Here is what they said after the Hawks’ 89-85 loss to the Pacers Tuesday night:
“I’m proud of the way our group competed defensively all night. I think it was one of our better defensive efforts from the very beginning of the game. I think we created a lot of turnovers in the first half (14). The second half they took better care of the ball. Our activity with the entire group was really good. Offensively, it wasn’t one of our better nights. I think you have to give Indiana’s defense credit for that. They are one of the best defensive teams in the league for a reason. I think we talked about in the (locker) room that we found a way to give ourselves a chance at the end and I’m proud of the group for that. I feel good about our defense from beginning to end and give Indiana a lot of credit for their defense versus us. It wasn’t one of our better offensive nights.”
- Coach Mike Budenholzer’s opening statement
“We were searching for things that could work. Not defensively, searching for things that would work offensively. That group got into a pretty good rhythm and were making things happen. Obviously, they were the ones who cut it from a double-digit lead and got us down to two. It’s always a tough decision for a coach. Those starters are obviously guys who we believe in and feel strongly about. Tonight, we just stuck with the group that cut the lead and let them try to get the win.”
- Budenholzer on sitting several starters in the fourth quarter
“It’s important that we give Indiana credit for their defense but I think we did have some decent looks that we didn’t make. We probably weren’t as aggressive. We weren’t has decisive as we normally are and as you need to be against a good defensive team. I think there were opportunities that were decent that a majority of the season we made or converted on those opportunities. I think it’s important to give them the credit first and then we have lots of areas to improve.”
- Budenholzer on Hawks’ shooting woes
“I think it’s invaluable for Dennis (Schroder) to be in that situation and play the last 10 minutes of the game and be part of a group that cuts a double-digit lead to two against a high-level opponent. That team has the best record in the East and the NBA, for him to be competing against that group is invaluable for him. And Shelvin (Mack) and Mike Scott. Cartier (Martin) is somebody who we’ve had for a lot of time this year, for him to come in and make a couple big shots. We want to build a team here. It was an opportunity for that group to contribute and start laying those bricks and building with us. They have worked hard. Dennis had an unbelievable practice yesterday and that has carried over to the games. I’m happy for him. It takes a team to win in this league and that’s what we are trying to build.”
- Budenholzer on experience gained by young group
“They are the best defensive team in recent history, right? They are tough. I thought there were times when we were forced to take some tough shots and there were some times when we missed some open ones. The open ones you get against this team you just have to make. Tough loss.”
- Kyle Korver on Hawks’ shooting woes
“We need those guys to play well. They brought us back and, deservingly so, coach left them in for the end. We still had a chance at the end. Hopefully, Dennis and those guys got some good minutes and it will help them out.”
- Korver on fourth-quarter rally
“Especially in the third quarter, they came out and they are long with athletic wings and they played with a lot of intensity. They got us out of our rhythm. We only scored 12 point in that third quarter to their 24 points. It’s hard to come back on a team like that. But that third unit did it. We are proud of the way they played at the end and tried to win us a ball game.”
- Elton Brand on Hawks’ shooting woes
“They were playing against their first string for the latter half of the fourth quarter. They got the spacing. They got the shots. And they were confident and knocked them down. We were seeing some of those shots earlier but it didn’t feel like we were open. Paul George is so long and athletic and he recovers so fast. Roy Hibbert in the paint using the rule of verticality and he was contesting shots. It’s just tough to score on that team. They are the number one defensive team and it showed.”
- Brand on group that made late rally
“I think we played great defense. I thought we brought the energy and we tried to get stops and get it going on offense.”
- Dennis Schroder on group that made fourth-quarter rally
“I didn’t see (Paul George). That was a tough turnover. I learned from it, for sure. It was the kind of mistakes I can’t do.”
- Schroder on key fourth-quarter turnover
“Every time I get on the court I try to earn my minutes. I have to give everything to try to help the team.”
- Schroder on getting valuable minutes
“We’re happy to get the win. Our guys buckled down on the defensive end. (The Hawks) made a few shots in the last minute or two but for the most part we held a pretty explosive offensive team down to 85 points. That’s a pretty good effort. If we just get the turnovers under control, we’d have a double-digit road win. So we know what we have to work on.”
- Pacers coach Frank Vogel’s opening statement
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