So much for that trade request.
Josh Smith is making it impossible for the Hawks to even answer the phone when someone calls inquiring about what it will take to pry the team's emotional center away from his hometown.
Smith just keeps putting together monster performance after monster performance for a wounded Hawks team that so desperately needs the boost, with players out seemingly every night.
He was the man on the spot Sunday night in Sacramento, helping the Hawks rebound from an early deficit with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. Whatever the Hawks needed, he provided, on both ends of the floor.
But most important to Smith was the Hawks snapping their two-game losing streak and evening their record on this six-game trip to 2-2 with games in Denver and Los Angeles left before they return home.
"I felt like we really made it difficult for them to get in the paint, even though (DeMarcus) Cousins had a big game for them," Smith said. "For the most part, we did a good job on everybody else and we made sure we stayed locked in and didn't waver from what we were trying to do, even early on when it wasn't looking quite as good."
Smith has made a habit of looking good in recent weeks, especially since he was snubbed for the third straight year when the All-Star reserve nods were handed out.
He insists that there is no new magic in his game, no wrinkles that have made him more effective.
"It's just being aggressive and taking what the defense gives me," he said. "I just have to stay positive and make sure we stay under control. We're trying to make sure everybody chips in and contributes to what we've got going on right now, because that's when we are at our best."
It's certainly when Smith is at his best.
NOTES, QUOTES
-Coach Larry Drew has never been shy about tinkering with his starting lineup. So it wasn't a shocker when he brought Marvin Williams off the bench against the Kings.
Even better for the Hawks, Williams responded with 12 points and five rebounds in his reserve role. And he was critical late, making a great steal and dunk on a fast break that helped foul DeMarcus Cousins out of the game late.
Williams also was great on defense, helping shut down the lane in the game's final minutes, with Zaza Pachulia fouled out and on the bench.
"Sometimes you get a really good look at the game when you start it on the bench," Josh Smith said. "Marv was able to look out there and see what we needed and get the job done. That was huge for us in a game like this."
-Pachulia battled as best he could before fouling out. He had his work cut out for him with Cousins, the Kings' talented and burly young center, leaning on him all night.
Cousins finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds and bullied his way around the basket as best he could, but Pachulia battled right back, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
He might not be as good as Al Horford, but he has softened the blow of losing Horford.
ROSTER REPORT
-F Ivan Johnson, Mr. Five Hour Energy, was not available for the game. He joined the lost and distinguished list of the Hawks' walking wounded, a group that included Tracy McGrady, Jerry Stackhouse, Willie Green and others.
-G Jeff Teague's evolution at point guard continues to take on different shapes, depending on the circumstance. He looked extremely comfortable with Kirk Hinrich, sharing some duties while also both having the green light to score or facilitate for others, as they saw fit.
-G Joe Johnson struggled mightily at the start of the game, but rebounded late with some clutch buckets and free throws. He was just 5 for 13 from the floor. It was his free-throw work (9 for 9) that saved his bacon. He ended the game with 21 points.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Man, it's going to be exciting when we get everybody back, playing like we are playing now. Guys are coming with energy and effort. When guys can come back, we can do something special. I think everybody can feel that." -- Jeff Teague on what the Hawks will look like at full strength, whenever they get back there this season.
