The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ATLANTA HAWKS
The Hawks have only nine games left in the regular season even practices remaining. Though the Hawks continue to hover around .500, coach Quin Snyder he is seeing more good setting
“You know, some of it, I think we’re just trying to continue to emphasize certain habits defensively that I think we saw some progress some of those just everything that we can do to help us protect paint, beginning with getting back on defense and having a wall where they see bodies through a posses- sion, or pick up points, peo- ple getting into bodies being blocked, not getting beat in the middle, or we can
each getting hits on the boards or protect the paint that way,” Snyder said.
On top of the defense, Snyder he’s seen progress on offense the team’s spacing and pace. With defense allowing to get out in transition faster, the Hawks have been able to capitalize on moving ball efficiently and finding
right options. Snyder has emphasized consistent movement to allow opportunities to read
defense and find right option. This works to give
Hawks more ideas, espe- cially in moments when the team isn’t running a set play.
“And then if you can recognize those situations do them without a play, they become even more effec- tive,” Snyder said. “So we’re trying to touch those things
do as much as you can. You can’t have contact. And I don’t think that makes sense right now. You get some guys that are banged up, and try to adjust so that people can participate even a little bit.”
That’s not to say the Hawks don’t have any plays, of course. Snyder rolled in a play he used in Utah and that
teams have used this season, as well. But ahead of
Wednesday’s game, Hawks guard Trae Young mentioned the team hadn’t had a chance to fully practice it yet.
On the final play of the game We nesday, with Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Saddiq Bey, De’andre Hunter and John Collins on the floor, the Hawks began moving before Hunter, who was inbounding the ball, could get the ball in. He eventually did, and Collins gave
ball back to Hunter for a 3-point shot from the line. The shot didn’t fall, and the Hawks lost 125-124 to the Timberwolves.
Snyder said at practice Friday he thought the Hawks executed the play fairly well, despite the final result.
“Whether a team switches or stays with our own, it’s hard,” Snyder said. “I think your expectation in that situation is we didn’t need a (3-pointer). But there’s a number of different options out of it, that’s me putting them in a situation. But I felt like we, with the exc eption of us moving before De’andre got the ball. But those things give you an opportunity to run it again and do it better.”