<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Joe Johnson doesn't want to get ahead of himself. But the Hawks captain couldn't help but be energized by the sight of both Tyronn Lue and Josh Smith on the practice floor Monday. "I knew Lue was close to coming back," Johnson said. "Seeing Smooth up on his feet and running like that ... we've missed him these past few games. We could use him out there. "You can see a little light at the end of the tunnel when those guys get out there and you start to believe that we'll finally get over all these injuries and just get back to normal." Lue has missed 10 straight games with a strained groin but is expected back either for tonight's game against Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse or for Wednesday's home game against New Orleans. Smith, meanwhile, was expected to miss four weeks after undergoing hernia surgery Dec. 26. But he said Monday that he's hopeful for a quicker return. "I'm not feeling any pain," said Smith, who made his first road trip since his surgery. "I don't want to rush back, but I really hope to be going through contact drills this time next week, and if I can be back on the floor for the [Jan. 17] Minnesota game that would be fine by me."</div> Source
