Postgame Comments: Atlanta Hawks 105, Bulls 84 | 01.13.08

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Boylan

“Our slow play in the first half really opened the gates for them. They were able to get out and run and get some transition baskets. We just kind of let them have their way. We obviously fell deep into a hole. In the second half we tried to establish ourselves defensively and mix it up with them. We’ve had success against them in the past by playing physical and not letting them get into their offense and get transition baskets. In the first half, we didn’t do that at all. In the second half we were better at it, but the game had already gotten away from us. The game really got away from us in the first half, and we were never able to get anything going to get back in it.”

“They ran a couple of plays for Joe (Johnson) early to try to get him a couple of shots. We fell off of him, he got a couple of good looks, and he just kept going. On top of Joe’s big first half, the Hawks did really well in transition, which is the reason they won the game.”

Deng

“At the beginning of the game I was a little tight, and wasn’t able to get the normal lift that I usually get, but as the game went on, it got better. We weren’t physical enough today. From the opening we were too casual, especially defensively. We seemed to just be going through the motions. I tried to provide a spark offensively today, but it’s just one of those games when the Hawks just jumped on us early and it made it tough for us to get anything going. In the second half we tried to make a run, but the Hawks had an answer for everything we did.”

Nocioni

“They jumped on us early in the first half, playing really well in transition and making shots. They played more aggressively than we did. Joe (Johnson) went at us early, which helped blow the game open, and then it was tough for us to get back in it. Luol tried to help us out, and it was great to have him back, but the game got out of reach early, and we just didn’t have an answer for them today.”

Woodson

“This team, if you don’t match their toughness, you don’t even have a shot at beating them. This is a team that you have to match their energy. I thought we did that tonight for 48 minutes. Joe (Johnson) got it going early and we kind of rode his coattails for pretty much the whole first half. Then everybody else did what they needed to do to secure the win.”

“We’ve never beaten them since I’ve been here as a coach. You have to tip your hat to the Bulls and their staff, because they’ve done a great job every time we’ve played them. But I thought it was just our night tonight. We did everything from rebounding and defending the ball, we got out and ran, and we made shots tonight. And we made our free throws tonight, and that was huge.”

On protecting a big lead:
“I just think we were focused. We stayed with the game plan, and we shared the ball offensively. When we did get stagnant, we were in position to get to the free throw line to take some of the heat off of our half-court game. I just thought it was a solid effort across the board.”

On Solomon Jones:
“In a game like this, I thought Solomon was a better fit. They’re very athletic with Thomas and Joe Smith. Solomon, for a guy who hasn’t played all season, stepped right in and got us about six or seven rebounds, and scored a few buckets for us.”

Johnson

On the first quarter:
“I think it made a big difference. It got us off to a pretty good start, and we were rolling ever since. We never really looked back. They cut the lead to 12 in the second half, but for the most part we were in control the whole game.”

“When your confidence is high, you’re hitting on all cylinders. And that’s how it was tonight.”

“It feels great, my first time beating them since I’ve been here. That’s a good feeling. Hopefully we can build on this. We have a tough game against Denver. We just have to key in and try to keep home court, and when we get on the road, we’ll figure it out.”

Smith

“I think we had 12 or 13 consecutive losses to these guys. Since I’ve been here, we hadn’t beaten them. So I just wanted to do whatever it took for me to get the job done, for us to win.”

On Joe Johnson’s first quarter:
“It’s great. I think he scored 19 in the first quarter, and that gave us a big boost. Everybody got involved, and I think everybody got the momentum started from him.”