NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

July 1, 2021

Nate McMillan

Atlanta Hawks

Game 5: Pregame

Q. Will Clint be available?

NATE McMILLAN: Clint will be available tonight.

Q. I don't remember if you spoke yesterday before Giannis was ruled out; he has been ruled out earlier today. So do you guys go back and look at what the Bucks did in the nine games he missed this year, or is that too far away, you know what I mean? Is there any of that? Are you focused on what's in front of you?

NATE McMILLAN: Of course you do your homework. You certainly look at games he didn't play in and so of course we look at those games and those stats and just try to prepare ourselves for the game tonight.

They had some games right before the end of the regular season where they were sitting some guys and some guys were playing. Of course you do all of that homework.

Q. You've had the most success you’ve had in the paint in Game 4. When you watch the film, why do you think that was?

NATE McMILLAN: I thought we had really good ball movement. I didn't think that we were settling on the perimeter. Had good ball movement, 26 assists, we were attacking, as opposed to settling on the perimeter. I thought we did a good job of the guards getting into the paint and creating opportunities as well as our bigs posting up and playing in the paint. You know, so that's always the attack for us. We want to attack the basket, force that defense to collapse, and if they do that, then we play on perimeter.

Q. Trae was a game-time decision for Game 4, and I think he's out or it's been reported already that he's out. Is there a setback of any kind?

NATE McMILLAN: No.

Q. How much of this -- now you have three games to win two. Like tonight is no longer like a must-win. Does that play into the decision to maybe take it a little bit more cautiously?

NATE McMILLAN: No. [He] just didn't feel comfortable enough to go tonight.

Q. What did you learn about your team in terms of available rotations and players, in terms of who works well together with Trae out the last game?

NATE McMILLAN: We've been able to make that adjustment and guys have been able to step in, really, all season long, with the different guys being out. You know, guys are getting opportunities in situations like that and you know, this year for us, guys have taken advantage of that. You know, Lou [Williams], I think had a couple starts, but you know, it was Brandon [Goodwin] early in the season. It was Solomon [Hill]. It was Tony [Snell]. You know, we've had a number of guys throughout the season to have to fill in for guys who are injured, and they have taken advantage of it.

So what I've learned is these guys prepare themselves. I think our coaches do a good job preparing the guys, having them ready, keeping them ready to go, and when they get that opportunity, they have been able to take advantage of it. You know, Cam [Reddish] had not played in four months, and again coaches did a good job of working with him. He couldn't get a lot of live play. A lot of it was two-on-two, three-on-three, with our coaches playing. So they had him ready. And last game, he was big for us. Came up big for us. You know, he took advantage of that opportunity.

Q. I know what a portion of your answer might be, but all of the injuries that happened in the season and the playoffs, and now this series, it's missing two of the biggest names. Do you give yourself time as a basketball guy to pause and wish that both guys were playing or fret about them not playing?

NATE McMILLAN: You certainly think about, you know, these guys being out and both guys being a big part of what their teams do, and you know, the things that they bring to the floor. But you have to quickly go to adjusting to the guys that are in uniform and who they have in uniform.

So yeah, you think about that. For us, thinking about the possibility that Trae could go. So all of that plays a part. I think we got information on Giannis a little early today that he was going to be out. We thought that he was doubtful, but when we saw that, now you know really who you're preparing for.

Yeah, you do think about it. You do hope that it's not serious injuries to those guys but you have to move on and focus on the game in front of you.

Q. How is Trae progressing? How is the rehab? Is he making progress and getting healthy?

NATE McMILLAN: Feeling a little better but not good enough to put on the uniform tonight.

Q. Did Giannis's absence change anything on the game plan and how important will be Bogdan Bogdanovic to win tonight?

NATE McMILLAN: Giannis -- we prepare for Milwaukee. Of course Giannis is not in the game tonight, but they have played without him before and it's still a really good team. As far as their attack, I think it's going to be similar. We'll see more of Middleton and Jrue, but I know we'll see Lopez, as well. They have a number of options over there and the focus is to prepare for Milwaukee and not just one individual.

You know, Bogi, feeling better. We hope that he continues to feel better and we want him to continue to be aggressive.

Q. You were just mentioning the Bucks, so I was wondering, what do you think are going to be the biggest challenges when guarding guys like Khris or Jrue, and what are the main adjustments that you would like to see from your guys tonight when facing this team in Milwaukee?

NATE McMILLAN: Well, I thought we did a good job last game of keeping them out of the paint. Probably our best game, gave up 44 points in the paint. They were living in our paint the first three or four games, three games, averaging really 56 -- about 56, 60 points in the paint.

So we did a better job of squaring our shoulders, keeping the ball in front of us and forcing them to shoot over the top. I thought our weak side defense was better. We still have to do a better job of finishing the play and rebounding the basketball because they are winning the hustle game, the second-chance points.

So what we need to do is do what we did. Be better on the ball. Keeping them out of the paint. They are going to continue to attack so force them to shoot over the top, but finish with a rebound and not allow them to get second and third opportunities.

Q. Teams that win Game 5 usually go on and win the series. Can you talk about Game 5 and how important this is for both ballclubs, how it's always a symbolic game in the playoffs?

NATE McMILLAN: It is a pivotal game. We talked about that Game 5 in a seven-game series, it's a big game. We know the importance of this game, and we've tried to prepare our guys for that, which really, you get this and you really have two chances to win one.

So we know the importance of this game. I'm sure they do, as well. But it is a pivotal game.