http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26104826/10-things-like-including-lakers-tank-talk

Here comes Trae Young

Young navigated the first two months of the season with a strange caution. He jacked 3-pointers out of the pick-and-roll at an average-ish rate for a starting point guard. He barely tried step-backs.

It wasn't, like, a crisis. Young knew how to leverage the threat of his 3-point shot to set up both drives and cuts, and immediately established himself as an elite passer with both hands. (Seriously: He has every pass, and he releases the ball a beat earlier or later -- depending on what does the most damage -- than the typical NBA point guard. Such quirky timing is the mark of genius in a passer.) Atlanta wanted Young to build his game inside-out.

But skills are interconnected. Young proving himself a dangerous, unpredictable off-the-bounce bomber would force defenses to pressure him more -- and unlock easier drive-and-kick opportunities. Shooting enables passing.

Young has gotten frisky.

Since Jan. 1, Young is jacking 3s out of the pick-and-roll about six times per 100 Atlanta possessions -- fourth most in the league (behind James Harden, Kemba Walker and D'Angelo Russell), and about double his early-season rate, per Second Spectrum. He made five step-back 3s in his first 34 games -- tied for 38th. He has made 12 in his past 28 games -- seventh most in that span, per Second Spectrum.

Young averaged 23 points and nine dimes in February on 44 percent shooting from deep, and capped the month with back-to-back 36-point eruptions. And this not a case of someone piling up numbers by breaking the offense on a tanking team. Atlanta is 15-18 in its past 33 games. Young hunting for more shots has made the Hawks better.

The amped-up Young has certainly helped John Collins. Collins is shooting 60 percent with Young on the floor, and just 47 percent otherwise, per NBA.com.

This is the Young the Hawks envisioned when they made a franchise-defining bet on draft night.

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it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. - sherlock holmes