EASTERN CONFERENCE.

Atlanta

SICK OF LOSING: The worst thing that can happen to a bad team continues to happen to the Hawks. Injuries and illnesses have ravaged the club, preventing coach Lon Kruger from having a full roster to deploy against superior competition. And so the losing continues. They were unable to follow up on a big win over the Lakers last Monday, instead getting hammered at home by the Spurs and at Toronto. ... With SF Chris Crawford (ankle) done for the season, rookie SF DerMarr Johnson gets another shot to develop. He needs it. The team, while saying it is convinced Johnson will emerge into a star player, has to be disappointed in what it has seen from its first-round draft pick. He has had several opportunities to win consistent playing time, but he still seems overmatched.... Crawford's injury could not have come at a worse time for him. He was showing effort and the ability to finish strong drives and hit the open jump shot the team has sought for three years.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The 27-point loss to the Raptors was the team's worst since 1986. To make matters worse, the Raptors rejected 23 Hawks shots, an NBA record. Getting shots blocked always is a danger for the Hawks, who start 6-2 SG Jason Terry and 5-10 PG Brevin Knight. When Terry shoots 3-for-18, the Hawks don't have much of a chance to win. --Curtis Bunn

Boston

SCORING BINGE: SF Paul Pierce was the league's hottest player last week. He completed an impressive five-game stretch with a career-high 44 points against the Nets. In recent weeks, he has taken his game to new heights and believes he could one day become the top scorer in the league. Not only that, he has been making smarter decisions when defenses attempt to trap him. Even when hot, Pierce has been looking for teammates who are open for better shots.... The Celtics are preparing themselves for a playoff race that could come down to the last week of the season. Coach Jim O'Brien recently reminded his players that "fatigue is a state of mind," emphasizing the team cannot rest for the remainder of the season.... SF Walter McCarty and PG Milt Palacio have provided a lift off the bench. But little has been heard from SF Eric Williams lately.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The Celtics are playing their best basketball since their six-game winning streak in late January and early February. They were helped by a four-day break they used to fine-tune their play. They are displaying solid on-court chemistry that was evident when they rang up 30 assists against the Nets. On defense, they have been adept at selectively returning to the press to add surprises to their repertoire. The press has helped the Celtics establish an impressive turnover differential. --Shira Springer

Charlotte