DETROIT – About an hour after a blowout loss to the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce finally emerged to meet with reporters.
He and his team had been talking things over.
“Learning how to compete – that’s kind of it,” Pierce said. “Learning how to compete, learning how to communicate, what it takes to win in the NBA, what it takes to be a pro.”
Atlanta allowed 76 points in the first two quarters – the highest-scoring first half for the Pistons since 1983 – and Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak with a 128-103 rout Friday night. It was the fifth straight loss for the Hawks and their eighth consecutive game allowing at least 120 points.
Coaches generally hold their media sessions about 10 minutes after the game ends, but that was delayed a while this time. The Hawks were meeting to try to find some answers to their struggles.
“We’ve got a bunch of guys that don’t really get to talk and actually say what they think,” said DeAndre’ Bembry, who led the team in scoring with 22 points. “That was definitely one of those meetings where we’re just expressing ourselves, individually and collectively.”
Andre Drummond had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Pistons. Detroit led 76-57 at halftime, and the Pistons reached 100 points with more than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Nine Detroit players made at least one 3-pointer. Drummond wasn’t one of them, but he scored his share of easy baskets inside.
The Pistons actually trailed 17-7 before going on a 20-0 run that gave them a double-digit lead before the end of the first quarter. It was 33-23 after that period, then Detroit overwhelmed the Hawks with a 43-point second quarter that ended when the Pistons’ Thon Maker sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“We’re such a good-shooting team – if we get good attempts and not turn it over,” Detroit coach Dwane Casey said.
It was the most points in the first half for the Pistons since they scored 77 on Dec. 2, 1983, also against the Hawks.
Detroit led 107-84 after three quarters and finished the game with seven scorers in double figures. Blake Griffin had 24 points, Bruce Brown added 14 and Markieff Morris contributed 13 for the Pistons, who shot 60% from the field and 17-of-34 from 3-point range.
Pierce was asked if he got the response he wanted from the postgame meeting, but that remains to be seen.
“Nothing gets solved in those meetings, but what has to be said – if you see something, you’ve got to say it,” Pierce said. “I had to say it, and they had to say it, and they had to hear it.”
Trae Young scored 38 points for Atlanta in a win at Detroit last month. He had only nine Friday, when Atlanta was missing rookie Cam Reddish (left wrist sprain), as well as Kevin Huerter (left rotator cuff strain) and John Collins (doping suspension).
De’Andre Hunter scored 18 points and Jabari Parker added 14 for the Hawks.