Nickeil Alexander-Walker didn’t disguise from the second after the Atlanta Hawks have been eradicated by the New York Knicks in a 140-89 Sport 6 loss at State Farm Enviornment on Thursday evening. The guard referred to as the efficiency what he noticed it as and took duty for his personal half in it.
“Disappointment,” Alexander-Walker stated when requested what went via his thoughts because the lead saved rising. “I believe disappointment in how I carried out within the second. I believe general simply how I carried out after which how issues have been going at a sure cut-off date.”
Atlanta trailed by as many as 61 factors within the series-clinching loss, and Alexander-Walker stated the one response he needed was fast and bodily. “The one factor I needed us to actually do was to hit again in any form of trend. That was the one factor that was on my thoughts.”
He stated the Knicks made it tough to get into his traditional rhythm. “Credit score to them,” he stated. “They tried to make robust catches robust. They did job of denying out the corners, stuff like that.”
For Alexander-Walker, the defeat was greater than a nasty evening. “At no cut-off date in any respect this season have been we that dangerous, however we have been tonight,” he stated. “And it’s unlucky.”
Nonetheless, he framed the loss as a part of his growth after a season that ended with him profitable the NBA’s Most Improved Participant award. “The advantage of it’s it doesn’t finish right here,” he stated. “That is one thing to construct on, one thing to develop from, to develop and study from.”
Alexander-Walker additionally spoke about how he processes setbacks after they occur. “I’m pissed off,” he stated. “I’m pissed off and I’m going to be pissed off for slightly bit, however I’m glad that I’ve my household.”
He added that basketball doesn’t outline every thing in his life. “Life doesn’t solely exist round basketball,” he stated. “Regardless of how dangerous we lose, how huge of a win we have now, success, failure, I’ve been via all of it now.”
Trying forward, he stated the summer season will probably be about relaxation, restoration after which work. “I give myself two weeks after which I’m again at it,” Alexander-Walker stated.
He closed with blunt accountability for his stat line, which included three turnovers and a tough taking pictures evening. “The way in which I responded, three for eight, one for 4, 5 turnovers. Disgusting. I’ll take full duty and I’ll be higher.”