AJC: Should L.D. set Al Horford free?

[Hawksquawk]

Al made John Hollinger’s Kevin Love All-Stars team at ESPN.com. That’s guys who need to be set free (Insider):

Atlanta Hawks coach

Larry Drew

has presented himself as different from predecessor

Mike Woodson

, but one piece of Woodson era foolishness remains: The Hawks’ insistence on pulling anybody with two fouls in the first half. Horford has been ridiculously good this year, ranking fourth in the NBA in PER, but is playing only 29.9 minutes per game because of the coach’s silly stipulation.

It isn’t hurting only Horford; it also cost the Hawks a game in Orlando. Horford went to the bench with just two fouls and 5:33 still remaining in the first half, and in came

Etan Thomas

. (Yes, Etan Thomas.

Zaza Pachulia

also had two fouls by this point, and God forbid the backup center pick up three fouls in the first half. We might need him if there’s a fourth overtime.) A three-point lead quickly became a four-point deficit at the break, and Atlanta lost by four. Horford finished the …

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