What they said after the Hawks’ 115-111 loss to the Heat Friday:
"Coming out of the break we felt like defensively we've been playing better. To give up 115 points and 50 percent (field goal percentage) was tough. We've got to be a lot better. We have to start doing it on the court. Disappointing way to start after the break." – Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer's opening statement
"I think only one free throw for us in the second half hurt us. Offensively, we got 111 (points) and played pretty well. Only one free throw in the second half, we have to be more aggressive." – Budenholzer on 28-13 free-throw difference
"They are coming off the same break and should have the same rust. The last game before the All-Star break and the one coming back sometimes cannot be pretty. Some of that can be rust. At times we were playing too unselfishly with 21 turnovers. There were instances when we didn't play with the pass like we should. We kind of had a little bit of everything when it came to the turnovers. That was huge. Twenty-one turnovers is tough to overcome." – Budenholzer on 21 turnovers
"To come out after the break and play a team that, they had a lot of guys play well and a lot of guys step up. I don't know what the right word is. We've got to be better. It's got to happen with our actions and with what we do on the court. I do believe in the character of our group and that they will respond but at some point it has to happen on the court. That character has to come out in the games. We believe it will." – Budenholzer on whether he is concerned
"We definitely weren't sharp on the defensive end. I felt like we gave them a lot of open looks. But give them credit too. When a team is down a few of their good players there are opportunities for other guys to step up and they are excited to play. They had a couple guys, especially (Josh) McRoberts and Luol (Deng) play well tonight. So you tip your hat to them but obviously it's a very frustrating loss." – Kyle Korver on loss
"Definitely not. Not the game we wanted. We have to be a little more physical and we have to play smarter. You can't expect to play hard and that's going to be enough. Hopefully, we'll keep getting better at that." – Korver on loss out of break
"That's exactly what he told us and it's very true. We've got a bunch of great guys in this locker room and a bunch of guys who care, bunch of guys who want to do the right thing. But we have to have a little more fire in us on a nightly basis. We've got to be a little bit smarter. We've got to make them feel us a little more and play a little smarter." – Korver on needing character to show on court
"We were sloppy at times. You have to give them credit though. They came out with a sense of urgency. They were the better team tonight. They had a lot of guys down on their team. A lot of guys who don't get to play a lot got a chance to go tonight. They had some guys stepped up. Josh McRoberts and Luol Deng really carried them the bulk of the night." – Kent Bazemore on loss
"Slow start. We didn't execute well. They did. They shot the ball well. Luol Deng had a heck of a game. But it's the first game (back from break). Hopefully, we get one tomorrow." – Paul Millsap on loss
"At some point, we have to produce. We've got to win the game no matter what the circumstances are. We just have to get it done." – Millsap on execution
