Coach McMillan's message lost on young Hawks

Post #1 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Nov 8, 2021 5:04 am

'You have to sacrifice' – McMillan message lost on Hawks

Nate McMillan has long spoken of the need for his Atlanta Hawks to “sacrifice”, but after 10 games this season, they’re yet to get the message

A deep roster has its benefits, but for McMillan, it matters little if his players aren’t doing what’s required to earn their place on the floor.

“I can’t give you minutes, you have to earn them,” McMillan said.

“That’s what I’ll start to do more of, if you’re not giving it to this team on both ends of the floor, then we’ll rotate some guys in."

Atlanta have lost five of six road games thus far and have routinely rushed shots with little ball movement to trouble opposing defences.

McMillan’s call to “sacrifice” requires stars to put the team’s needs ahead of their own; to prioritise the third or fourth option on a play instead of a low-percentage attempt to boost one’s own stat-sheet.

The philosophy worked wonders last season, when the Hawks caught fire following the 57-year-old’s interim appointment to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2015.

This time, however, the Trae Young-led roster has proven much more difficult to manage, with many fearing there might not be enough minutes to go around.