WASHINGTON -- There doesn't seem to be a simple answer as to how the Hawks can gain momentum for the playoffs while they save their bodies for the postseason.
It's not a dilemma that the Hawks appear working very hard to solve, though. For the second consecutive night the Hawks gave an uninspired effort, this time suffering a 115-83 defeat at Washington on Saturday.
"Guys were really just going through the motions out there," Hawks center Al Horford said after the team's fourth loss this season by 30 points or more.
The Hawks have lost four games in a row. The past two defeats came after their playoff seeding was locked in at No. 5 and without forward Josh Smith (knee), so the Hawks can cite those circumstances and say the losses don't mean much.
Yet the Hawks rarely looked to be in postseason form even before their recent slide. With two regular-season games remaining, the Hawks are poised to begin their series against Orlando next weekend with few good efforts over the past six weeks.
Coach Larry Drew isn't sure if the Hawks can suddenly crank up their intensity for the playoffs.
"I am not very confident at all," he said. "I have been in this situation before having been in the league a long time. You can't just flip the switch. It just doesn't work like that.
"You want to carry momentum as you finish the regular season, as you move into the playoffs."
There's nothing good about losing big to the Wizards (22-58), no matter the context. They suited up just 10 players, including five rookies, yet had little trouble dominating the Hawks.
Just like the previous night at Indiana, the Hawks were lax from the start. They allowed easy points in the paint, showed little desire to rebound and didn't run offensive sets so much as they freelanced.
They committed six turnovers while falling behind 16-6. Drew had hoped his reserves would play well enough that he could keep his regulars on the bench, but Washington's lead swelled to 40-22 against backups.
The Wizards didn't let up after halftime, and the Hawks didn't put up much of a fight.
"They came out and they played hard, and that's why they blew us out today," Horford said.
Hawks players don't seem to be embracing Drew's idea that they need to find a rhythm before the playoffs. At the same time they say they aren't sure if they can do it once their series against Orlando begins.
"Honestly, I don't know," guard Joe Johnson said. "It's been pretty much unacceptable the last two games. I can't really just pinpoint one thing. We just haven't been playing hard."
The Hawks will get a day off before playing host to the Heat on Monday. Smith is expected to return to the lineup, and several other players will look to mend nagging injuries.
Johnson is still playing with a protective pad on his right thumb after he suffered a sprain March 26.
"It's never going to be 100 percent until the season is over, but it's nothing that is going to stop me from doing anything," Johnson said.
Horford suffered a sprained left ankle March 11.
"It's as good as it's been, so that's good news," he said. "I am pretty much back to normal."
Wizards rookie Jordan Crawford visited with some of his old teammates before the game, but didn't have much of an impact once it started. Crawford, whom the Hawks traded to Washington in February, was saddled with early foul trouble and finished with six points.
Entering the game, Crawford was averaging 33.2 minutes, 17.2 points and 16.6 shots with the Wizards.
“I knew it was a business coming in," Crawford said. "[The Hawks] wanted to try to make a playoff push. Now I am getting playing time. It was good for both of us.”
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