> RISING PRICES: Season-ticket prices are going up for the Hawks next season, and for the first time in nine years, the renewals mailed to season-ticket holders this week included pricing for playoff tickets.

The only problem is the Hawks, who are 21-30, are slowly sliding out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, losers of six consecutive games before Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors.

The 5 percent increase for next season is actually less than the 7 percent increase a year ago. Lou DePaoli, Atlanta Spirit's chief marketing officer, said the renewals were sent out in anticipation of the Hawks ending the NBA's longest playoff drought.

"It's pretty much standard fare," DePaoli said. "Tickets went up a little over 5 percent. We did the same thing this time last year."

Season tickets for this season range from $294 to $1,290.

> WORK TO DO: Hawks coach Mike Woodson's name was mentioned on ESPN on Friday as a possible replacement for former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, who resigned after agreeing to a buyout with the school now that the NCAA is investigating Sampson for possible recruiting violations.

Woodson, an All-American and one of the most celebrated players in school history, has been mentioned before in the same capacity. But his focus is on getting the Hawks to the playoffs.

"We've got work to do right here," Woodson said. "That's my one and only focus is taking care of the business we've got going on right here."

> MISSING LINK: Backup point guard Acie Law IV's sprained right wrist could keep him out for the remainder of the Hawks' five-game Western Conference road trip. They have games left in Utah tonight and San Antonio on Monday.