There was another film session.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer held a fiery session after the Hawks started 5-5 last season. We all know how that turned out.
The Hawks coach challenged his starters after they opened this season with a 106-94 loss to the Pistons Tuesday. The starters played poorly in the defeat. Budenholzer led the film session – this one not as fiery according to players – on Wednesday during a non-practice treatment and recovery day.
“Urgency, energy,” Kyle Korver said of the difference after the Hawks disposed of the Knicks 112-101 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. “We came out really focused tonight. We had a great film session yesterday. Coach got on us. Showed us some things. A lot of simple things. A lot of details that we have to be more focused on. Guys came out and responded.”
The Hawks have six players score in double-figures, including four starters. Jeff Teague had 23 points. Al Horford (21 points), Kyle Korver (15), Dennis Schroder (13), Paul Millsap (11) and Tiago Splitter (10) were the others in double digits. The starting unit was a comined -plus-76 on the night.
When asked if he challenged the players or the players challenged themselves, Budenholzer said only “I think a little bit of both.”
The Hawks opened a 10-point lead by the end of the first quarter. They led by as many as 22 points.
“We had a healthy film session,” Horford said. “There he told us what he expected of us, what he wanted us to do better. I think everybody answered the call.
“We are in there learning. Everybody has to be honest with themselves on how we can be better. That’s what we did.”
Millsap said the session was about getting back to team habits, those little things the Hawks did so well en route to a 60-win regular season and a deep playoff run. It’s simple, he said, but sometimes players need to be reminded during a long season. This reminder came early.
“He does,” Millsap said when asked if Budenholzer challenged the starting unit. “It shouldn’t be that way. We should challenge ourselves. He does a great job of challenging us, especially when we are not doing what we need to do. We needed it. We came out and performed.”
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