Why Quin Snyder Stopped Looking for a ‘Magic Pill’ to Fix Grinding Problems
With less than two dozen games remaining in the NBA postseason, The Atlanta Hawks are struggling despite a young roster logging hard miles on the field. Quinn Snyder however, he’s sticking with what he knows, hoping Dyson Daniels, Jaylen Johnson and Nikhil Alexander-Walker don’t run out of steam before the NBA Play-Ins begin. CJ McCollum’s veteran savvy however, they will only go so far in the postseason.
It’s Snyder accepting the fightfacing the situation head on instead of looking for shortcuts. The core got to play and develop some hard-won chemistry while the team dealt with the Tree Young trade negotiations.
“Those are some dog days, aren’t they?” Snyder was joking. “We have four guys that are in the top 25 in minutes and their positions. No other team has more than two.”
The heavy workload must have led to some fatigue, although the type of exhaustion may vary. Champions ultimately have to overcome psychological barriers, a hurdle more difficult than any bench press test.
“So whether it’s physical, maybe it’s more mental than anything, especially with younger players. You’re more likely to hit that wall when you haven’t been through it before, but I don’t know if there’s a magic pill to that,” Snyder explained. “It’s just a matter of continuing to prepare and keep grinding and being passionate about your craft.”
While the venerable head coach rejects the idea of a panacea, the schedule offers a reshaped team a chance to breathe. The Hawks have won two of their first three games since the NBA All-Star break and are having a relatively good stretch. From February 23rd to March 30th, Atlanta plays just five games on the road. Of the 14 home contests during that span, seven opponents are already focused on 2026 NBA draft picks.
For a team trying to stabilize without relying on a quick fix, the friendly confines of State Farm Arena might be the closest thing to relief they’ll get.
2026-02-25 02:08:00
