing.

"I always felt that I should be here," said Collier, who is averaging 17.5 points, six rebounds and shooting 60.5 percent from the floor after four games with the Hawks.

Collier was selected out of Georgia Tech with the 15th pick of the 2000 NBA draft, but the Houston Rockets chose not to re-sign him after three seasons last summer. After the Minnesota Timberwolves cut him in training camp in the fall, Collier was forced to take the minor-league route with the NBDL's Fayetteville Patriots.

"I never really lost hope," Collier said. "I was kind of disappointed at times, but it was just about persevering and doing the best I can that got me [back] here."

Given a second chance to make a first impression after he signed a 10-day contract with the Hawks last week, Collier is trying to show people that he just might belong. The 7-footer recorded his first career double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds during Sunday's loss in Toronto.

"If you go in there and put your nose in the middle of things, you're liable to come out with a couple of points here and there," he said. "I've been given the opportunity. I've got to keep doing what I can do."

In his first three seasons in Houston, Collier rarely had an opportunity to show what he could do, averaging 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds. Collier battled injuries and always seemed to be playing catch-up, backing up Kelvin Cato then getting pushed away completely last season with the arrival of Yao Ming.

"That meant Jason was definitely the odd man out," said Hawks assistant coach Larry Smith, who spent the past three seasons with Collier in Houston. "Sometimes you have good players in the wrong situation, then they go elsewhere and they're productive. He's proving that he can play in this league. It all depends on where you're at."

Collier couldn't have found a better fit than Atlanta, where all of the team's top front line players have been traded away. And, with Zeljko Rebraca and Joel Przybilla injured, Collier is playing more minutes than ever. In that time, the left-hander has shown an ability to knock down open jumpers and he has been surprisingly effective around the basket with post-up plays and rebound put-backs.

"He knows the NBA game," said Hawks coach Terry Stotts, who started Collier his first game against Cleveland. "There is a lot to be said for experience and not being overwhelmed. His challenge right now is he's gained respect, and now people are going to say, 'Watch out for him.' Guys will start playing him a little tougher, a lot harder."

Collier understands things can change any minute, however, which is why he won't get too full of himself just yet.

"You never know what's going to happen," he said. "I would love to stay here and play through the year --- that's what I'm hoping. But I'm on a 10-day contract, so it's day by day. I'm trying to hang in there."

 

I have all but never seen the man play. He never worked up a sweat in Rox linen and I haven't seen him with the Hawks.

From what little I did see of him I felt he would be a servicable 4/5 for years in the league. He apparently did not get on well with his teammates or coaching staff, or so it has been said.