Hawks-Magic postgame quotes

Here is what they said after the Hawks’ 109-92 loss the Magic Tuesday night:

“Obviously we didn’t play well. I think in the second half Orlando raised its level and we didn’t respond to it. We as a group got a little out of sync. We have to learn how to respond and react when the opponent raises its level. It was just a night where we didn’t do that and we didn’t play well. So, that’s it.”

- Coach Mike Budenholzer’s opening statement

“Ultimately we didn’t respond the way we need to respond. It’s hard to question our group’s effort. They give it every day. I think tonight, I would say we didn’t respond and we were out of sync and we didn’t play our best basketball. Our group’s effort is always very good. Tonight, we could probably be better but we just didn’t respond.”

- Budenholzer on if Hawks’ problem was a lack of effort

“It always helps when those shots go down. We had some good looks and when you don’t make them, I think that led to us getting out of sync. At times, you give Orlando credit. They made some tough shots. We missed some open ones and they made some tough ones and that is the game. That’s why they played well and we didn’t.”

- Budenholzer on Hawks’ good looks that didn’t fall

“I don’t think their defense was any different. We just got out of sync. I think our spacing could be better. At times we passed up some open shots. We talked after the game (Saturday) night that we want to drive the ball and be more aggressive. In the first half that led to us getting a lot of good looks at 3’s. In the second half we might have driven it a couple too many times. We had guys open and they put it down. Our group is trying to do everything they can in what we are asking, it was spacing, a little bit out of sync that led to those turnovers.”

- Budenholzer on Hawks’ six third-quarter turnovers

“They made a run and we couldn’t really recover.”

- Al Horford on decisive third quarter

“I think we have to be better on the defensive end. I think that is where it all starts. We’ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror and be honest with ourselves and see where we need to improve. We have a tough challenge ahead of us (Wednesday) night in Houston. That is what we need to focus on now.”

- Horford on Hawks’ defensive problems

“They were doing it in a variety of ways but the real downers were the easy layups that they were getting. That is unacceptable. We need to be better at that if we want to have any chance at winning. We don’t have the kind of team where we can take people for granted. We need to go out there and play hard and play the same way every night because, if not, anybody in this league can beat you. We can’t afford to play like we played tonight.”

- Horford on Magic scoring opportunities

“Honestly, we took some good shots. They just weren’t falling for us. Maybe we need to keep attacking the paint more, which we did. Jeff got in there and just some things didn’t go his way. I think it’s more on the defensive end. That is where I’m most worried about.”

- Horford on whether missing shots caused a snowball effect

“It’s the NBA. You have to suck it up and bounce back.”

- Jeff Teague on loss

“They were just coming up short every time. I was on a fast break one-on-one with Jameer Nelson and it comes up short. It just didn’t fall for me tonight. No excuse. They played well. They shot the lights out. It’s tough to beat a team when they are shooting like that.”

- Teague on shots not falling

“I think we just came out flat. They were the aggressor and we weren’t. We’ve got to learn after the half we have to come out and play better. I don’t think we’ve got it yet. We have to learn from it.”