"I know from personal experience what injuries can do to you," said Collins, whose own career was cut short after 8 years because of a variety of foot and knee problems. "Sometimes, even if you play well, you're thinking about what you might feel like the next morning. That's just human nature."
Collins has had his staff fanning out to visit with players and check their training and workout progress: Michael Curry with Lou Williams and Jodie Meeks in Georgia; Brian James with first-round draft pick Evan Turner in Columbus, Ohio; Snyder with Spencer Hawes; and Aaron Mc-Kie with various players in Philadelphia.
Collins and Curry watched Marreese Speights work out last week in Las Vegas.
"I told him what a talent he is, and that how he does the next couple of seasons could chart his career," Collins said.
Collins seemed unconcerned with Turner's struggles in the Orlando summer league.
"He was part of a group of guys who expected to go high in the draft and were told to stay away from contact drills and avoid getting hurt until after it was over," the coach said. "I'm guessing it was probably 90 days from Evan's last game at Ohio State to the league in Orlando. But those 8 days showed him what kind of condition he has to be in to compete [in the NBA]. I don't want him to be frustrated, but if he was, that could be a good thing because it was a great growth experience."
Six shots
Former Sixers big man Steven Hunter is scheduled to participate in the NBA's "Sportscaster U" this week at Syracuse. The program includes various aspects of broadcast journalism . . . Sixers guard Willie Green will join NBA players and African natives DeSagana Diop, Luc Mbah a Moute and Hasheem Thabeet in a Basketball Without Borders program in Senegal Aug. 5-8 . . .
USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo on Delaware County native Tyreke Evans being a "pretty obvious" cut from the national-team roster because of a sprained left ankle: "It was a bad break for him. He's a terrific kid. He's certainly part of our group and our team. We'll be looking at him down the road in all probability."
