[Interview] Behind the Scenes of the Atlanta Hawks with Assistant Coach Lester Conner

   Assistant coach of the Atlanta Hawks, Lester Conner, was suited up for the game against the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday night. Before the game began, the calm and collective Conner answered a few questions about the Hawks, and how he and head coach Larry Drew plan to continue the Hawks 5 game-winning streak.

How do you feel about this game against the Bobcats?

 “Our guys are really focused tonight. After the past few games we have learned not to take any opponent for granted. Last year Bobcats only won 7 games, this year they have already won 7.”

What caused this 5 game winning streak?

“We have been way more focused on the defense. We are 2^nd in field goal defense (Indiana is #1) teams that excel in defense excel in the league, and we remind our guys of that.”

How will you keep the Hawks on their A-game?

“We as a coaching staff studied our team, and we decided we have to be a running team. You will see us passing and moving the ball more, looking for the open man. Over the last couple of years we run on opportunity, this year we will run whether we have the opportunity or not.”

How did your childhood and upbringing affect your style as a coach?

“Growing up in east Oakland, I had to be tough. So if I have to get on the team I’ll get on them and they know that. I always tell them, if I’m not talking to you that means I’m done with you.”

   Conner was smart to remind the team not to take the Bobcats for granted. Charlotte nearly broke the Hawks winning streak with an extremely close game. Late in the fourth quarter the game became nail bitingly close.With only 40 second remaining on the clock, Ben Gordon of the Bobcats made a three pointer while double-teamed making the score 92-91. Gordon had a great game making five three pointers in the fourth quarter alone, but just not enough to take the game. The final score was a very close, Hawks 94-91 leaving the Hawks (9-4).

   After the game head coach, Larry Drew, gave some commentary admitting that the overlooked Bobcats actually gave the Hawks a run for their money. “This was a really though win for us.” Drew admitted, “Playing a team that’s come off a loss such as they had a couple days ago against Okalahoma (City), we knew this team was going to come in and really play hard and give us their best game. They really did that.”

   When asked how Drew keeps his team so humble after their consistent of wins he replied, “We still have a long season ahead of us and we have to understand that there are going to be good times and bad times. Its great that we won 6 games in a row, but we really have to take it 1 game at a time and stay humble.”

   The Hawks have been on fire lately, but after such a close game against the Bobcats it's clear that they still have progress to be made. As Drew stated the NBA season has just began so the Hawks still have time to build up their defense like the coaches plan. Coach Conner couldn’t have summed it up better, “We want to aim for the moon and land in the stars."