The Atlanta Hawks were so close to win the other night. When Muscala dropped that three, the Verizon Center was silenced. Seconds passed as the Wizards tried to figure out a play. And then came Paul Pierce holds the ball, shuffles his way across the top left of the court, let’s fly and bang! Over two defenders no less! It was a beautiful shot and Pierce deserved to shout “I CALLED GAME!”.
But I was watching the shot from several angles like all of you and I noticed something. DeMarre Carroll was nowhere to be found. Why? That guy is their best on-ball defender and he wasn’t on the floor for the most important play of the game and possibly the series!? Mind boggling.
But my mind is no longer boggled. DeMarre Carroll was not on the floor, simply because he asked not to.
“Coach did put me in,” Carroll said. “But I didn’t feel comfortable at the time. So I’ll take that one. I should’ve been in the game. I didn’t feel comfortable as far as physically.“
Now before you go on a tirade going “Why didn’t DeMarre want to go in? Because of a minor injury?” Let’s calm down for a second. Don’t forget that the Hawks were down by 20, they were all but finished, they sent out their bench to ride out the game. For some reason when they were back in the game at the dying moments, Kyle Korver was the only starter that went back on the floor.
So it’s safe to say that it’s both Budenzolzer’s and Carroll’s fault. Bud should’ve been more assertive. It couldn’t have been that bad a hindrance if he regrets it now.
