Horford's presence equals wins ESPN IN

[asdogg]

Horford's presence equals wins

By Jeff Goodman
ESPN Insider

 

Al Horford has averaged 18.3 points over his past four games for the Hawks. 

 

For some reason, Al Horford just doesn't get the respect he deserves. His former teammate at Florida explains why succinctly.

"Because he plays in Atlanta," Chicago Bulls star Joakim Noah told me earlier this season.

People seem to forget that the Atlanta Hawks -- with a healthy Horford -- resided in third place in the Eastern Conference on Dec. 26, 2013, the day Big Al suffered a season-ending pectoral injury against the Cavaliers. Then it all fell apart. 

The Hawks were 16-13 with Horford, 24-31 without their unassuming big man.

A year later, Atlanta is tied for second place in the Eastern Conference with a 19-7 record -- just one game behind Toronto in the loss column. And Horford is back to help lead the charge. 

"He's one of the elite, maybe the best, two-way big men in the league," one general manager said of Horford. "Without him, the Hawks are a fringe playoff team. With him, they can finish third in the league."

"Shoot, they may even be able to win the East the way they are playing," added another GM.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were the preseason Eastern Conference favorites after picking up LeBron James and Kevin Love to go along with Kyrie Irving. Noah's Bulls were a close second thanks to a healthy Derrick Rose and the addition of Pau Gasol and rookies Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic.

The Hawks are in front of both.

"We're a completely different team with him," admitted Hawks guard Shelvin Mack.

Horford is a two-time All-Star in his prime at 28 years old. He was averaging 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds at the time of his injury, and his numbers have dropped off a bit this season (14.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG) -- but his impact on this team goes well beyond numbers.

"He's a diligent worker, sacrifices for others and is a terrific leader," Hawks second-year coach Mike Budenholzer said of Horford. "He's just so unselfish."

He's also someone who has the reputation around the league -- and it began in his college days -- for rarely taking a possession off. Remember, this is a guy who was critical to two national title teams at Florida. He and Noah both sacrificed for the betterment of the team, and Horford took a backseat for much of his tenure. This is a guy who was fine with finishing fourth on the team in scoring during the team's 2006 run.

"He's all about winning," said former Florida assistant Donnie Jones, now the head coach at UCF. "That's what makes him so special. He's rare these days."

"His presence just gives everyone else confidence," added Mack. "He doesn't care about his own numbers. He just wants to win."

If there's a star Hawk, it's Horford.

The Hawks have some nice players, but you don't win without stars in the NBA, and Horford is the star of this team both on the court and off. Sure, Jeff Teague has made tremendous strides over the past couple of years and leads the team in scoring. The addition of Paul Millsap a year ago was huge. Kyle Korver is as effective a pure shooter as there is in the league, and guys like DeMarre Carroll and Mike Scott are both playing well again this season. And second-year man Dennis Schröder has upped his game.

But the only way this team is going to remain near the top of the league is if Horford stays on the court.

"When he's healthy, he's one of the top 25 players in this league," another high-ranking NBA executive said. "He plays both ends of the court, and that's what separates him from some of the other big men. Sure, Dwight Howard is better defensively -- but he can't really score. Kevin Love is a better offensive player, but he doesn't guard. Horford does it all."

One NBA executive put the difference between Horford in or out of the lineup over an 82-game schedule at about 10 victories. Another said that figure might even be a bit conservative. That makes sense since last season the Hawks were three games over the .500 mark with him and seven games under without him. During one stretch from Feb. 4 to March 8, Atlanta dropped 14 of 15 games. This season, Horford's started all 27 games and look where they are now.

"No one is scared of playing them without Horford," one NBA GM said. "They could be a lottery team without him. I know that Millsap put up better numbers last year, but Horford is the better player when he's 100 percent -- and it's not even close."

Horford still is getting back to full strength. His minutes are just below 30 per contest, and he's not quite as aggressive on the offensive end. Remember, this is a team that was learning a year ago -- a new system under a new coach.

"We were all thinking too much," he said. "This year we don't have to worry about that. We can just go out there and play."

"Can they win the East?" asked one NBA executive. "Probably not, but they can be a factor in the league and get to the Eastern Conference semifinals. They have a nice young point guard, a shooter and one of the top front-line tandems in the league. But the key to their entire team is Horford."

 

 Anyone with Espn insider access please  post 

No cooling off hot Atlanta Streaking Hawks legit contender for East title using depth and defense

[macdaddy]

Nice article.   Some guys are just winners and Horford is that.   

[tonegully]

Yeah Horf is a winner. I am so glad to see the team playing well. Brings a smile to my face.

[deester11]

I was about to post this.  Outstanding....Recogition...even if we have to be buried on insider! LOL

[ATLien_]

This writer is talking nonsense I was told by all the Squawk experts he is just an average center that can't defend or rebound. These GM ' S are smoking that good stuff.

I was also dumb enough to suggest Cleveland should be pursuing AL rather than Love. Think about how much better that Cavs team would be with Horford instead of Love. Danny Ferry would have laughed but that package would have been tempting.

