Here is what they said after the Hawks’ 96-89 victory over the Pistons Friday night:
“I think what we did at the end of the game there, starting with Jeff Teague’s block; then DeMarre Carroll tracking down a couple transition put-back and-ones; Al Horford sprinting back in transition defense and getting a steal and getting a lob; going from defense to offense and offense to defense and back and forth when the game is on the line; that’s what we’ve been talking about. That is probably the most important thing to take from the game. I think we were good in stretches and sloppy in stretches. But we found a way to win on the road and that is important to us.”
- Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer’s opening statement
“If you want to be a great player, the first player you look at is yourself. Even though he did a lot of things well, I think there are things he wants to do better and our entire group needs to do things better. If he is being reflective than that is a good sign. I think he is going to keep getting better and better if that is his approach.”
- Budenholzer on Jeff Teague being uphappy with performance
“He made a lot of great basketball plays. Reading the passing lane and getting the steal and the breakaway, that was big. Then the follows. He is a competitor. He wants to win. He finds ways to win. He hits the big 3-ball that falls down after bouncing around.”
- Budenholzer on DeMarre Carroll
“It was interesting because he had eight assists and no turnovers at halftime. I don’t know how many points. Then to take what the game gives you. I think the second half him getting to the rim and scoring. But I think we are just as happy with the eight assists and no turnovers and him finding the balancing of assisting and scoring that is his job. He is learning and getting better and better.”
- Budenholzer on Teague being aggressive in third quarter
“We took care of it better. Some of our turnovers, we are doing it to ourselves. There are a lot of them that we can control and we can take care of. Those are the ones we need to look at and improve. I’m encouraging the group to be aggressive and play with pace. I think early there may be some turnovers as we are getting used to the pace and used to the system.”
- Budenholzer on turnovers
“I thought Al was really big on both ends of the court. He hit some timely buckets. … His presence on the court was settling for us tonight. He is always understated. I hope everybody appreciates how much he means to us.”
- Budenholzer on Al Horford
“We had to finish out the game the right way. That is something we’ve been struggling early in the year, losing leads in the fourth. We did a much better job tonight.”
- Horford on Hawks’ finish
“That was big. That was such a great play. At first it was ‘C’mon Jeff.’ Then it was like ‘Yeah.’ Paul being conscious enough to go and get that ball and get it in our possession was huge. I think it changed the game completely.”
- Horford on Teague’s block
“Maybe in earlier games, we might have given this game away with mistakes. We’ve learned from that. We are in a better position. We are not there yet because we gave up the lead in the fourth but we are definitely getting better.”
- Horford on Hawks’ late hustle
“He made a good play on the ball defensively. I just took my eye of it, trying to see what my options were before I made a move. He made a good play on the ball. I know coach was going to show it on film so I had to make sure I got back and made an attempt or maybe foul him. I got the block. I was able to meet him at the rim.”
- Jeff Teague on game-saving block
“We are getting better. There have been times when we’ve been in that same situation and we lost the game. We are making strides. Tonight was a big step for us.”
- Teague on Hawks’ late play
“I think they were playing me for the pass. At the beginning of the game I was getting guys involved. Then coach told me to be aggressive. That is my game - going downhill, getting to the basket and trying to make some plays.”
- Teague on third quarter
“I think we turned it up on the defensive end and thought go our energy up on the offensive end. Coach always talks to be about anchoring the defense and being active and everybody else will play off me. That is what I want to do every time I step on the court is bring energy.”
- DeMarre Carroll on Hawks’ late play
“It was good. Every one of them felt good, except the first one. I just kept shooting. … I was ready to shoot. I already made up my mind to shoot if Paul swung it to me.”
- Carroll on fourth-quarter 3-pointer
“Josh (Smith) is one of our top players. He’s not going to be on our bench. Things happen.”
- Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks on not starting Smith due for disciplinary reasons
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