Extra shooting work for Williams

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Forward Marvin Williams, stuck in a slump, put in about 30 minutes of shooting after the team's morning shootaround. Eight games into the season, Williams was shooting 41.8 percent from the floor, well below his career mark of 45 percent.

Williams said he was "kind of working on my mechanics, making sure [that] when I'm shooting, it's my shot every time. That's the main thing, trying to shoot the same shot every time."

It hasn't helped that Williams is shooting less than in past years, taking 6.9 shots per game this season going into Friday's game compared with 10.2 shots last season and 11.5 in 2007-08.

Coach Mike Woodson was confident Williams' touch would return with more work.

"I'm not concerned about guys when they go into slumps," he said. "I'm concerned when we don't defend and rebound."

Familiar face

Coming off the bench for the Celtics was forward Shelden Williams, whom the Hawks took with the fifth pick of the 2006 draft out of Duke and then traded to Sacramento in February 2008 with three others and a draft pick for Mike Bibby.

Williams, who struggled in Atlanta, has thrived in a substitute role since signing with Boston as a free agent in August. Boston forward Kevin Garnett praised him recently for his energy. Hawks guard Joe Johnson said Williams was playing with more confidence.

Playing without the weight of expectations has helped, Williams said.

"For me to just come in here and be me, I haven't felt like this since I was back on Duke's campus," Williams said. "To come out here and play ball and be me, it's a different feeling."

Etc.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he was surprised that Hawks coach Mike Woodson, in the last year of his contract, has not been given an extension. Said Rivers, "He's a hell of a coach. I think he's proven that. It's amazing. When he didn't have [talented players], he was under heat, just like I was here, and then he gets some players and he proves he can actually work with players."

Hawks guard Mike Bibby met up with Celtics guard Eddie House, his brother-in-law.