Latest news with #QuinSnyder
Miami Herald
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Hawks looking to get defensive against Nets
Piling up points is not necessarily the problem for the Atlanta Hawks. Stopping their opponents is another story. While the Hawks are securely into one of the four play-in spots in the Eastern Conference, they would like to show some kind of improvement on the defensive end when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. The Hawks are the highest-scoring team (117.9) among three play-in teams in the East and fifth overall and have scored at least 110 in 18 of their past 20 games. Conversely, the Hawks (37-42) are allowing 119.7 per game, which is only better than Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz. Atlanta has allowed at least 115 points in its last 10 games and at least 120 in 42 games. The Hawks are 10-32 when giving up at least 120 points and one of those setbacks was a 122-114 defeat in Brooklyn on March 16 during a 7-2 stretch. Since that hot streak ended with a 132-119 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta is 2-6 in its past eight games. The latest loss was a 119-112 setback to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. The Hawks allowed the Magic to shoot 53.5 percent and score 66 points in the first half. It was the sixth time in seven games Atlanta allowed at least 60 in the opening half. "When we do guard, we have a chance to get out and maybe get something easy," Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said after his team allowed at least 50 percent from the floor for the 34th time. "The flip side is we turn it over, maybe give up something easy and now we're taking it out of the net, those are tough plays. They're more than two points, more than three points because of what we give up on the offensive end." While the Hawks struggled again defensively, Trae Young finished with 28 points and 10 assists and Onyeka Okongwu tied a career high with 30 points and 14 rebounds. Young has double-doubles in nine of his past 10 games while Okongwu has double-doubles in 11 of his past 17. The Nets (26-53) lost six straight after scoring 66 points in the second half in the win over the Hawks but are 3-2 in their last five. Brooklyn's starting lineup in the previous meeting with Atlanta was Cameron Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Jalen Wilson, Nic Claxton and Keon Johnson. Only Claxton and Wilson played Tuesday when the Nets stopped a five-game home losing streak with a 119-114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Nets used their 41st different starting lineup and Trendon Watford scored 11 of his 22 points in a 43-point third quarter before six first- or second-year players finished the game. Drew Timme collected career highs of 16 points and nine rebounds in his sixth game as a Net and helped Brooklyn get 66 points from its second unit. Dariq Whitehead added 14 and is 12-for-24 from 3-point range in his past three games. "I'm very excited, because it's like continuity," coach Jordi Fernandez said of the young players who helped the Nets score at least 115 points for the 16th time this season. "That's what we want. We don't want to do something in one season and then start over. Like, this is a good beginning. These guys are driving (the culture). They're doing it on their own." --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Power Rankings: The title contenders, from least to most likely to win it all
NBA Power Rankings: The title contenders, from least to most likely to win it all So long to the NBA's tanking teams. We ranked them last week, as lottery odds are their only salvation. Let us turn now to the league's title contenders, perfectly ranking them from least to most likely to win. Also, check out the latest NBA Playoff Picture with less than a week to go in the regular season. Dishonorable mention: Phoenix Suns (35-43) Tyus Jones, getting to the heart of it: 'We can't afford to lose any games moving forward … but we've been saying that for a couple of weeks now. Something has got to change. We've got to play better ball on both ends of the floor. The level we're playing at right now just isn't cutting it.' 20. Atlanta Hawks (37-41) 'Our margin is not that great,' conceded coach Quin Snyder, whose Hawks' fast-paced, 19th-rated offense (113.4 points per 100 possessions) cannot carry their 19th-rated defense (115.1). 'We're able to get stops and run, and that's the key for us. But it starts with the defensive end.' 19. Sacramento Kings (38-40) 'The intensity, the effort and the enthusiasm has to be at a higher level,' pleaded coach Doug Christie, who may be losing his interim grip on this Kings locker room. 'This is how we play, and I have not been able to stamp that the way I want to stamp it because that's what I'm about.' 18. Dallas Mavericks (38-41) Anthony Davis, desperately trying to reframe a harrowing new reality in Dallas: 'We won't actually know because we're missing [Kyrie Irving]; so we'll never know how good we really can be. But with the guys we have, we have enough to definitely make some noise this postseason." 17. Miami Heat (35-43) A scout, via the Miami Herald, 'They've got an All-Star level player in [Tyler] Herro, a former All-Star in [Bam] Adebayo. They have veteran guys who are solid complementary players, solid role players and a Hall of Fame coach. That shouldn't equal 10 under .500. They're mediocre.' 