While that wasn't the case in Saturday's 92-87 loss to the more aggressive Hawks at the Wachovia Center, the Sixers would like to avoid experienced, veteran teams like the Celtics and Pistons in the first round. That means the Sixers must end up fifth or sixth in the conference.

"It's no disrespect to Cleveland or Orlando or anything like that, but anytime you can try to stay away from playing the top two teams, you definitely want to do that," Green said.

Coach Maurice Cheeks said he's not worried about the Sixers letting up during the final five games, beginning Wednesday against the visiting Pistons.

"That (qualifying) was just one aspect of what we're trying to get to," Cheeks said. "We're still trying to move ourselves up. It's not like we're trying to release our breath and say we're done and move on. We want to go into this thing playing the way we've played the last two months."

HAWKS 92, SIXERS 87: Philly slipped to sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a flat performance Saturday against a team it beat the night before in Atlanta.

The Sixers (39-38) didn't have as much to play for as the No. 8 Hawks, who have yet to clinch a playoff spot -- and it showed in the teams' energy level.

"They just wanted it more than we did," said Andre Iguodala, who led the Sixers with 25 points and nine rebounds. Andre Miller added 18, and Lou Williams and Rodney Carney had 13 points apiece off the bench.

Starters Willie Green (1-for-11), Thaddeus Young (1-for-4) and Samuel Dalembert (1-for-3) combined to go 3-for-18 (.167) and score six points.

The Sixers, who slipped one game behind the No. 5 Wizards, were out-rebounded 42-33 and shot just .313 (5-for-16) from 3-point land.