12/19/2022 Hawks Postgame Comments

[Lauren L Williams](https://twitter.com/williamslaurenl?s=21&t=kw7RMZ8ldaknpt5mCtA13g)

McMillan on the giving up their double-digit lead: “We just got to show growth. We got to close games. I thought we got lucky.”

I asked Nate McMillan if there was any concern that the Hawks still struggle to close games after 31: “No, it’s not, that’s not a concern. It’s not a concern, we’re still working, are working on it with 31 games into the season, and we’re not where we want to be…and we have to continue to work on it. I don’t think any team is really where they want to be right now. But we got to get more consistent with how we play the game.” He said that the Hawks need to not only establish a defensive presence but also sustain for all 48 mins.

When I asked Trae Young about where this team goes from here with their commitment to defense, he said: “We just got to be more communicative and be better on that end.”

On finishing games, Young said: “…But we got to do a better job of finishing the game and just being more clear (on) what we’re what we’re running and getting to our spots and then just scoring on our matchup. I got to do better on on scoring and finishing the game.”

Dejounte Murray on what the concern level in the locker room about settling on the team’s identity:

“I think we’re trying to do it together, I feel like and one thing about the NBA, it’s not easy. A lot of people forget that every team in the NBA for reason, all these players are in the NBA for a reason. So when you drop games to younger teams, or games, they say you’re not supposed to lose, I feel like that’s just a knock to the league… Because for me, I respect every opponent, every player each and every night. I think we’re just trying to figure out that identity, who we are.”

You got a bunch of guys in the lineup, out the lineup, guys having to step up and play then not playing because guys are coming back. So, it’s kind of hard to build that chemistry, and that identity like that…So I think the main goal is to get healthy and as we get healthy, I feel like you know, like I said, growing up, and not having situations like this fourth quarter, because we have multiple in the season. You know, so I feel like we’ll get there. But it starts with our health.”

[Kevin Chouinard](https://twitter.com/klchouinard?s=21&t=kw7RMZ8ldaknpt5mCtA13g)

Nate McMillan: “We’ve got to get more consistent in how we play the game.”

Nate McMillan said that John Collins was on a minutes restriction.

Dejounte Murray had no restriction, per McMillan.

Trae said that he got an explanation for tech:
“He said that I just couldn’t look at him, but I don’t think he was knowing what Moe was saying the whole game and his dirty play and the way he was playing throughout the whole game. I was OK with taking the tech. It’s whatever.”

Dejounte said that the Hawks had a plan from the timeout and didn’t execute on that play. “It should have been reds.” (“Reds” means that it should been an automatic switch.)

[Brad Rowland](https://twitter.com/btrowland?s=21&t=kw7RMZ8ldaknpt5mCtA13g)

I asked about starting Collins at center, and McMillan said he wanted to keep Bogdanovic in the starting lineup and also wanted to start Collins (despite restriction) because it’s easier for him to start and stay warm.

Asked about the technical foul he took in the fourth quarter, Trae Young referred to Moritz Wagner’s “dirty play” during the game and also said he was talking all night.

by ahend1999