Hawks’ Horford and Smith a threatening tandem

Joe Johnson has played phenomenally well during the Hawks’ five-game win streak.

Yet even he realizes that he’s not the only player that pushes his team from good to exceptional when he’s going well.

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The frontcourt tandem of Josh Smith (left) and Al Horford are among the NBA’s most productive. In the last five games they’re averaging upwards of 13 points, 10 rebounds and almost 2 blocks a game.

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Johnson fingered his frontcourt tandem of Josh Smith and Al Horford as the culprits for his team’s success last week.

The Hawks went 5-0, including home wins over Detroit, New Orleans, Utah and Portland. Smith and Horford played starring roles. They’re both averaging double-doubles during the Hawks’ current seven-game home stand, which continues tonight against Sacramento.

“When you have two young big men that make plays on both ends of the floor it’s a whole new ball game,” Johnson said. “I think we can compete with anybody in the league when we’re all clicking on cylinders the way we have these past few games.

“We’re a tough team to beat when our energy is high and everybody is in good spirits.”

As frontcourt tandems go, Smith and Horford are as good as it gets when they’re at their best.

“We just play well together,” Smith said. “When Al first got here last year it was like we’d played together since my rookie year. We just clicked. And lately it’s been a beautiful thing to see with both of us doing our thing at the same time.”

Smith is averaging 16.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 blocks and just 1.8 turnovers during this current run. Horford is averaging 13.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.0 turnover.

Knowing how to operate in the same space alongside another talented player comes easy to Horford. He played with Chicago center Joakim Noah at Florida, winning back-to-back NCAA Tournament titles while forming one of the most formidable frontcourt duos in college basketball history.

“It’s about having good chemistry,” Horford said. “In Josh’s situation, he always tries to make people around him better. And there are some nights where I might have it going as far as getting rebounds. And you can see him shying off a little bit in that area. And if he has it going scoring, I’ll back out a little. It’s really all about balance and really just playing for the team.”

With starting small forward Marvin Williams out indefinitely with a lower back injury, the Hawks need everything Smith and Horford can provide.

“They couldn’t have come on at a better time with us being shorthanded,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “Those two guys have stepped in and played their tails off and it has to stay that way. Because it gives you people up front that do all the necessary things to help you win. And that’s rebounding, defending, blocking shots and just plugging that hole. The scoring is extra.

“But teams are shooting 42 percent and averaging 84.4 points against us during this stretch. That’s the same way we were playing at the start of the season when those two guys had it going.”

Injuries to both players sidelined their act. Smith missed all but four games in November with a high ankle sprain and the Hawks went 6-6 without him. Horford missed all but four games in January and the Hawks went 5-7 without him.

“It’s obvious that we play better as a team when we’re playing like this,” Horford said. “We don’t have to have the big numbers. We just have to be consistent.”