ATLANTA -- Pau Gasol has a newsflash for the Lakers: You can't just turn it on.

L.A.'s worrying 109-92 defeat in Atlanta -- their third one-sided loss in four games -- sets a worrying tone as the Lakers head into the playoffs. Yes, they'll be the West's top seed, but they're not acting like it. In fact, this is the most vulnerable L.A. has looked since acquiring Gasol two years ago.

L.A.'s loss came after previous frustrating defeats in New Orleans and Oklahoma City, and many elements remained the same. Once again, the Lakers sat on the bench watching an opponent yuk it up in garbage time, with the Hawks' starters doubled over in laughter after Jason Collins nailed an 18-foot jumper to score his fifth and sixth points of the season.

Once again, point guard was a glaring problem. Derek Fisher clanged five of the six open looks he was given in the first half and finished with just four points, while Jordan Farmar scored more successfully but struggled on defense and had only two assists against two turnovers.

Once again, the Lakers pretended Gasol wasn't on the team for long stretches, as he took only one shot in the middle two quarters. Partly that was Atlanta double-teaming the post and keeping Gasol off the boards, but his touches were few and far between regardless.

And once again, L.A.'s second unit seemed completely outclassed, with Atlanta's bench outscoring the Lakers' group 48-22. Maurice Evans scored 18 points on nine shots to lead the way, Zaza Pachulia had a double-double and changed the game completely with his physicality, and Jamal Crawford toyed with L.A.'s guards off the dribble en route to 14 points.

L.A., meanwhile, had only one reserve (Farmar) make more than one basket. And reserve guard Sasha Vujacic didn't play at all, even when Phil Jackson emptied the rest of his bench at the end of the game, a punishment stemming from an incident with the coaching staff in the Oklahoma City game. Jackson said before the game that Vujacic needed to "atone" for his mistake by doing certain things, but Vujacic said he had no knowledge of that requirement.

It was part of a generally critical media session for the Zen Master, who said Gasol's description of himself as "very, very tough" has one "very" too many -- a notion that seemed proven when Pachulia outmuscled and outhustled him all night -- and said the Lakers' bench players had been made to practice on Tuesday while the rest of the team had the day off.

Kobe Bryant was the Lakers' lone bright spot with 28 points, but it wasn't a great night even for him. Bryant tweaked his left ankle on two different occasions, uncharacteristically missed four of his six free throws, and despite his output was outdueled by his opposite number (Joe Johnson had 25 points and eight assists).

"We're not playing well defensively," said Bryant. "This trip was consistently bad. So we've got to get back to work.''

That was one of many brief answers from a frustrated Bryant, who stormed to the bench with 2:32 left and his team down by 16, spiking the ball behind him after a backcourt violation gave Atlanta the ball.

All of which takes us back to Gasol. The Lakers' center was asked about the idea that the Lakers have the talent and know-how to turn it on come playoff time despite their recent struggles. He wasn't buying it for a second.

"I don't really believe in that much," said the Spanish 7-footer, "especially on the NBA level and on the playoff level. You need to make sure you build on habits and you build on little things out there, and understand you can't rely on 'We're a great team, we're gonna turn it on when we need to.' It doesn't work like that."

For Atlanta, meanwhile, this was a big win in the race for the third seed in the Eastern Conference -- a race they must win outright since Boston, as a division champion, would get the nod in a tiebreaker despite Atlanta's winning all four games between the clubs.

Fortunately for the Hawks, it may not come down to that. While they face near-certain defeat in Cleveland on Friday, they play only two winning teams in the six games that follow before a season-ending game against a Cavs squad that probably will feature the likes of Jawad Williams and Danny Green instead of LeBron James.

Combined with Boston's loss to Oklahoma City, it puts the Hawks a game ahead of the Celtics, and Boston must also face Cleveland this weekend.

"Our bench was huge tonight," said Hawks coach Mike Woodson. "They've been playing extremely well and we're going to need them to play that way the rest of the way out. Granted, they are missing [Andrew] Bynum, a big piece of their offense and defense. But I just thought tonight we were solid."

Nonetheless, the greater story here is that of the defending champ. L.A. is 13-8 since the All-Star break and has just one double-figure win in that span. With stern tests coming against Utah, San Antonio and Denver, not to mention a Western Conference playoff bracket that offers no easy first-round opponent, the Lakers need to up their level of play dramatically and fast. And if Gasol is right, it's going to take a lot more than just throwing a switch.

John Hollinger covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

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