HawkItus Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Horford is fine remaining at center 0 0 21 24 < Expect Horford, not yet 100 percent, for opener By Chris Vivlamore ATHENS — There was an interesting tidbit from my interview with Al Horford Tuesday after the Hawks opened training camp on the campus of the University of Georgia. As a final question, Horford was asked – one more time – about playing center another season as he returns from a torn pectoral muscle. The 6-foot-10 Horford has played the position all seven seasons in the NBA although many, including Horford, have thought a move to power forward would be beneficial. Al Horford is returning from a torn right pectoral muscle that limited him to 29 games last season. (AJC File) “The league is changing so much and we are playing at a faster pace,” Horford said. “In this offense, the way I look at it, the 4 and the 5 are very interchangeable. Paul (Millsap) and I can both play inside and out. It works here. Before it might not have worked but here it works.” Remember before the 2013 draft, ahead his first season under Mike Budenholzer, Horford was asked by a national publication who the Hawks should take with their two first-round picks. He selected centers with both choices. A season, such as it was after being cut to just 29 games, in Budenholzer’s system seems to have changed the perspective of Horford. All the team’s big men with the exception of Elton Brand can stretch the floor. The term stretch-5 is becoming a buzzword in the NBA, with Horford, Millsap, Pero Antić and Mike Muscala capable of shooting from beyond the 3-point line. Budenholzer used the word versatile several times in referring to Horford, who can play both near and away from the basket. * Day 2 of training camp begins later this morning. I understand there were issues posting to the blog yesterday. I apologize. Those issues have been resolved. It also affected me from posting stories for a few hours. Here is a recap from Day 1 of training camp: - Horford using latest injury to examine game - Jeff Teague sporting goggles during camp - Most of Hawks arrived early in advance of camp - Defense is the priority of this camp - SportSouth to broadcast 75 games * I’m still going through all my interviews from Monday’s media day and will have more during the first week of camp from all 17 players and Budenholzer. There were several light moments during the sessions that often focused on the turmoil that has engulfed the franchise the past month. My favorite came from Dennis Schröder. The point guard, entering his second season, if there is anything noticeable about his game after adding seven or eight pounds during the summer. “I have to show that I can dunk because they put me on 2K and I can’t dunk,” joked Schröder about the video game NBA 2K15. * Return later this afternoon for updates from training camp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators macdaddy Posted October 1, 2014 Moderators Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 You beat me to it. Well apparently Horford is just an idiot who doesn't understand the enormous toll this is taking on his body and how playing center is responsible for his injuries. Oh and how we can never win because he's undersized and we'll always get abused by Dwight and Wilt...no wait not Wilt, I mean Shaq, no...umm, Hibbert! Right Hibbert. HIbbert will dominate us. Man, Horford sure doesn't know basketball very well. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Peoriabird Posted October 1, 2014 Premium Member Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 You beat me to it. Well apparently Horford is just an idiot who doesn't understand the enormous toll this is taking on his body and how playing center is responsible for his injuries. Oh and how we can never win because he's undersized and we'll always get abused by Dwight and Wilt...no wait not Wilt, I mean Shaq, no...umm, Hibbert! Right Hibbert. HIbbert will dominate us. Man, Horford sure doesn't know basketball very well. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators PSSSHHHRRR87 Posted October 1, 2014 Moderators Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 It works on offense... Defense is more of my concern... Are we gonna be like the Falcons? Just hope we can outscore every team? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member BrazilianHawk Posted October 1, 2014 Premium Member Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 That's some good news I think no one has posted here yet. http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2014/10/1/6877439/al-horford-atlanta-hawks-training-camp-center 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTB Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 This is fantastic news! I'm glad horford put this to rest....if this combo of sap/horford works out I think it's worth holding on to for some time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTB Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 It works on offense... Defense is more of my concern... Are we gonna be like the Falcons? Just hope we can outscore every team? Defense isn't the problem! I said this before horford hardly ever defends a scoring center because there aren't many only about a handful or slightly more. Defense was the problem against certain scoring centers but 90 percent of the time the real problem is positioning for rebounds! Sap/horford combo gives us everything except tons of rebounding...this can be fixed if the whole team becomes more focused on grabbing boards. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frosgrim Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 I agree that it was something of an annoying topic. Horford can play the 5 without many problems. Would he look great next to a mobile, rim protecting, 7' beast- sure, but who wouldn't? Let's hope Al is healthy for all of the upcoming season and that he gives us the production he seems capable of 18ppg and 10 rebounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member BrazilianHawk Posted October 1, 2014 Premium Member Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Beat me to it. Mods, feel free to delete/merge the thread I have created about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators PSSSHHHRRR87 Posted October 1, 2014 Moderators Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Defense isn't the problem! I said this before horford hardly ever defends a scoring center because there aren't many only about a handful or slightly more. Defense was the problem against certain scoring centers but 90 percent of the time the real problem is positioning for rebounds! Sap/horford combo gives us everything except tons of rebounding...this can be fixed if the whole team becomes more focused on grabbing boards. I agree with this except for the part about rebounding needing to be team focused. I would argue that it is already a team priority as guys like Mack, Korver, and Teague all are good rebounders for there size. Rebounding is majorly of the frontcourts responsibility and if they are having positioning problems, then the whole team is going to struggle rebounding the ball. It's not just a switch that can be turned on to fix this problem. A concerted effort would help, but until we get an actual center that plants his butt in the post and can defend centers, we will have these rebounding and positioning issues and just having a guy on the bench that can rebound (like in the past with Zaza, J-Co, and Elton) isn't good enough. Hell, both of Horford's injury happened due to him fighting bigger centers for rebounds (Hibbert and Varejao). