Hawks preseason 2012: Johan Petro frustrated with role

Veteran center Johan Petro has been frustrated with his role with the Atlanta Hawks this preseason, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Petro has played in just three of six preseason games and logged 35 total minutes.

"I don't know," Petro said when I asked how training camp was going so far. "To be honest with you I don't know. I'm still trying to figure out what my place is with this team. I'm still trying to figure out my role. I'm still trying to figure out a lot of stuff."

Petro is entering his eighth NBA season, and his first with the Hawks. Last season with the New Jersey Nets, he averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in a little over 15 minutes per game. For his career, Petro averages 4.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15:35 per game.

Petro is stuck behind Zaza Pachulia and Ivan Johnson on the Atlanta depth chart. While he understands that he must make adjustments for his new team, he is nevertheless frustrated:

"Not difficult, but more frustrating more than anything else. It's part of the business I understand. I'm new coming in to the team. Personally, I just have to stick to what I know how to do, stick to my principles and try to give to the team as much as possible. You have to adjust. I really trying to work on the differences that this team has compared to where I was before."

The Hawks are 3-3 in the preseason and have one game remaining. Atlanta opens the regular season Friday, Nov. 2, at home against the Houston Rockets. The game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET.