CHICAGO -- Hawks coach Larry Drew insisted there was no reason to panic.
That was Saturday morning. Hours later his team lost by 10 points to the woeful Wizards.
After the defeat to the team with the NBA’s worst record, Drew continued to preach patience although the Hawks have lost six of the past eight games. Only a 15-point comeback against the Jazz on Friday prevented what would have been a six-game losing streak.
For much of the early season, the Hawks were a fixture near the top of the Eastern Conference. They were a solid third and on several occasions had a chance to move up. Entering Sunday’s schedule, the Hawks (21-15) were tied for fourth in the conference and just a half-game up on Monday’s opponent the Bulls (20-15).
“We have been going through a very tough stretch,” Drew said of a schedule that has the Hawks playing 23 games in 41 days. “We’ve had a number of back-to-backs. But this is the NBA. … This was just another loss for us. We’ll have to get ready for Chicago.”
Drew and several of his players pointed the Hawks' defensive issues during the current slide. Over the past 10 games, the Hawks are allowing 97.20 points per game, 16th in the NBA. They are scoring 94.70 points a game, 21st in the league. The minus-2.5 points differential is 10th worst in the league over the stretch.
Against the Wizards, Josh Smith said the defensive coverages were not being run correctly right from the opening tip. The result was a win for the Wizards, only their sixth all season, a team that Hawks had won 18 of the past 19 against.
“I’ve been harping on defense from the very beginning, since training camp,” Drew said. “That has to be our staple. (Saturday), we just weren’t good. We were not good in transition. I didn’t think we were very good in containing the basketball. I don’t think we did a good job with our pick-and-roll coverages.
“Defense has to be our staple. I will continue to harp on it. Particularly on the road, we have to learn how to be efficient on the defensive end.”
The Hawks own a victory over the Derrick Rose-less Bulls this season, winning 92-75 at Philips Arena on Dec. 22. The Hawks outscored the Bulls by 20 points in a decisive second quarter. This game is on a road, where the Hawks have lost five of their past six.
Rose has been out after knee surgery and the Bulls are being cautious with his recovery. The guard is working out on a limited basis and has not practiced. There remains no timetable for the star guard’s return.
After traveling to Chicago following Saturday’s game, which concluded another stretch of four games in five days, the Hawks took a day Sunday. They return Monday eager to right their ship.
“I’m sure it’s not going to be the last time we go through hard times, where we win a game and then lose a game,” Lou Williams said. “It’s not going to be the last time so, to me, the most important thing is to get prepared for Chicago.”
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