The sky fell on the Hawks’ heads Monday night when the NBA issued the suspension of Dejounte Murray for his gesture of humor towards a referee during Game 4 lost by Atlanta against Boston (121-129).
At the end of a frustrating match, the former Spurs leader failed to control his emotions, much to the regret of his coach, Quin Snyder, who could only deplore the situation against the indefensible gap of his player.
“I think Dejounte recognizes his role in the situation and it’s not something you can do. I think you should ask him directly what happened before. I think there was a frustration that built up during the match and that he didn’t manage it properly. He knows it. We talked about it »said coach Snyder.
The time is no longer for explanations but for the projection of what could be Atlanta’s last game of the season tonight in Boston.
“We are concerned with the things we can control”, added Quin Snyder. “Whenever a player is suspended, especially in the post-season, you have to go ahead and accept it. We have to find a way to manage this situation while remaining competitive and trying to win”.
Four players for one place
Numerically, Quin Snyder should rely on Bogdan Bogdanovic to occupy position 2 of his five major, unless he draws from the Holiday-Matthews-Griffin trio to maintain the balance of his “second-unit”. Whatever his choice, the Hawks technician is waiting for a collective awareness to compensate for the absence of Murray. To stay alive in hostile terrain, each player will have to transcend themselves.
“I think being at the Garden, in the situation we find ourselves in at the moment, I think we all know, is a challenge in itself. It is something that the whole group must assume. As you said, Dejounte, not just in this series but throughout the year, has been a very important part of what our team does. We have to understand that the contributions will have to come from a number of different players, in all areas. I don’t think you can just play in a situation like this. Everyone has to do their part.”he concluded.
| Dejounte Murray | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 38 | 9 | 43.1 | 39.1 | 70.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.4 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 81 | 22 | 44.3 | 26.5 | 70.9 | 1.4 | 4.3 | 5.7 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 8.1 |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 66 | 26 | 46.2 | 36.9 | 79.8 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 10.9 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 67 | 32 | 45.3 | 31.7 | 79.1 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 15.7 |
| 2021-22 | SAN | 68 | 35 | 46.2 | 32.7 | 79.4 | 1.2 | 7.1 | 8.3 | 9.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.2 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 74 | 36 | 46.4 | 34.4 | 83.2 | 0.7 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| Total | 394 | 28 | 45.8 | 33.5 | 78.4 | 1.0 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 14.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