16. Chicago Bulls (36-42) 'It's the right time to get hot,' said Josh Giddey, whose Bulls are 12-4 since March 6. 'We're starting to get wins by committee. It's not really a one-man show on this roster. It's a special group to be a part of, it's a fun group to be a part of. When we're winning, we do it together.' 15. Orlando Magic (38-40) 'We're still an elite team,' insisted Cole Anthony, whose Magic have not been elite since they started 15-7, though a soft schedule has breathed life into an inconsistent team. 'We have the elite personnel. … We just have to put it all together and get everyone firing at the same time." (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports Illustration) 14. Milwaukee Bucks (44-34) Gary Trent Jr.: "Every single night when we step into it we're focused on Bucks basketball and if we go play Bucks basketball we should be successful." Except Bucks basketball has been fairly average all season (13th in net rating) and now Milwaukee is without Damian Lillard (blood clot). 13. Detroit Pistons (43-35) J.B. Bickerstaff on playoffs in Detroit: 'It's a big deal for the group. I'll be honest with you. We typically don't take time to reflect on where we are, but this is an opportunity for this group to reflect on where it is, where it's come from and what they've been able to accomplish together." 12. Memphis Grizzlies (46-32) Ja Morant, playing the victim: 'I was pretty much a villain for two years now. Every little thing — If somebody can say something negative about me, it's going to be out there. Yeah, I don't care anymore.' Probably not what you want to hear from your superstar before the playoffs begin. 11. Indiana Pacers (47-31) "We gotta continue to work and we've gotta peak at the right time," said Pascal Siakam, whose Pacers have been the Eastern Conference's second-best team over the last 15 games. "This is the time to play our best basketball.' Are we overlooking the defending conference finalists? 10. Los Angeles Clippers (46-32) Ivica Zubac on the crowded West, in a playoff atmosphere for weeks now: 'Everyone is trying to stay out of the play-in. You don't want to depend on one game or two games for your seed, for your chances to get into the playoffs. You want to get out of it. You want to make that top six.' 9. Los Angeles Lakers (48-30) A reality check, via JJ Redick: 'I don't think the expectation, at least internally, was we're going to be the 2017 Warriors or this year's Thunder. We didn't expect that. So the disjointedness of an in-season trade is there. … It's a work in progress. We all knew that was gonna be the case.' 8. Houston Rockets (52-27) Jalen Green knows what's good in Houston, as long as the offense can hold its own: 'When we're on point, we're paying attention to the details and playing hard, we're one of the best teams in the NBA. If we do this consistently and play hard, hit shots, it's pretty hard to guard.' 7. New York Knicks (50-28) 'When you head down the stretch,' said coach Tom Thibodeau, 'you want to check off the boxes. You want a winning record at home (27-12). You want a winning record on the road (23-16). Fifty wins is good (50-28). And you want to get the highest seed possible (No. 3).' 6. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32) 'We play hard,' said Mike Conley, diagnosing what limits the Wolves, 'but when we got too many guys' minds in different spots, frustrated with themselves or the way the game is going for them, you see our team just splinter a little bit as far as the connectivity we need to play with.' 5. Denver Nuggets (47-32) A poor defense could doom the Nuggets, according to coach Michael Malone: 'That's been the most disappointing part of this year. The huge drop-off. We didn't go from [No. 8] to 12. We didn't go from eight to 15. We've gone from eight to — I don't even know what it is now.' It's 20. Advertisement 4. Golden State Warriors (46-32) Jimmy Butler, letting us know: 'Whatever squad that I'm on, we always have a chance. I know whatever squad 30 [Stephen Curry] is on, whatever squad 23 [Draymond Green] is on, always got a chance. So I'd only like to think that all three of us together have a really good chance.' 3. Cleveland Cavaliers (62-16) A crack in Cleveland, via Kenny Atkinson: 'I didn't think our energy level was as high as I thought it would be, considering the first seed is at stake. (The Kings') energy and intensity level was higher. I think we did pick it up a little bit, but I was a little surprised we weren't more on point.' 2. Boston Celtics (58-20) Jaylen Brown, whose knee is a concern in Boston: 'As we continue to move forward, I'm hoping to feel better and better. But there's no guarantee that rest or anything like that is going to make this thing better, so kind of figuring it out and going through it and getting ready for the playoffs.' 1. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-14) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's approach is a sound one: 'Nothing in life is promised. … This group that we have today could be the best group of players I ever play with. You think, 'Oh, we're all 25 or under, so we have a whole runway in front of us.' But you never know what happens.'
