FOURTH-QUARTER LEADS
The Hawks (8-6) have held final-period leads in 11 of their 14 games. Here is how they fared:
Date/Opponent/Lead/Result
Nov. 1/vs. Toronto/11/Won by 7
Nov. 5/at Sacramento/18/Won by 5
Nov. 7/at Denver/8/Lost by 2
Nov. 9/vs. Orland/11/Won by 10
Nov. 11/at Charlotte/14/Won by 9
Nov. 13/vs. New York/6/Lost by 4
Nov. 15/vs. Philadelphia/14/Won by 10
Nov. 16/at New York/22/Won by 22
Nov. 20/vs. Detroit/13/Won by 8
Nov. 22/at Detroit/8/Won by 7
Nov. 23/vs. Boston/12/Lost by 7
The Hawks went back to work Monday as they set about putting a troubling loss behind them.
Despite leading by 12 points with 11:14 remaining on Saturday, the Hawks lost 94-87 to the Celtics after a 19-point final-period swing. The Hawks (8-6) have held fourth-quarter leads in 11 of 14 games, losing four of the advantages and three of the contests. The latest loss was still painful after a day off.
“It wasn’t one of our better games,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We have to look at ourselves critically. I don’t think the players would argue with me or themselves. I think our pick-and-roll defense wasn’t what we needed it to be in the fourth quarter. Our aggressiveness wasn’t what we needed it to be in the fourth quarter. Hopefully, we’ll learn from that and be better, really, from start to finish.”
Thus far, the Hawks lost to the Nuggets on Nov. 7 after holding an eight-point lead with 6:52 remaining and lost to the Knicks on Nov. 13 after holding a six-point lead with 8:33 remaining. They lost an eight-point lead with 10:52 left against the Pistons last week but rebounded for a victory.
“I think it was one of those games where in the fourth quarter, we were complacent,” guard Lou Williams said after the Celtics loss. “Maybe we felt like they were going to give us the game and they took it. You have to give credit where credit is due. They made shots, we didn’t. We didn’t get stops, they did. They won the game.”
The Hawks are still third in the Eastern Conference. Entering Monday’s play, they were one of only three teams in the East with an above-.500 record behind the Pacers (12-1) and Heat (10-3). Three teams in the top eight have losing marks. By contrast the Western Conference has 10 teams above the .500 mark and only two with losing records.
It has been an up-and-down start to the season for the Hawks. They have not won more than two games in a row but have yet to lose consecutive games.
Budenholzer said he doesn’t believe the start of the season is proof of a lack of consistency from the team.
“To string some games together would be great,” Budenholzer said. “I don’t feel like it’s been inconsistency. I think we probably haven’t played as well for as long of stretches as we would like and so I guess that is inconsistent within the game. But I don’t think we are sitting here saying we don’t give good effort every night or we are not bringing it every night or that we are inconsistent. That is not what I’m feeling as a coach. That is not something we are really hammering (to the players).”
Coming off the loss to the Celtics, the Hawks host the Magic Tuesday. They have won 11 straight against Orlando with the last loss coming more than three years ago (Nov. 8, 2010). One of those wins came earlier this month, a 104-94 win at Philips Arena.
Etc: Williams will play against the Magic and sit out Wednesday's game at the Rockets. The guard is not playing back-to-back games initially as he returns from a torn right ACL. However, that restriction may be lifted soon. After another back-to-back Friday and Saturday, the Hawks play one next month, Dec. 13-14. "Hopefully after this little stretch here, by the time we get to our next back-to-back, he would be cleared," Budenholzer said. …
DeMarre Carroll was a full practice participant Monday and is expected to play Tuesday. The forward was visibly limping following the loss to the Celtics and said he injured his back and wrist in the game. … Kyle Korver will look to continue his streak of 87 games with a 3-pointer against the Magic. He is two shy of the NBA record of 89 set by Dana Barros. Korver could tie the mark Wednesday at the Rockets and set the record Friday at home against the Mavericks.
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