Info on Wilks

[kelston827]

ATLANTA (AP) … Terry Stotts didn't wait long to make changes

to the Atlanta Hawks' lineup.

In his coaching debut with the Hawks, Stotts took Ira Newble

out of the starting lineup for Friday night's game against the

San Antonio Spurs. Mike Wilks, who signed with Atlanta on

Tuesday, started at point guard and joined Jason Terry in the

backcourt.

The rest of the first unit stayed the same, with Glenn

Robinson, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo Ratliff up front.

Stotts took over for Lon Kruger, who was fired Thursday.

ŠIt's bittersweet,‰ Stotts said. ŠIn some ways, it's the

worst way to get a job because Lon is someone who I have a lot

of respect for as a coach.

ŠBut at the same time, I'm very excited. When you get your

first chance and you have a team that has playoff expectations

... but the record's not very good, that's to my benefit.‰

Wilks went to training camp with Milwaukee and joined

Huntsville of the National Basketball Developmental League,

where he averaged 10.8 points and 3.6 assists in 16 games. He

was sixth in the NBDL in assists and steals last year with

Mobile.

ŠI really like Mike,‰ Stotts said. ŠHe's a great kid, a very

good defender, very smart, doesn't make very many mistakes,

picks up full court, picks up ball pressure.‰

It figures to be the first of many changes for Atlanta, a

disappointing 11-16 after losing six of seven. Stotts said he

plans to extend the defense and trap, a style he learned while

working under George Karl for nine years at Seattle and

Milwaukee.

Last season was the first time Stotts hasn't been in the

playoffs since he came to the NBA in 1993. This is his first

year with the Hawks.

ŠI think one of George's attributes as a coach was his

flexibility and getting the most out of the team that he had,‰

said Stotts, who hadn't spoken with Karl since being promoted.

ŠGetting the most out of starters. That would be something

I'd like to do. He got players who weren't All-Starts to be

first-time All-Stars.‰

Robinson played with the Bucks the previous eight years and

worked with Stotts for the past four.

ŠI know he's capable of doing a good job,‰ Robinson said.

ŠIt's just a disappointment. I thought we could've won with

what we had, but I think the coach gets the short end of the

stick. We were the ones out there playing.‰