Hawks seek boost from bench

By Michael Cunningham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Their roster, already out of balance, has been thrown out of whack by injuries.

The Hawks also have tired legs because of a lot of games jammed into a few days. They've played tougher competition, losing to Phoenix, Orlando and Milwaukee in a span of four days.

The Hawks could point to any of those circumstances to mitigate their three-game losing streak after a 6-0 start. They specifically could be used to explain why their bench, an asset during the team's hot start, has become a liability, most recently in the listless loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

"Still, consistency in effort needs to be there," Hawks reserve center Zaza Pachulia said. "We looked at the tape, and there was no effort. It looked like we were tired.

"Bad part is we lost the game, and we [reserves] were the biggest reason. The good part is this is something you can change in one game."

There's a chance the Hawks can gain some relief by changing the lineup. Forwards Marvin Williams and Mo Evans, both recovering from knee injuries, could play Friday against Utah at Philips Arena.

Evans has missed eight games because of soreness in his surgically repaired knee, and Williams has been out since leaving the Detroit game Nov. 3 with a bone bruise. Both players practiced Thursday.

“We are definitely not 100 percent, but I think we can be effective and help our team plug some holes," Evans said.

The Hawks certainly would welcome the return of one or both players, who are the only small forwards on the roster.

In the aftermath of the loss to Milwaukee, Hawks coach Larry Drew said he would scrutinize how he used his reserves. He said he might have to change his substitution patterns or tinker with his lineups.

By Thursday, Drew said that may not be the problem.

"I think I just have to push my subs more because I can't play my starters more minutes," he said. " I have got to get more from my bench guys, and I am going to challenge those guys even more."

The reality is that Drew's options are limited without Williams and Evans.

The Hawks focused on adding big men in the offseason and ended up signing free-agent centers Jason Collins and Etan Thomas and forward Josh Powell. The Hawks have no fewer than six players available at center and power forward, but are so thin at small forward that losing Williams or Evans creates problems with no simple solutions.

Collins played limited minutes against Phoenix and Milwaukee because the quick pace of those games didn't suit him. Interior forwards Powell and Josh Smith were forced to defend Milwaukee and Phoenix's fleeter wing players on the perimeter. Thomas has played a total of five minutes.

So Drew has had to shuffle his lineup and play Smith, Joe Johnson and even Jamal Crawford at small forward. The result has been defensive mismatches all over the floor for the Hawks, who maintained as best they could until coming undone against the Bucks.

While rehabilitating their injuries together, Evans and Williams have lamented how the Hawks so obviously miss their contributions.

“It's definitely been tough to watch," Evans said.

“It’s frustrating,” Williams said. “You look at Phoenix and Orlando, I really felt like I could have helped, and Mo felt the same way. But I’ve got to get healthy. I’m looking at the bigger picture.

"I think everyone understands that. Hopefully I can get back as soon as I can."