Smith scored a game-high 20 points in Friday's win over Memphis, including the game-winning points on a three-pointer the old fashioned way, putting back an Anthony Johnson miss for a basket and the foul with 11 seconds left.

Saturday he raised it up another notch, pouring in a career-high 32 (on 12-15 shooting from the field) to help lead the team over Minnesota. That's now three straight wins for the Hawks, all without JJ. Ummm, yeah. Didn't see that one coming.

It's interesting. This is not a slight at Joe, who is basically the best basketball player on the planet in these eyes, but the team has, as you may have noticed, a tendency late in games to give Joe the ball and watch what happens. Well, without him on the floor, the Hawks have had to spread the ball around, which makes it much more difficult for other teams to figure out what they are going to do in crunch time. Again, I'd rather have Joe than not, but the current situation is forcing the other guys to make plays they haven't been asked to make in the past.

All of which is to say, I think history will look back on this season as the year that Josh Smith figured out how to play this game. Call it "The Year Smoove Found His Groove". Though he still takes some ill-advised jumpers, he has begun to take his game inside more and more, where his athleticism is nearly unmatched in the NBA. With Joe out, Josh has assumed the Alpha Male role for the foreseeable future and so far is wearing it well.

As for the team's prospects? I'd love to think we can still make a playoff run, but without Joe, even with our recent play, it's still a lot to ask. On the other hand, if the guys can continue to play team ball, who knows? The East is still up for grabs, and thanks to Indiana's freefall, yet another playoff spot is in play now.

I don't know what is going to happen, and it would take a lot more than three straight wins to get us there, but I can tell you this: if Josh Smith keeps it going, we may have meaningful games left this season after all.