SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Quinn Sndyer’s plans certainly changed.
Without a coaching position, he had packed up in February for an overseas trip to spend some time with friends and family, and also some coaches he had gotten acquainted with over the years.
But before he made flight plans, the Atlanta Hawks called him with a job offer to be head coach of the National Basketball Association franchise.
Signed, sealed, delivered, and now he’s packed for the playoffs starting with a trip to Boston.
Tuesday night in Miami, he picked up 25 points from Trey Young, Clint Capela brought down 21 rebounds, and Atlanta earned the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Division playoffs by getting past the Heat, 116-105, in a play-in tournament game.
Said Snyder: “Our guys are trying to be the best version of ourselves at the end of the year. This year’s not over, so hopefully we can take this and continue to build on it. It’s one game, but it was our game.”
Dejounte Murray added 18 points for Atlanta, who avenged a five-game round one loss last year to Miami and now take on the Celtics in an East first rounder that starts Saturday.
Kyle Lowry scored 33 points for the Heat, who will host either Toronto or Chicago on Friday to decide the No. 8 seed and a spot versus overall No. 1 Milwaukee on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Raptors and Bulls play Wednesday, and that survivor plays the winner of Friday’s series matching Atlanta and Boston.
