Larry Drew scrambling in face of Hawks injuries

Injuries to those players, plus starting center Al Horford, have made it tough to evaluate the Hawks. They've also hindered Drew's efforts to install his new offense and alter his team's approach to defense.

"That part of it is tough," Drew said. "But that's just the way it is. You have to deal with it. When [the injured players] get back we will spend more teaching them to try to get them caught up."

The Hawks haven't had their full group of regulars for three preseason games. The closest they came was in the opener, when all of the expected rotation players except Crawford played much of the first half.

Otherwise, Drew has had to make do.

Drew had planned to let Horford play significant minutes at power forward. But that became less feasible with Horford limited by a balky ankle injured early in camp and also Collins' injury.

With Crawford and Teague both out, Drew had to play rookie Jordan Crawford at point guard at Detroit and Washington. Crawford, a shooting guard, hadn't practiced at point guard.

Since Drew also wants to limit veteran point guard Mike Bibby's minutes in the preseason, Crawford played 46 minutes Monday at Detroit and 47 minutes at Washington. Drew said the rookie cramped up on the team bus to the airport Tuesday night.

"I just heard him yelling and screaming," Drew said. "He is not used to that. I had not planned on him being a backup point guard."

Defensive talk not taking

Since training camp opened Sept. 28, Drew has lectured players about some defensive basics: Get back in transition and then stop the ball and protect the basket; defend pick-and-rolls by being aggressive with help defense; block out for rebounds, and play with energy.

The Hawks have done none of those things consistently in three preseason games, but Drew said he's not disappointed because forming a defensive identity will take time.

“It has to become habit," he said. "Doing it the old way, we could possibly finish somewhere in the middle of the pack defensively. But I am looking beyond that.

"I think we should be one of the top 10 teams in the league defensively if we make the total commitment of taking care of our responsibilities. That is something I am teaching every day, and I am not going to let up.”

Drew highlighted the team's defensive issues during a video session Thursday and said the Hawks had “one of the better practices with the energy and the responsibilities on the coverages.”

Injury report

Jeff Teague is doubtful to play in the exhibition game Saturday vs. New Orleans in Johnson City, Tenn. He ran on the treadmill for 19 minutes and said he felt fine, but trainer Wally Blase told him to take his time coming back.

“An ankle is nothing to mess with," Teague said. "I don’t want to tweak it and make it worse.”

Jamal Crawford said his back is at 75 percent strength.

“It felt pretty good,” he said. “It’s better and better. The worst is behind me.”

Collins said he hopes to play Saturday against the Hornets. Evans and Williams are expected to play.

Pape Sy (back) has yet to practice. Drew said he had no update on his status.