Nic Claxton | Post-Game Press Conference | Atlanta Hawks | 3.2.24
Nick defensively what changed in that second half or did it start changing during that run near the end of the second quarter where you guys kind of got in and TI the game we we picked up our energy uh you know we knew to beat them they were
Scoring too many points especially at the beginning of the game so it was just a colle collective effort everybody locking in and I think it started with a point of attack without guards picking up full court and we really turned up their intensity you guys talked about these two games
Being very important you wanted to have that energy intensity like this was a playoff series with the two wins what are you guys feeling right now just kind of looking at you know goals still being in play and just kind of how to build on this yeah like you said these games were
Important but we still have a lot of work to do we kind of set ourselves back these last couple of months but these two games were definitely big to have these under our belt so we just got to um keep building from these these games what is it like to to have Dennis
Shudder find that Comfort level and that chemistry es especially with you for him able to be able to find you like that he’s finding his Groove he’s finding his Swagger and just getting more reps with him is is big for myself for everybody especially you know him playing point
Guard and having the ball and just figuring out the spots that he wants me to be in and me figuring out his pace and everything so it’s been a work in progress but it’s coming together slowly KO also talked just about the togetherness that you guys have kind of
Showcased since you’ve been home what have you seen these two games that allowed you guys to kind of take it to that next step where that whether it’s being finally offensive flow but also just kind of being on the same page and reading the game very well I I think our
Challenge is going to be the games when we’re not necessarily making as many shots still having our energy in the right place that’s somewhere I think that we’ve really struggled and these past couple of games we’ve been making shots but there going to be games where
We may shoot 20% from the three so we just have to find that consistent energy obviously every game is important this time of year but with you guys being directly behind the Hawks and the standings did you feel that there was a different energy energy surrounding the team you know these last two
Games yeah we knew we needed to come out and get these two but we also need to play every single game with that same intensity especially like I said with us being behind the eight B and having some some work to do so we just need to
Continue to put together good games like tonight or today how did you feel about your TW 21st double double um what goals do you have right now for yourself uh 21st double double it felt good I feel like I should get a double double every every time I step on the court that’s
Like a a goal of mine if I get a double double I’m usually affecting the game in different ways so that’s that’s definitely a goal of mine before the first talks game Dorian talked about what you just mentioned making sure that the energy came from defense and not making shots um we
Didn’t really see that in the first game because you were hot the whole night but tonight in the first quarter when you weren’t making shots did it still feel like the energy was up did it still feel like you were accomplishing what you wanted to outside of the shot making
Yeah we didn’t hang our heads or anything like that we just stayed of course and that’s how we have to play especially when you get up against really good teams they’re going to go on runs they’re going to get it going and you have to be able to play the long
Game it’s it’s 48 minutes in the game and I think that’s going to be a challenge for us uh Nick after the loss on Orlando you you said that the team it was inexcusable to play with no energy and to start the games you know as lethargic
As you guys were at certain points do you feel like your message has gotten across to the rest of the team with the way you guys been playing lately no not necessarily I no we we have we have pride as a team we don’t want to feel like you know our roster we
We have enough Talent we shouldn’t go out and ever get beat like that um so at the end of the day everybody individually we have to have pride nobody wants to finish the game sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter and you’re looking up and you down by 30 40
Points that just that just hurts so we all have to look ourselves in the mirror and figure out ways to to be better and come together and have results like today or at least being in the game hey Nick uh with with Jaylen signing his new
Deal just what have you seen from him over the course of his rookie season and especially as of late as he stepped into a bigger role yeah that’s big time for him he’s he’s been solid he definitely knows how to play you can tell he’s he season he was in college
For for a few years um so you know congrats to him for that and he still has a lot of work to do but I’m I’m happy for him thanks
Nic Claxton spoke to the media following the Nets vs. Hawks on March 2, 2024
