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Postgame Quotes - November 21, 2014

Pistons Head Coach Stan Van Gundy

(On the game)

“We just struggle down the last few minutes of games. We have to find some answers. We as a group, not just the players … players and coaches. We have to find some answers down the stretch. I thought our resolve was really good to fight back and then we had no answers down the stretch. And we had no answers for the pick-and-roll defense either.”

 

(On the offensive struggle)

“Every game you look down and it’s 37 or 38 percent (shooting). I’m not putting it all on them because part of it is what you do offensively and the shot your offense is creating, but you look at our shooting percentages and we just don’t have anybody playing at a really high level.”

 

(On Drummond and Smith’s performance)

“I thought they both played a lotbetter, but I think it tells you where we are when two of your front line guys shoot 40 percent, we call it an offensive rhythm. I think that sort of tells you where we are. But I do think they both played well, we’re just having so much trouble getting the ball in the basket.”

 

Josh Smith

(On the game)

“I think I did a great job on not settling, getting myself and my teammates involved. As long as I get into my head mentally to stay up and stay aggressive and attacking the basket and looking for open guys on the perimeter.”

 

(On team shooting struggles)

“We’re just in a shooting slump right now. We’re getting what we need - we’re getting open looks and shots at the basket, we just need to slow down and not rush.”

 

(On returning to Atlanta)

“There were a lot of emotions last time I came, but this time I was a little more settled. I’m just trying to get back in the rhythm that I need for this team to be successful. We fell short tonight. We just have to do a better job on pick-and-roll defense and just trusting each other.”

 

Brandon Jennings

(On the shooting slump)

“We’re not shooting well. That’s just the thing. We’re getting a lot of shots to the basket we’re not making. A lot of open three’s we’re not making.”

 

Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer

(On the game)

“It’s good for our group to have a good first quarter, have a defensive second quarter that allowed us to get a little bit of separation. They responded to the run late in the game. We’re still a long way away from playing 48 minutes the way we’d like to play. There were a lot of good stretches tonight. We’ll learn from where we weren’t good and get ready for a big week next week.”

 

(On speaking to the team during timeout after losing the 19-point lead)

“We said ‘we have to get stops and I think we have to execute offensively and stick with what got us up 19. Just keep our poise.’ Our players did that and it’s a credit to them. We’ve got a good group in that way. When they’re down and someone makes a run at us so far this year, the response has been where we need it to be.”

 

(On Jeff Teague)

“Jeff Teague was very good. His defense on the other end of the court (was good). A lot of people talk about his points and his offense, but I thought his defense was very good on the ball. They run a ton of pick-and-rolls. I’m really pleased with Jeff’s effort, particularly on the defensive end of the court.”

 

Kyle Korver

(On response to Detroit’s run)

“We give them credit. Basketball is a game of runs. They fought back. I thought our shot selection, for a little while, was tough. They were scoring. We weren’t able to get out and run. When we had our most success tonight was when we were out in transition and attacking. When the other team is scoring, we’re not able to get out and run. We had a tough little stretch there, but it was good to see us bounce back.”

 

(On rebounding)

“Rebounding is just about effort. You put a body on someone, scratch and claw and try to go for the ball. We came out focused on them. We’ve kind of been beaten up down low for a couple of games. It was a point of emphasis and our guys responded.”

 

Jeff Teague

(On the game)

“I think our team was just being aggressive offensively. They made a big run in the third, and we continued to keep playing with pace and with energy.”

 

(On the coach’s message after Detroit’s run)

“Just keep playing. We knew they were a good team. They were going to make a run. It’s the NBA. Things can swing fast. They did what they were supposed to do – they competed. We were able to (withstand) their run and make big plays at the end.”