Hawks-Grizzlies notebook

By Michael Cunningham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

MEMPHIS -- The topic of discussion for one ESPN show Wednesday was whether Erik Spoelstra is the right coach for the Heat after the team lost its season opener at defending Eastern Conference champion Boston.

So it goes for NBA coaches, who officially welcomed Larry Drew to their ranks Wednesday night when he made his debut with the Hawks..

"To me, it's always been like that," Drew said. "When you get into this line of work, you have to understand the nature of it. The situation [Spoelstra] is in, everybody has already picked them to win it. It adds pressure to it."

The pressure isn't quiet as intense for Drew, but there are expectations for the Hawks. They won 53 games last season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, but coach Mike Woodson wasn't retained.

With the same core of players returning for 2009-10, the Hawks' goal is to go further. Drew, Woodson's lead assistant for six years, said he knows he will be under scrutiny.

"I wouldn't have accepted the job if I didn't think I could get it done," he said. "It comes with the territory. That's just the way it is."

Lakers recognize Powell

Lakers coach Phil Jackson thanked Josh Powell for his contributions to the team's championship during a ring ceremony in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Powell, now with the Hawks, said he saw the ceremony and appreciated the gesture. Several Lakers players talked about the team's cohesiveness, and Powell said it was real.

"The experiences and the relationships that I built there are definitely things to miss," he said. "But I have a new family now, and we've got things we are trying to accomplish. I wish their organization and team all the best this year."

Still hurting

Guards Jeff Teague (ankle) and Jamal Crawford (back) and forward Mo Evans (knee) were among Hawks players still nursing injuries for the opener.

“I feel it sometimes,” Teague said. “But I will be all right.”

Evans still is strengthening his knee after surgery in August. He said in hindsight he wishes he’d had the procedure earlier in the summer and not pushed the knee too soon during training camp.

Remembering Wright

The Grizzlies observed a moment of silence before the game to honor Memphis native Lorenzen Wright.

Wright, who played the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons with the Hawks, was fatally shot in July. He played in college at the University of Memphis and spent five seasons with the Grizzlies.