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMeltdown Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Some people that are 5"7, 350 are fine with it also. Does it make them healthy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrReality Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Being able to pressure the wings with our new guys will help with the interior defense. But totally agree with what he said and how the league has changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETSET Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 (edited) I agree with this except for the part about rebounding needing to be team focused. I would argue that it is already a team priority as guys like Mack, Korver, and Teague all are good rebounders for there size. Rebounding is majorly of the frontcourts responsibility and if they are having positioning problems, then the whole team is going to struggle rebounding the ball. It's not just a switch that can be turned on to fix this problem. A concerted effort would help, but until we get an actual center that plants his butt in the post and can defend centers, we will have these rebounding and positioning issues and just having a guy on the bench that can rebound (like in the past with Zaza, J-Co, and Elton) isn't good enough. Hell, both of Horford's injury happened due to him fighting bigger centers for rebounds (Hibbert and Varejao). He was not fighting Varejao for a rebound. He was defending an inbounds pass near halfcourt and reached over the top of Varejao in an effort to deflect the pass. I have no video evidence and do not remember the play when the first injury occurred so I can't speak on whether you are correct on that one. Edited October 1, 2014 by JETSET Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonegully Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Yeah, we need to improve our rebounding badly 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETSET Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Some people that are 5"7, 350 are fine with it also. Does it make them healthy? If this was true, string bean centers like Camby and Chandler wouldn't have had 10+ year careers while defending people much heavier and stronger than them. Horford is far stronger than either of these guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNorthCydeRises Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Defense isn't the problem! I said this before horford hardly ever defends a scoring center because there aren't many only about a handful or slightly more. Defense was the problem against certain scoring centers but 90 percent of the time the real problem is positioning for rebounds! Sap/horford combo gives us everything except tons of rebounding...this can be fixed if the whole team becomes more focused on grabbing boards. No it can't be fixed by simply telling everyone else to rebound more. If that were the case, all we had to do last year was to tell people to rebound better. Rebounding is about positioning, desire, toughness, and smarts. Positioning you can coach up. The other 3 attributes are normally internal player traits, with desire being the most important attribute of them all. The great rebounders all wanted to go after that ball and get it ... at all costs. As good as a Horford - Millsap frontcourt is ... a Horford - DeAndre Jordan frontcourt could be dynamic, and turn Horford into an elite PF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaceCase Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 I agree with this except for the part about rebounding needing to be team focused. I would argue that it is already a team priority as guys like Mack, Korver, and Teague all are good rebounders for there size. Rebounding is majorly of the frontcourts responsibility and if they are having positioning problems, then the whole team is going to struggle rebounding the ball. It's not just a switch that can be turned on to fix this problem. A concerted effort would help, but until we get an actual center that plants his butt in the post and can defend centers, we will have these rebounding and positioning issues and just having a guy on the bench that can rebound (like in the past with Zaza, J-Co, and Elton) isn't good enough. Hell, both of Horford's injury happened due to him fighting bigger centers for rebounds (Hibbert and Varejao). Jeff is a terrible rebounder for both size and position, he's amongst the bottom 10 of all rotation Gs in the league in rebound rate. Shelvin and Kyle are a minuscule amount above average themselves http://stats.nba.com/leaguePlayerGeneral.html?ls=iref%3Anba%3Agnav&pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=100&columnOrder=&MeasureType=Advanced&PerMode=PerGame&filters=MIN*GE*15&PlayerPosition=G&sortField=REB_PCT&sortOrder=ASC As to Horf hurting himself because he played Center? You can put that to rest too Surgery revealed scar tissue in Horford’s right pectoral. He said doctors believe the tear was a result of his weightlifting workouts from his college days and he has since changed his technique. He no long works on his upper body with bench presses and overhead lifts, concentrating now on his core and legs more than his upper body. From CViv via http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2014/oct/01/atlanta-hawks8217-al-horford-using-latest-injury/?sports So uhm, ya. There's no excuse for the Hawks starting Center to stop playing Center. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Peoriabird Posted October 1, 2014 Premium Member Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 We are middle of the pack as far as defensive rebounding but rather get back on defense rather than get an offensive rebounds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Vol4ever Posted October 1, 2014 Premium Member Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Yeah, we need to improve our rebounding badly This^^^^^^^^. We were 28th in the league in rebounding this past year. Miami was 30th, but Miami had Lebron James. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTB Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 No it can't be fixed by simply telling everyone else to rebound more. If that were the case, all we had to do last year was to tell people to rebound better. Rebounding is about positioning, desire, toughness, and smarts. Positioning you can coach up. The other 3 attributes are normally internal player traits, with desire being the most important attribute of them all. The great rebounders all wanted to go after that ball and get it ... at all costs. As good as a Horford - Millsap frontcourt is ... a Horford - DeAndre Jordan frontcourt could be dynamic, and turn Horford into an elite PF. I didn't mean for it to sound like it's just simple to do. But I don't believe the whole team is focused on rebounding like a team like the pacers where last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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