"A recurring theme for the Hawks last season was coach Larry Drew's efforts to coax his players to get tougher.

Drew said they needed to play with a "physicality" and implored them to develop a "blue-collar mentality." At one point Drew said he feared the word was out around the NBA that the Hawks would back down when pushed.

The Hawks showed some resolve in the postseason, but they never were the consistently rugged defensive team that Drew envisioned. Eventually Drew realized he may not get this group of players to play that way no matter how much he talked about it.

"I talk about that a lot," Drew said Tuesday. "But the truth is you have got to have guys on the team where that is already [embedded] in them."

With the roster for 2011-12 lacking such players, the Hawks are looking to add some defensive toughness to a team flush with offensive talent. One intriguing defensive prospect at the team's minicamp this week is free-agent guard David Lighty.

Lighty, 23, was a four-year starter at Ohio State, where he set a school record with 128 victories. Playing on Buckeyes teams that featured future lottery picks Greg Oden and Evan Turner and first-rounder Kosta Koufos, Lighty found his niche as a dogged defender.

"That is something where you help separate yourself from others," Lighty said. "Everybody wants to see somebody score, but the little things are what win basketball games. I try to focus on that."

Lighty's assets as a defender include his size (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) and strength, though he's not considered an exceptional athlete and also has a history of foot and knee injuries. Drew said the Hawks like Lighty's track record as a defender at a winning NCAA program in addition to his approach to his toughness."