Here is what they said after the Hawks’ 91-84 loss to the Bulls Saturday night:
“It was a defensive battle, which is what happens a lot of times when you come here to play. I think both teams really competed defensively and made things difficult. Mike Dunleavy had a heck of a second half. Some of (his baskets) were really well-contested, tough, difficult shots. Give him credit for making them. Twenty offensive rebounds really made it difficult for us. But we had 17 offensive rebounds ourselves. It was a close game. We just couldn’t find a way. I think we have to be a little bit smarter down the stretch. We have to compete every possession, every rebound. Sometimes that leads to 20 offensive rebounds (allowed). Those are areas where we need to improve. Just playing smarter down the stretch and competing harder on the boards.”
- Coach Mike Budenholzer’s opening statement
“That was a big swing. A big change in the game.”
- Budenholzer on DeMarre Carroll offensive foul and Kyle Korver disallowed 3-pointer
“It felt like they were finishing on the tip and putting them back in. I don’t know what the second-chance points were. It was more they were tapping them in and scoring. We got some long, loose ones and we had to work. Even if we did score, we were having to work really hard to score.”
- Budenholzer on Bulls’ timely offensive rebounds
“It’s a little bit of good defense. Our spacing at times needs to improve. Our ball movement at times needs to improve. It’s a lot of little things. I couldn’t say it’s one specific thing. I think we are going to learn how to play end of games together.”
- Budenholzer on Hawks’ issues down the stretch
“He said I kicked my leg out. I tried to explain that Joakim (Noah defending), every time I shoot, I can’t land flat. So I’m shooting trying to get myself space (to land).”
- DeMarre Carroll on offensive foul call
“I think we really need to pay attention to detail, especially on the defensive end. They were crashing the offensive glass and being aggressive. We weren’t being aggressive. They made it a physical game and we just didn’t match their physicality.”
- Carroll on Hawks’ execution issues
“They are a great defensive team with a defensive-minded coach. We had a lot of open shots that didn’t fall. I know I had a lot. Kyle had a lot. They are very tough on the boards.”
- Mike Scott on Hawks’ execution problems
“A situation like that, you have to fight through it. You can’t do much about it. You have to fight through it, play through it.”
- On Carroll foul and Korver disallowed 3-pointer
“It takes away three points at the end of the game. It’s a big deal. I should have shot it faster.”
- Kyle Korver on disallowed 3-pointer
“We just didn’t make winning plays tonight.”
- Jeff Teague on Hawks’ execution issues
About the Author
