So maybe speed does kill, but does it have to happen over and over?
The Hawks were left dizzy by an unlikely source Sunday night – the struggling Los Angeles Lakers, then owners of a dismal nine-game losing streak.
The Lakers ran and ran, and kept at it until they had run the Hawks right out of Staples Center, handing them their worst defeat of the season, 132-113.
“They did a great job getting the rebound and playing with pace,” Hawks guard Dennis Schroder said. “We didn’t play transition defense at all. In the second quarter the game went out of hand.”
The Lakers took over the game to start the second quarter, opening with a 21-3 run that buried the Hawks. By halftime, the Lakers had outscored the Hawks on fastbreak points, 28-0.
“They capitalized on the first half,” guard Kent Bazemore said. “They had 28 fastbreak points and that’s a lot over two games.
“We just didn’t get back and they had a lot of guys do things down the stretch. We’re in similar situation. We’re playing hard, but they got the best of us tonight.”
It’s not like the Hawks did not expect the Lakers to try and push the ball. Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer had warned his team for two days the Lakers would attempt to run at every opportunity.
“It was a priority going into the game that you have to get back and make them play in half court,” Budenholzer said. “We just didn’t do that enough. Their defense created some of their transition. They were aggressive.
“They were out and running on the fastbreak, making 3’s, making layups. And I think it started with good defense on their part. We weren’t executing offensively.”
The Hawks turned the ball over 15 times, the Lakers had 13 steals and outrebounded Atlanta 49-37. That can lead to plenty of fastbreak opportunities, and a team hungry for a win was only too ready to run.
“They’re playing fast, misses or makes,” Schroder said. “They’re taking it out quick and find Lonzo (Ball), find (Tyler) Ennis, and they just push it ahead. It’s difficult to defend. We have to give them credit tonight.”
