Hawks coach Larry Drew's push for players to play with more intensity could lead to more playing time for two players who have been able to deliver energy off the bench -- forward Damien Wilkins and guard Jeff Teague.
Wilkins, first signed in December as a temporary replacement for Joe Johnson during his recovery from elbow surgery, has averaged 12.4 minutes per game. He often has defended high-scoring players such as Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and New York's Carmelo Anthony.
"I definitely want to try to find more minutes for him because he has that ability to give you that energy and give you that intensity," Drew said.
Teague, who started four games recently as the Hawks worked new acquisition Kirk Hinrich into the lineup, has had inconsistent minutes.
"Jeff can be the same way [as Wilkins] with his speed and his quickness," Drew said. "He can change the pace of the game by getting in there and pushing the ball every single time, make or miss."
Atlanta connection
During his stay in Atlanta, Lakers guard Derek Fisher hoped to see Georgia State strength-and-conditioning coach Ken Coggins. Fisher trained with Coggins when both were at Arkansas-Little Rock in the mid-1990s. Fisher said that, without Coggins' mentorship and coaching, he wouldn't have made it to the NBA.
"Man, he meant everything in college," Fisher said. "He was just a steadying force and influence in my life as a young man."
Long night
Hawks forward Marvin Williams, who like Wilkins often draws defensive assignments on top scorers, expected to take a turn on Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant. This came after defending against Durant last Friday and Anthony on Sunday.
"I've got to call the league and talk to them about this," Williams said.
Williams' comparison of the three:
"I think the thing that Kobe has that those other two guys don't necessarily have [is] Kobe doesn't take his foot off the gas, period. … I just think, 48 minutes, he competes. He can be down 30, up 30 and just the way he plays, he's always in attack mode."
Etc.
Among those who were expected to be at Philips Arena on Tuesday night: Entertainers Ludacris and Young Jeezy and football stars Hines Ward, Charles Woodson and Takeo Spikes. Confirmed in attendance were basketball legend Julius Erving, Falcons wide receiver Roddy White and entertainer Monica.
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