Home-court won’t come easy for Hawks

[Cwell]

http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/ha...hawks_news.html

NO REST FOR THE PLAYOFF-BOUND: Had the Hawks taken care of business a little better earlier in the season, these last three weeks of the season might have provided an opportunity to rest some of the rotation regulars for the playoffs.

But injuries and a tighter-than-they-want race for home-court advantage won’t allow the Hawks to ease up one bit.

Not with three back-to-back sets in the final weeks of the regular season, starting with Friday’s game in Boston and tonight’s home game against Orlando. “We’ve been grinding all year in terms of being in some tough situations with the injuries and the schedule and our guys have responded all year,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “They know what’s at stake. We have to try and finish up on a positive note. Our main goal is trying to finish strong and put ourselves in a position to lock up that fourth spot.”

ROTATION SET? With locking up that fourth spot being the sole focus, Woodson said he would not play around with his rotation, even with back-to-back sets on the docket.

Woodson scrapped the big lineup of Zaza Pachulia, Al Horford and Josh Smith that he tried in last Friday’s home loss to the Celtics, hoping to milk his regular group that included Mo Evans instead of Pachulia.

“It’s tough to play that way when you don’t really work on it,” Pachulia said. “Plus, we need energy off the bench and that’s what I’ve been able to provide all year.”

The Celtics made the Hawks pay for that decision early, scoring 10 of their first 13 points in the paint.

“Until you can secure that fourth spot you have to play the way you did to get here,” Woodson said. “I don’t think it’s wise to deviate from that.”

LAW AND WILLIAMS AT HOME: The Celtics played without All-Star power forward Kevin Garnett for the second time in as many games against the Hawks. Garnett is still resting his right knee.

At least he was within the city limits.

Neither Hawks forward Marvin Williams nor reserve point guard Acie Law IV made the trip. They are both out with lower back injuries.

And Woodson said it’s not clear when either play will return. “Acie practiced a little [Thursday], but obviously it wasn’t good enough because he didn’t make the trip. Marvin is shooting a little bit and running on the treadmill, but until he starts banging and going against contact, it’s hard to tell when you can project him to return. So with both those guys right now, it’s just a day-to-day thing.”

STOUDAMIRE JOIN BUCKS: Former Hawks guard Salim Stoudamire signed a multi-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

Stoudamire played three seasons with the Hawks and left as the team’s all-time free-throw percentage leader (.882).

The Hawks play in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

— Sekou Smith

[exodus]

The Hawks are 3 games up with 6 to play and they play only two teams with a winning record. I think that makes getting the 4th seed pretty easy.

[TruJerz]

The Hawks are 3 games up with 6 to play and they play only two teams with a winning record. I think that makes getting the 4th seed pretty easy.

I agree but we have to win the rest of our road games..we need to show that we can win on the road because until we do that, we arent going anywhere