Hawks scour the landscape of help down low

At the start of the season, the Atlanta Hawks boasted decent depth at the center position. Start with All-Star Al Horford. Next in line was Zaza Pachulia, who could provide some scoring, toughness and rebounding off the bench. Third on the depth chart was 7-footer Jason Collins, whose defense on Orlandos Dwight Howard proved instrumental in the Hawks playoff victory over their Southeast Division foe last season. After Thursdays 96-77 loss to Memphis, the Hawks are down to one of those players for the time being. Horford, with a torn pectoral muscle, could miss the rest of the season. In the first quarter on Thursday, Collins went down with a sprained left elbow. On Friday, he went for an MRI. At a minimum, Hawks coach Larry Drew said he expected Collins to miss Saturdays game with Philadelphia, a team the Hawks trail by a half game in the Eastern Conference standings, at Philips Arena. Drew confessed that the Hawks are a little depleted in the big-man area. Right now, theyre just calling it a real bad sprain, Drew said. Were going to see if theres any more damage. At the end of Hawks practice, Collins showed up only wearing a spandex-type sleeve over the elbow. His absence could test the Hawks. Pachulia, who averaged 15.7 minutes per game last season, moved into the starting lineup when Horford went down. He is averaging 21.4 minutes this season, his highest since 2006-07. Next on the depth chart is rookie Ivan Johnson, who is only 6-foot-8. Drew said that the Hawks already were looking for help at the center position in terms of potential acquisitions. Depending on how long Collins is out, the team could have a new urgency in that way. It hasnt been a secret weve been looking at some guys, he said. When Al went down, we began our search. We had a list of names we were looking at. The search is going to have to continue now. Drew said he was very concerned during Thursdays game when Pachulia picked up his second foul and went to the bench. That gave the Memphis a decided advantage with 7-1 center Marc Gasol. Pachulia was on the bench when Collins got hurt and the Hawks were left with Johnson in the post. Gasol made 5-of-8 shots and had 10 rebounds on the night. Saturdays opponent, the 76ers, also are big and physical up front. Ivan was our next big guy, Drew said. He just gives up too much size, particularly playing against a guy like Gasol. We have to try to get another big body in here. Weve been looking. Well continue to look. Until we know Jasons actual status, well just have to take it day by day to see where we are. For the time being, Pachulia said he knows that he must be more careful about picking up fouls. In a situation where Marc Gasol is there, a big body, probably bigger than what you see every game -- not every teams center is 7-1, physical and pretty good around the basket, Pachulia said. Ive got to be a little smarter and do a better job Im going to try to be more careful the next game. Im not going to try to save the fouls. When I need to take a foul, of course, Im a big man, I will, but, especially with Jason being down, take the foul when I really need to take it. Not coming off the bench means that Pachulia has had and will continue to have even more so to change his mentality regarding using his fouls. You have more limited minutes, he said of coming off the bench. Thats what youre there for: bring the energy and be physical, bring the presence, especially playing the playoff games. You really learn how important it is, even a hard foul, but now is a different situation when youre starting. Pachulia said conditioning is not an issue for him in taking on more playing time. He said playing in Turkey during the lockout helped him. Turkish league games are only 40 minutes, eight minutes shorter than the NBA, but Pachulia said he regularly played 35 minutes plus after recovering from a calf injury. I feel good, he said. Conditioning wise I have no problems at all.