"We're going to find out what we're made of [tonight]," said Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson, who struggled through 3-for-11 shooting and finished with eight points, 14 below his average. "I wouldn't say it's the most important game or anything, but it's very important for us to get back right."
The Hawks were 15-12 a week ago with a chance to put a little distance between themselves and the rest of the crowd in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings. Less than a full week into the New Year, that cushion has vanished.
At 15-15, the Hawks have come back to the pack behind Boston, Detroit and Orlando.
"Nights like these are always lurking; it's always out there," guard Anthony Johnson said. "But with that being said, this is definitely a setback. It's disappointing ... very disappointing."
"We started the game back on our heels and they attacked us," said Josh Smith, who finished with 20 points and five blocks. Smith and Josh Childress off the bench (26 points) were the only offensive sparks the Hawks had. "They just took it to us and made us pay for leaving shooters open. We got what we deserved for playing that type of defense."
It was a rude homecoming for Woodson, a former Indiana schoolboy star and Indiana University All-American. He had more than 50 family members and friends in the crowd to see his team, which has finally found some footing in his fourth season.
But they were treated to a second consecutive game in which the Hawks were roasted in grand fashion by the home team.
"We came out so flat, man," Woodson said. "We just stunk tonight. They wanted it a little bit more in terms of getting off their slide. And we knew it, and we just didn't respond. And I've got to take the blame for that."
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