When the Atlanta Hawks took an early 16-point lead against the Boston Celtics, it seemed like they were on track for a solid victory. But as any seasoned NBA fan knows, basketball is a game of runs, and the Celtics, even without Jaylen Brown, were ready to fight back. The Hawks ultimately fell 109-102 at TD Garden, leaving head coach Quin Snyder to dissect what went wrong.
Snyder acknowledged the Celtics' resilience, noting a pivotal stretch where Boston drained several threes, shifting the momentum. Despite the loss, Snyder saw positives in his team's offensive performance, suggesting that the score didn't fully reflect their efforts. "We were better offensively than what the score indicated," he pointed out, emphasizing the need for consistency across all quarters.
The Hawks struggled with shooting, hitting only 39 percent from the field. Snyder highlighted missed opportunities, including layups that just wouldn't drop and the Celtics capitalizing on offensive rebounds. "It's tough to win when you're shooting like that," he admitted.
Defensively, the Hawks managed to limit Boston to 35 three-point attempts, a testament to their effort on that end of the floor. Yet, Snyder stressed the importance of tightening up various aspects of their game. "We've just got to be a little better through a lot of things," he said, underscoring the need for a comprehensive improvement rather than pinpointing a single issue.
As the Hawks regroup, they'll look to build on their strengths and address the lapses that cost them this hard-fought game.