"Things just haven't felt the same for the Hawks without Joe Johnson.

Sure, they've won five of seven games with Johnson on the bench following elbow surgery last week. Atlanta's offense has generally kept humming and coach Larry Drew has managed to shuffle his lineup and get by without his four-time All-Star.

But consider that Johnson has been Atlanta's most accomplished player for going on six years and rarely has missed significant time with injuries. He's been their steady top dog for so long it's been disorienting for the team to be without Johnson for even a few days.

So when Johnson hoisted some jump shots at Hawks practice Monday for the first time since his Dec. 2 surgery, Drew said Johnson's teammates visibly perked up. It was not a sign of his imminent return and the team hasn't been in dire straits without him. But it signaled a sort of return to normalcy for the Hawks.

"It was good to see him out there," guard Jamal Crawford said. "It can only motivate us and be inspiring for us."

Johnson said the time off has given him a new perspective, too.

Johnson has typically been reluctant sit out games due to injury or even tell anyone about his aches and pains. The Hawks weren't aware of the seriousness of his elbow condition until the pain became too much for Johnson to ignore and he sought medical treatment.

Now Johnson says sitting out might end up being the best thing for both him and the team in the long run.

"This could be a blessing in disguise," he said. "It can help me feel better or give me a break and let the guys go out there and figure things out [without him]. Who knows? So far, so good.""