Miami Herald
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Hawks work toward improving postseason seeding as they visit Mavericks
Coming off a disappointing first half of a back-to-back set, the Atlanta Hawks will look to hold steady in the Eastern Conference play-in race when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. Atlanta (36-39) enters play having lost three of its past four games, including Tuesday's 127-113 home setback to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Hawks were trying to build separation on the Orlando Magic but instead saw their lackluster performance, paired with a Magic victory in San Antonio, result in Atlanta falling a percentage point in back of its Southeast Division rival. The Hawks also lead the Miami Heat by just two games and the Chicago Bulls by 2 1/2 for a play-in spot. Atlanta turned the ball over 19 times and took its last lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter. The Hawks also allowed 19 offensive rebounds in the loss. "We have to be more precise with our passing, more sure with the ball," Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said. "On the glass, there's going to be a few that are hard for us to corral, but we need to be as physical as we can. Those two areas of the game hurt us." Atlanta point guard Trae Young poured in 29 points and 15 assists -- increasing his league-leading average to 11.6 assists per game. The seventh-year pro is looking to appear in the playoffs for the fourth time, and he knows the Hawks have another important opportunity Wednesday. "That's part of the NBA," Young said. "You can never get too high or too low at any point of the season, so right now I'm not too low after the loss." Dallas (37-39) is in its own postseason push, currently sitting a half-game ahead of the Sacramento Kings for the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference and two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns. After a miserable 1-9 start to March, the Mavericks have won four of six to revitalize an unpredictable season. Dallas fell 113-109 at home to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday after squandering a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. In an injury-riddled campaign, the Mavericks finally got some good news as center Daniel Gafford returned from a 21-game absence due to a sprained knee. He posted 17 points and seven rebounds in the Monday loss. "I've got a big heart for the game," Gafford said. "Every day that I was out, I was just trying to get better. It wasn't the end of the world or the end of my career. ... I'm very happy to be back." Gafford, who averages 12.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, started alongside fellow big man Anthony Davis in his first game back. Davis, who returned last week from an extended absence due to an adductor injury suffered in his first game with Dallas, is averaging 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds in five games since being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers for Luka Doncic. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Bucks look to take season series as they host Hawks
An intriguing matchup in the Eastern Conference playoff race takes place in Milwaukee on Sunday night as the Bucks welcome the Atlanta Hawks for the fifth and final time this season. Both sides have traded wins, splitting the series thus far 2-2, including an extra matchup in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. Atlanta comes in having lost two in a row following a three-game win streak. The Hawks fell on the road 122-112 to the Miami Heat on Thursday night. "We really have to help each other, we're undersized," Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. "Our margin is not great. In the first quarter we were able to get stops and run, that's the key for us." Atlanta is top three in the league in both steals (9.8) and deflections per game (19.0) along with second in pace (102.8). Milwaukee has dropped three straight after falling at home to the New York Knicks 116-107 on Friday. The Bucks have gone 0-10 against New York, Boston and Cleveland -- the top three teams in the East this season. One player has come on recently in the absence of Damian Lillard: Ryan Rollins. The young guard has put up career-highs in consecutive games after he scored 20 on Friday. His emergence has been key as the Bucks continue to play without Lillard, who averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists before being sidelined with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf last week. "He's not a natural point guard, we don't have one, that guy is Dame and he's not here right now," Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said. "Ryan has been absolutely wonderful for us. Defensively he's been fantastic. He's going downhill, finishing." The Bucks were efficient offensively against the Knicks, shooting 55 percent, and they rank fifth in the NBA in field-goal percentage (48.2) and third in 3-point percentage (38.2 percent). However, the Knicks outperformed the Bucks on both the offensive glass (14-3) and turnovers (8-16). "We shot 55 percent, you're going to win a lot of games when you do that," Rivers added. "It wasn't just the turnovers or the offensive rebounds; it was the combination of those two things." Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee with 30.2 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, while Brook Lopez is among the league leaders with 1.9 blocks per game. Trae Young leads Atlanta with 24.1 points and 11.4 assists per contest, and Onyeka Okongwu averages a team-best 8.7 rebounds to go along with 13.1 points per game. On the injury front, along with Lillard, Jericho Sims is out with a torn ligament in his thumb, while Bobby Portis remains suspended for violating the league's anti-drug policy. On Atlanta's side, Keaton Wallace (shoulder) missed Thursday's game. The Hawks will be without Larry Nance Jr. (knee) for the remainder of the season, along with Jalen Johnson (labrum), Clint Capela (hand), and Kobe Bufkin (shoulder). In the last matchup between these teams on March 4, Milwaukee won on the road 127-121. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 26 points, 12 boards and 10 assists while Kyle Kuzma added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Trae Young had 28 points and 13 assists for Atlanta. The Bucks sit five games ahead of Atlanta in the sixth position of the Eastern Conference standings -- the final spot that avoids the play-in tournament -- with just two weeks remaining. However, the Hawks would gain the head-to-head tiebreaker over Milwaukee with a victory on Sunday. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Miami Herald
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Hawks, Heat battle for play-in position in late-season matchup
A pair of likely Eastern Conference play-in teams will square off on Thursday, when the Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks. The seventh-place Hawks (35-37) hold a four-game lead over the 10th-place Heat (31-41), while No. 8 Orlando sits a half-game behind Atlanta and No. 9 Chicago sits a game ahead of Miami. Atlanta lost ground on Tuesday, as the Hawks fell in Houston to the Rockets, 121-114, and Orlando picked up a seven-point road win over the Charlotte Hornets and Miami topped the Golden State Warriors, 112-86. The Hawks trailed by as many as 25 points late in the third quarter Tuesday before seeing their three-game winning streak come to an end. Atlanta's rally cut its deficit to four in the final quarter, showing a fight that it hopes will carry over into Thursday. "We were right there," Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said. "(Houston) had to make plays to beat us down the stretch. I thought we found some real rhythm, which was good for us tonight and will be good for us going forward." In defeat, Trae Young finished with 19 points and 12 assists, marking his third straight double-double and increasing his league-leading assists count to 11.4 per game. Young, who paces Atlanta with 24.1 points per game, became the first player in the NBA to reach 1,500 points and 750 assists in a single season since Russell Westbrook in 2019. On the other side of the ball, Atlanta's budding star Dyson Daniels continues to set franchise and league marks, defensively. Daniels leads the league with 3.1 steals per game, an overwhelming edge on second-place Kris Dunn's 1.8. With his four thefts on Tuesday, Daniels is on pace to become the first player since Alvin Robertson in 1990-91 to average three steals per game over a season. After losing 10 straight games -- the Heat's longest skid since 2007-08 -- Miami enters play winners in two in a row as it hopes to muster a late season run to the playoffs. Tuesday marked the return to Miami for former disgruntled star Jimmy Butler, but the night belonged to the Heat, who allowed a season-low 86 points. Miami's Bam Adebayo's 27 points were paired with stifling defense on the smaller Butler, which came as no surprise to head coach Erik Spoelstra. "That's not even something that we did just for this game," Spoelstra said of the matchup. "Over the last six weeks, Bam has been guarding whoever the best wing is, and he has taken on this challenge. It's a new defensive chapter in his prowess, but we haven't been winning so nobody notices. But it's about his commitment to doing a lot of the tough things." Tyler Herro has scored 20 points or more in four of five games and leads Miami with 23.4 ppg. Andrew Wiggins follows with 20.2 ppg, while Adebayo chips in 17.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest. Atlanta has taken two of three against Miami this season and will look to clinch its first season-series over the Heat since the 2020-21 campaign. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
