Is it time for the Atlanta Hawks to make a difficult decision about the starting 5?

Should John Collins still be a starter for the Atlanta Hawks?

At power forward, John Collins is marred in a month-plus-long slump (especially in his 3-point efficiency). Since February 1st, Collins is averaging just 10.6 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game on 48.4% shooting from the field (while shooting just 23.4% from deep (11 of 47) in that span). Collins’ Defensive Rating has also risen to 118.7 in that span (after being a 113.7 before then). He just has not been the player of late that he usually is.

Look, I’ve been one of the biggest JC supporters when it comes to his role in Atlanta. I have always felt that the team should not trade him, and has done him (and the team) a disservice by constantly surrounding him with distracting trade rumors (and allowing people to pit him against Trae Young). I believe he still has a future in Atlanta, and still believe in the pairing of him and Trae Young. However, Collins just isn’t playing well enough right now. His corner 3 (that has been lights out in years past) isn’t falling, and Collins’ confidence as a whole just seems shot right now.

Meanwhile, Saddiq Bey has been nothing short of a revelation since joining Atlanta at last month’s trade deadline. Bey is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game since his Hawk acquisition. The biggest factor that Bey has brought to the team though has been his 3-point shooting. He is hitting 50% from deep (on 5 shots a game) so far in his Atlanta career. He’s also shooting 50.6% from the field. Safe to say that Bey has flourished so far in Atlanta playing alongside the likes of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.

Bey is playing very well on the court with Trae Young. The duo of Young and Bey has an Offensive Rating of 123.8 when they’re on the court together this year (trailing only other Bey duo’s when it comes to the best rating of any duo that actually plays in the rotation together). The duo of Young and Bey has a +11.9 Net Rating (Offensive Rating minus Defensive Rating) when on the court together. Bey also has a 118.4 and 118.1 ORtg on the court together with Dejounte Murray and De’Andre Hunter this season. All three of those are better than the specific duo ORtg of Collins on the court with those three players.

You also can’t forget about youngster Jalen Johnson. He has taken a big step up under Quin Snyder as well. In six games in March, Johnson is averaging 6.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on 51.6% shooting from the field (and 42.9% from deep). He’s also been running the offense occasionally, which has added to the offense as well. I’m not quite ready to say that Johnson should be the Hawks’ starting power forward yet, but I do think it’s key that he remains a key part of the rotation down the stretch (while even running some Point Jalen!).

Again, the Hawks need John Collins. Even if he is removed from the starting lineup, the team is going to need him to play well if they are going to make a run. However, I think you have to at least have some thoughts about your starting lineup and your rotation.