"Work to be the best individual player you can be so your team can win."
"I outlived my dream." (loved that one)
"Once you build trust, you can speak the truth."
Coach Collins talked about H.A.L.T.
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
This is when we are most vulnerable (decisions)
Coach Collins told Avery Johnson that his biggest challenge as a coach would be to find 5 guys that love the game as much as you do and to not let the other 8 distract you.
"As coaches, we too often get seduced by talent."
As a coach, Collins was concerned about things he can control:
1. Conditioning
2. Preparation
3. Reward my competitors (my players that competed)
"To change a team you must change their comfort zone."
"Don't be in competition with players for publicity."
3 Things you must give you team:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Live
Easy baskets (scoring them offensively and stopping them defensively were important to Coach Collins.
1. Points of turnovers
2. Turnovers
3. Transition Defense - points allowed
4. Paint Points
5. 2nd Chance Points
Key stats for Coach Collins:
1. Point Differential - Big in NBA
2. Road Record
3. FG% Differential
Again, this is just a short list of what Coach Collins shared with us. The most moving was Saturday night when he shared his '72 Olympic experience with us. He went into not just losing the controversial Gold medal game but the process of the tryouts, the practices (21 straight days of 3-a-day sessions), the games, etc. It included how Coach K utilized him with the Dream Team, sharing his story and how they honored him. He also shared some great practice and games stories from his time coaching Michael Jordan with the Chicago and then Washington.
