Why Quin Snyder wants team to ‘recharge’ after loss to Clippers

ATLANTA, Georgia – The The Atlanta Hawks ran the gauntlet. They’ve been on the road more than in their own beds so far this season, and while they’ve handled that challenge well, at some point the body gets tired.

After playing in double overtime, the Hawks had to get on a plane and face the best team in the Eastern Conference less than 24 hours later. That game came down to the final kick, but they didn’t have much time to think about it. Back on the plane to Atlanta, where they had to face the Los Angeles Clippers two days later.

The Hawks announced an hour before the game that Jaylen Johnson would be sidelined with a strained right calf. With Trae Young already out, it was tough to climb the hill with Johnson as well, and they proved they would be after a loss 115-92. Not only did the Hawks lack offensive juice, but they looked tired, all in the same breath.

“Being on the road has really helped the team,” Quinn Snyder he said after the game. “Every time of the year you’re going to have back-to-back games and tough games. I think tonight we caught a team that was really ready to play and played very well. We have to get our legs back. As much as, I think emotionally and mentally, we have to recharge. We were slow on a lot of things and when you couldn’t focus. to focus more on the details.”

From the start of the game, the Hawks fought from behind. There were moments where it looked like they were going to come alive and scratch at him, but they could only give so much. The Clippers also already had an interesting day after drama with Chris Paulso the Hawks ran into a team looking to find momentum in any way, shape or form.

The Hawks ran out of juice against the Clippers

With Johnson out, the Hawks had to find different ways to score. This meant that the players had to give a little more than usual, which was nothing new for them in the last month with Young injured.

“It’s tough because you’ve got guys who have to do more, and I think this is going to be a period where you’re going to have to go through the dirt of it and grow into it,” Nikhil Alexander-Walker said. “It’s good that it’s happening now. We all need guys who can handle playing in different roles and stepping up … Those things are important, and I think the main thing I can do is help continue to talk about them as the game goes on.”

Even though the Hawks were missing their top two players, they still have a standard they want to play to, and that’s what has led to their success, regardless of who’s on the floor.

“We have to do it collectively, like we did with Jalen,” Snyder said. “He was just the catalyst for that. Dyson was able to get into the lane, Nikhil got into the lane. The problem is we did those things, but our spacing isn’t good. It doesn’t connect us the way it should. No matter who’s in the game, we know that’s what we have to do. That kind of execution is what you need.”

The Hawks will have time to recharge, but not for long. They have the Denver Nuggets in two days, and then they’re on the road again to face the Washington Wizards the next day. Thankfully, he won’t play again until December 12th after that.