Video: Bembry, Pierce Address Media

Hawks wing DeAndre' Bembry and head coach Lloyd Pierce spoke with the media Monday afternoon, with the start of the season just three days away.

The Atlanta Hawks begin the regular season on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons, and have devoted much of their practice time over the last few days to shooting and individual skill work before the chaos of the season sets in. 

Although there was little to report on the health of the team (Kevin Huerter, Allen Crabbe, and Chandler Parsons are all dealing with knee ailments of varying degrees while Evan Turner has been nursing a sore left Achilles'), Lloyd Pierce did address the media on the state of the Hawks entering the season and how they're preparing for Detroit. 

   

"The first game is always like a cheat game. It's a little unrealistic for us because we get to prepare for three days for Detroit and that's not typical of an NBA season," Pierce said. "So it's a real dilemma to over-prepare and give our guys too much to think about mentally. ... Right now it's still about us. It's about us getting better, it's about us fine-tuning some things, it's about us getting some guys healthy. And then we'll worry about Detroit over the next few days slowly."

Pierce also praised Bembry's work during the preseason and the value of having a versatile two-way wing that can fit a wide range of functions.

"As you guys recall last year, DeAndre' was my guy because I had to rely on him in so many different ways. And it's the same exact situation this year. Evan Turner has only played two games, I think, with 15-minute restrictions. Kevin Huerter has yet to play, and so there again lies DeAndre' Bembry, having to be a very versatile guard for us."

While Pierce has leaned heavily on Bembry's Swiss-army-knife capabilities, he says he is looking forward to allowing the fourth-year wing to settle back into a steadier role as the rest of the team gets healthy.

"I think what I'm excited most about is putting him back in his natural role," Pierce said. "And that's where he can focus in defensively, he can be out lead perimeter defender and we can settle everybody else in."

Watch Bembry's full comments below: