Josh Smith active in Hawks opening victory

[DrReality]

Josh Smith active in Hawks opening victory

By SEKOU SMITH

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, October 30, 2008

The next time Josh Smith says he’ll turn his game on when it’s time, you might want to listen.

That’s what he did against the Magic. After being criticized for his lackluster performance during the Hawks’ preseason, he warned everyone that he would crank his game up to a high level against the Magic.

Smith played the role of game-changer Wednesday, and not for the obvious reasons (17 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and no turnovers). Smith’s biggest contributions came in the hustle plays he made.

Whenever there was a loose ball to be had, Smith was one of the first players on the floor after it. He set the tone for the Hawks early with two jolting blocks of Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard, sizing up his pal since pre-school both times in highlight reel fashion.

It was the type of menacing, all-court effort that has made Smith one of the NBA’s most unique talents.

“That’s when he is at his best,” Johnson said of Smith. “When he is active, blocking shots, rebounding, getting up and down the floor and dunking. We need him flying around like that. When he does that, he is one of the best in the league.”

One for the home team

The shouting and cheering coming from the Hawks’ locker room after Wednesday’s game had nothing to do with the big win over the Magic.

That noise was courtesy of Flip Murray, who doubled up on the night with a fantastic showing off the bench for the Hawks and his beloved Philadelphia Phillies finally winning the World Series.

“It don’t get too much better than this,” Murray said smiling. “My Phillies man, my Phillies. They did their job and we did our job.”

Murray said the Hawks came in with the express purpose of trying to smack the Magic first and take the air out of the building. That mission was accomplished almost immediately.

“That was the focus, especially for a first game of the year against a big rival,” he said. “And they wanted it too. The fans came out, they had the building rocking and they had their little introductions and everything, they had it all going. It was our job to come out and take the life out of the building, jump on them early and that’s what we did.”

[Packfill]

Josh Smith active in Hawks opening victory

By SEKOU SMITH

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, October 30, 2008

The next time Josh Smith says he’ll turn his game on when it’s time, you might want to listen.

That’s what he did against the Magic. After being criticized for his lackluster performance during the Hawks’ preseason, he warned everyone that he would crank his game up to a high level against the Magic.

Smith played the role of game-changer Wednesday, and not for the obvious reasons (17 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and no turnovers). Smith’s biggest contributions came in the hustle plays he made.

Whenever there was a loose ball to be had, Smith was one of the first players on the floor after it. He set the tone for the Hawks early with two jolting blocks of Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard, sizing up his pal since pre-school both times in highlight reel fashion.

It was the type of menacing, all-court effort that has made Smith one of the NBA’s most unique talents.

“That’s when he is at his best,” Johnson said of Smith. “When he is active, blocking shots, rebounding, getting up and down the floor and dunking. We need him flying around like that. When he does that, he is one of the best in the league.”

One for the home team

The shouting and cheering coming from the Hawks’ locker room after Wednesday’s game had nothing to do with the big win over the Magic.

That noise was courtesy of Flip Murray, who doubled up on the night with a fantastic showing off the bench for the Hawks and his beloved Philadelphia Phillies finally winning the World Series.

“It don’t get too much better than this,” Murray said smiling. “My Phillies man, my Phillies. They did their job and we did our job.”

Murray said the Hawks came in with the express purpose of trying to smack the Magic first and take the air out of the building. That mission was accomplished almost immediately.

“That was the focus, especially for a first game of the year against a big rival,” he said. “And they wanted it too. The fans came out, they had the building rocking and they had their little introductions and everything, they had it all going. It was our job to come out and take the life out of the building, jump on them early and that’s what we did.”

I really think Smith is the proverbial "x-factor" for the Hawks. When he is energized he gives the team something that few other teams have or can match. Combine that with the steadiness from JJ, Al and Marvin and the Hawks can get somewhere.