That sums up the Atlanta Hawks, the East leaders at 10-2 and tied with the Phoenix Suns for the NBA's best record entering Thursday.

"We don't want to get caught up in the hype," power forward Josh Smith says. "But we believe we can get to the Finals if we keep playing with the same passion we've had."

Many prognosticators regarded the Hawks as the fourth-best team in the East behind the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic. But Atlanta is no fluke. The Hawks have road wins at Boston and the Portland Trail Blazers and beat the Denver Nuggets at home.

The difference? "Our bench," says All-Star guard Joe Johnson, 11th in the NBA in scoring (23.6 points per game) entering Thursday. "We have players who can maintain a lead — or increase it."

Guard Jamal Crawford, who came in a deal with the Golden State Warriors, is third on the team in scoring (16.1 points). Free agent forward Joe Smith, in his 15th season, provides a veteran presence. Rookie guard Jeff Teague shows promise.

Those new faces, with returnees in Josh Smith (16.3 points), center Zaza Pachulia and swingman Maurice Evans, have allowed coach Mike Woodson to rest his starters. The minutes for Josh Smith and Johnson are down by almost two per game, four for guard Mike Bibby and six for forward Marvin Williams.

"People were on me in the past about not using my bench," Woodson says. "But … if I'm not comfortable with it, I'm going to go with who I can win with."

Crawford, who averaged 19.7 as a starter for the Warriors and New York Knicks last season, hasn't balked about his reserve role. "I want to win more than anything," he says. "They have such good chemistry with the first five here, I don't mind."

He was almost too deferential. After attempting just three shots in a season-opening win against the Indiana Pacers, Johnson put his arm around Crawford's shoulders and said, "You gotta shoot. That's why you're here."

"That meant a lot, coming from the team leader," Crawford says.

Atlanta has also gotten improved play from center Al Horford, who is averaging career highs in scoring (13.8), rebounding (10.3) and blocks (1.8).

The talk in the locker room isn't about individual statistics. Instead, the players have color printouts of the Larry O'Brien Trophy taped in their stalls.

The franchise hasn't been to the Finals since 1961, when they were the St. Louis Hawks. This team has the elements of a winning club: talent, motivation — and harmony.

"Everybody knows their role here," says Smith, who ended last season with the Cavaliers. "And we can police each other."

Enlarge By Brock Williams-Smith, NBAE via Getty Images Jamal Crawford, center, has embraced his role as a reserve and is averaging 16.1 points a game off the bench in his first season with the Atlanta Hawks. "I want to win more than anything," the guard says.