CLIPPERS GIVE COLLISON CHANCE TO GET BACK TO WINNING
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 7:01 pm
“I felt like playing with the Clippers was an opportunity to win now,” Collison said. “I couldn’t care less how old I am or how young I am, I want to win now. Regardless, if I come off the bench or however many minutes they want to play me, I want to be on a championship team.”“Every day when we’re playing pickup and I see D.C. (Collison) walk in, I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this guy’s our backup point guard,’” Griffin said. “His speed, right away, is what makes him so dangerous. But I think he can really defend. He’s really going to put some pressure [on opposing point guards], doing stuff that E-B kind of did. And also he’s really looking to pass every time down. He’s not a guy who looks for his shot a lot, but he can score.”He’s already seen glimpses of the possibilities ahead. Collison has been a regular at impromptu workout sessions in Playa Vista, playing pickup games alongside Griffin, Paul, Hollins, Matt Barnes, Byron Mullens, DeAndre Jordan, Brandon Davies, Willie Green and others. Collison said being there is all part of the process of joining a new team, only made easier because he can do it within miles of his home. But it’s also about putting in the sweat together and ultimately about realizing it will take an element of sacrifice.
“When I was making this decision to come to the Clippers I was like, ‘Ok, what makes a championship team? Why are some teams that much better than other teams every single year?’ And I think it’s sacrifice. I think knowing that a guy like Chris Paul was going to be the starting point guard, it took a big sacrifice on my part just to be on a championship team. And I think that’s what brings a championship team together. I’m all up for it.”
Eric Patten, Clippers.com