Hawks' loss to Detroit ‘disheartening'

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The vinegar was still lingering from Sunday's loss in Detroit at the Hawks' practice Monday.

With a full roster, the Hawks lost 94-88 to a Pistons team that was without guards Richard Hamilton and Ben Gordon and forward Tayshaun Prince, a trio who last year averaged a combined 53.2 points. Detroit then lost starting forward Charlie Villanueva in the fourth quarter. The Hawks were still out-rebounded 53-27 and 24-6 on the offensive glass, allowing the Pistons to break a seven-game losing streak.

"It gets me frustrated because we have a talented group of guys," forward Josh Smith said. "We're coming to a situation like that, where pretty much all their core scorers are gone. It's kind of disheartening to lose a game like that because when you're going into the postseason and you're fighting for position, you look back at these games as games you should have won."

The tenor of the practice reflected a team working out its frustration.

"We felt like we got outplayed and outworked yesterday, so we really came in here and really had a good practice," center Al Horford said.

Coach Mike Woodson accepted responsibility for not having the team at a level necessary to defeat the outmanned Pistons. The Hawks have had a lucky run of late, playing New Orleans without guard Chris Paul, Orlando without guard Jameer Nelson and Philadelphia without guard Louis Williams or forward Elton Brand. They split with New Orleans and beat Philadelphia.

While the Hawks nearly caught Detroit late in the fourth quarter, "It should have never gotten to that point, had we competed early," Woodson said. "The first quarter kind of set the tone in terms of how we started the game."

While the Hawks have lost three of four after winning seven in a row, Woodson said the team will be fine.

"We've played 17 games and we're 12-5," he said. "I think that's excellent and we've got to continue the climb. It's a long season; we've got a long way to go."

Extra work

Guard Joe Johnson spent time after practice shooting 3-pointers along with forward Marvin Williams. Johnson has made 29 of 84 shots in the past five games (34.5 percent). He was shooting 46.4 for the season before that.

"It happens," Johnson said. "I’m human. But I'll bounce back strong."

PT for starters

Woodson leaned heavily on the starting lineup Sunday. Smith, Horford, Johnson and guard Mike Bibby all played 37 minutes or more, the first time that has happened in a regulation game this season.

"That's going to happen some nights. I'm not watching the minute-by-minute when I play guys," Woodson said. "It's who I think is getting it done and can help us. That's how I try to coach."

In the previous game, a win over Philadelphia, only Horford exceeded 37 minutes.