The Atlanta Hawks is a young team with a lot of talent and a veteran player - Joe Johnson - who thrives on winning. However, Josh Smith, one of the most athletic players in the NBA and someone that is showing great promise in the coming years - hopefully, for the Hawks - has his share of downsides too - lack of maturity and even some selfishness being the most important ones.

During the Hawks game against the Pistons, Josh Smith was yelling at teammate Tyronn Lue because he wasn’t passing him the ball enough. Then, he yelled at coach Mike Woodson to get Lue out of the game and had to be restrained by coaches and teammates.

Even when he did get the ball, he often broke plays to get off his own shot. Then, after playing terribly most of the game, he was given a gift of three free throws. After he made the free throws, which only tied the game, he gave the Pistons’ bench the stink-eye, as if he did something heroic. The Pistons won the game on the ensuing possession.

Smith, an restricted free agent in July, is playing for a contract and not necessarily to help the Hawks win games. To have Smith with this attitude in a young team is the least thing you want as a coach and general manager. Hopefully for the Hawks’ fans, Josh Smith will continue to provide what he does best - blocking shots and penetrating, but in a more honorable fashion from now on.