Over the years, many have complained about how the NBA season has too many games, making players more susceptible to injury. The one benefit to an 82-game season is that teams have the time to turn their season around. If there's one team that's done that, it's the Los Angeles Clippers.
For a while there, it truly looked like their goose was cooked, but the Clippers licked their wounds, got their act together, and now, they're in prime position to get right back into the playoff race. That alone is good news for the Utah Jazz, but part of why the Clippers have come back with a vengeance has been the excellent play of Jazz alum John Collins.
No, Collins has not been the primary reason why the Clippers have been on a tear, but his role in their dominant play has been undeniable. Jazz fans are aware of this, as Collins showed during his two years in Utah how bad he is when he doesn't fit with the team, but just how good he is when he does.
How the Clippers have gotten the John Collins experience in full (in shorter time)
As any Jazz fan would tell you, Collins was so bad in his first year in Utah that many believed he would be an albatross they simply would have to swallow whole. Just like any Jazz fan would also tell you that he was so good the following season, that Utah had to bench him to prevent him from getting in the way of their tank.
That is the John Collins experience in a nutshell. When he doesn't fit, it's a pretty nasty experience. But when he does, it's beautiful to watch. In LA, Collins has shown the Clippers the good, the bad, and the ugly when a team adds him.
When the Clippers were at rock bottom, winning only six of their first 27 games, Collins averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks while shooting 49.8% from the field and 28.8% from three in 27 minutes per game, per NBA.com. Those are pretty bad numbers for what the Clippers are paying him (and Jazz fans know the feeling).
To be fair, the Clippers were simply a disaster overall at the time. If you look at his net rating during that stretch, you'll see that they were bad when he was on the floor and worse when he was off of it.
However, since they turned their season around (starting on December 20), Collins' numbers have improved significantly. Per NBA.com, he's averaging 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 67.2% from the field and 62.5% from three. His net rating during this stretch indicates that they are fantastic when he's on the floor (though still pretty good when he's off it).
This is the John Collins experience in a nutshell. When he doesn't fit, it's hard not to grind your teeth when watching him, but when he does, he can make the game of basketball much more beautiful. It's a shame he couldn't help the Jazz rise to contention, but it's awesome to see his efforts turn the Clippers into one.