Larry Drew pleased with effort, still work to be done

Atlanta Hawks head coach Larry Drew was pleased with his team's effort Wednesday night against Milwaukee even after the Bucks climbed back into the game in the fourth quarter.

"When we play with energy we are not only a fun team to watch, we are a pretty good basketball team," coach Larry Drew said.

Drew is right that when this Hawks team is clicking on all cylinders it is a fun team to watch. Atlanta finished with 28 fastbreak points which has become a big part of this team's identity especially when Drew has opted to go with Jeff Teague and Devin Harris in the same backcourt as starters.

There is still a lot of work to be done and plenty of opportunity left for the Hawks who are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

"It won't be easy from here on in," Drew said of the Hawks' final 14 regular-season games. "We have to understand that teams are going to play with a sense of urgency, particularly teams that are in the playoff picture, and we have to come out and return the favor. We can't wait and allow teams to dictate the rhythm of the game."

Atlanta will wrap up their home stand on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers before heading out on a four game road trip that will take them through Milwaukee, Indiana, Toronto and Boston. Seven of Atlanta's 14 games remaining are at home. Five of those home games are against clubs that are currently on the outside of the playoff picture.