Mike Scott had a meeting with Mike Budenholzer sometime after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Wizards. The Hawks forward was told by his coach that he was about to be taken out of the playing rotation.
Scott had eight points and four rebounds in 16 minutes of the Hawks’ Game 3 loss on May 9. He has yet to play since with four straight Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision.
“I wish I had an answer,” Scott said when asked about his lack of playing time after being such a valuable part of the bench the past two seasons. “Coach came to be and said he wanted to give (Mike Muscala) a shot. I support my teammates. Of course, I’m a competitor and I want to be out there with my teammates but I’m going to be a great teammate for my team.”
Scott said he is 100 percent healthy. When asked whether he told his lack of playing time was due to matchups, he simply said “You have to talk to Bud about that.”
The only other detail of the conversation that Scott would divulge was that it was one-sided.
“I didn’t ask,” Scott said of whether another explanation was given. “There was no back-and-forth. I just said ‘Yes sir.’”
The fact that small forward DeMarre Carroll is questionable for Game 2 after suffering a knee injury does not mean Scott will be back in the rotation. Carroll plays a different position than the power forward Scott.
“Mike is somebody who we have a lot of confidence in, a lot of belief in,” Budenholzer said. “The way we play, our 4’s and 5’s can play either position and our 1’s, 2’s and 3’s can play either position. Mike is primarily a 4-man. An injury to a 3-man does not trickle down. There is some opportunity but I don’t think DeMarre being injured as that kind of trickle down that maybe people are inferring or thinking.”
Muscala has averaged 5.2 points and 13 minutes in the past four games. In his eight games this postseason, the 6-foot-8 Scott is averaging 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11 minutes.
Scott did say matchups are not an issue in his mind. He believes his game is suited for any opponent.
“If you ask me, I’m more suited to anyone that we play – Brooklyn, Washington, Cleveland, whoever in the West, whoever in the NBA,” Scott said. “Once again, it’s a coach’s decision. I just have to be a great teammate to my team.”
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