Edited December 23, 2014 by ATLien_

[coachx]

This writer is talking nonsense I was told by all the Squawk experts he is just an average center that can't defend or rebound. These GM ' S are smoking that good stuff.

I was also dumb enough to suggest Cleveland should be pursuing AL rather than Love. Think about how much better that Cavs team would be with Horford instead of Love. Danny Ferry would have laughed but that package would have been tempting.

All good GMs smoke the good stuff.........

[coachx]

The Al Horford haters on hawksquawk were also the Josh Smith apologist.

 

I think their mouths will be shut today. 

[benhillboy]

I'll always think Kyle is the MVP of this team but Al is a close second. I was wrongly impatient with his recovery, but I'm confident he'll be his old self by New Years and we continue tearing through the league.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

[Duff_Man]

I may love this team more than the 93-94 Hawks (before "The Trade").

[SalvorMallow]

LOL you wish from ESPN

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/theten

 

 

9. Hawks win in Dallas, quietly third best in the East?

We have the second best record in the East.

Edited December 23, 2014 by SalvorMallow

[Atlantaholic]

I may love this team more than the 93-94 Hawks (before "The Trade").

 

I started following this team in 96 and this is by far the best team I've seen. Scary thing is, I think we can definitely play even better (Horf has not hit his stride, Mills hopefully will start getting some calls, Jeff getting back from injury)

[Peoriabird]

 

Horford's presence equals wins

By Jeff Goodman

ESPN Insider

 

Al Horford has averaged 18.3 points over his past four games for the Hawks. 

"No one is scared of playing them without Horford," one NBA GM said. "They could be a lottery team without him. I know that Millsap put up better numbers last year, but Horford is the better player when he's 100 percent -- and it's not even close."

 

[Plainview1981]

This writer is talking nonsense I was told by all the Squawk experts he is just an average center that can't defend or rebound. These GM ' S are smoking that good stuff.

I was also dumb enough to suggest Cleveland should be pursuing AL rather than Love. Think about how much better that Cavs team would be with Horford instead of Love. Danny Ferry would have laughed but that package would have been tempting.

 

Well, look at the contracts these GM's handout. Are we really going to call these guys experts?

 

Al has been a big factor over the last several games, but there is some hyperbole in this article.

[ATLien_]

Well, look at the contracts these GM's handout. Are we really going to call these guys experts?

Al has been a big factor over the last several games, but there is some hyperbole in this article.

Every listing of top players over the last 2-3 years has consistently put Al in the top 25 payers in the league. He dipped this year because of injury. Those Florida teams, every player and coach on the team to a man said he was the best player. Grantland had an entire article this summer outlining his impact on the game.

To use the words of the great Denny Green Al Horford is who I thought he was. He's not even really back yet. The stats, pundits, players, coaches and Brazilian super models all say yes. What are we arguing at this point? He's not LeBron and KD? Ok you got me; I can't box with you on that one.

Ironically if I could offer Al any criticism it's that he's to unselfish. He could easily average 20+ points a game, but his time at Florida has convinced that's not the way to win a championship. In the playoffs we may need him to be the man. I hope he'll be ready.

Edited December 23, 2014 by ATLien_

[Plainview1981]

The Hawks have some nice players, but you don't win without stars in the NBA, and Horford is the star of this team both on the court and off. Sure, Jeff Teague has made tremendous strides over the past couple of years and leads the team in scoring. The addition of Paul Millsap a year ago was huge. Kyle Korver is as effective a pure shooter as there is in the league, and guys like DeMarre Carroll and Mike Scott are both playing well again this season. And second-year man Dennis Schröder has upped his game.

 

But the only way this team is going to remain near the top of the league is if Horford stays on the court.

"When he's healthy, he's one of the top 25 players in this league," another high-ranking NBA executive said. "He plays both ends of the court, and that's what separates him from some of the other big men. Sure, Dwight Howard is better defensively -- but he can't really score. Kevin Love is a better offensive player, but he doesn't guard. Horford does it all."

 

One NBA executive put the difference between Horford in or out of the lineup over an 82-game schedule at about 10 victories. Another said that figure might even be a bit conservative.

 

The team barely missed a beat when Al was out the first time. 

 

I'm going to go through the list of guys that I think is better than Al:

 

Lebron

Durant

Westbrook

Curry

Harden

Davis

Chris Paul

Blake Griffin

LaMarus Aldridge

Damien Lillard

Dwight Howard

Dwayne Wade

Kyle Lowlry

John Wall

Marc Gasol (Debatable)

Chris Bosh

 

People might argue that guys like Jimmy Butler, Noah, Mello, Irving, Duncan, Parker an some others are better.

 

Even if we say that Al is better than Millsap... The gap is not as big as the article implies.

 

I'm not saying the article is all bogus or anything. Plenty of good points were made.

[Peoriabird]

Chris Bosh is not better than Al!

[diamond_dave]

Chris Bosh is not better than Al!

 

Yeah, when you are talking about playing both sides of the court and putting Harden on the list of players better than Al then I know some aspects of these guys games is not being considered on this list.

 

One of the articles main premises was that AL is a better all around player. That means defense and leadership as well.

[Admin]

I started following this team in 96 and this is by far the best team I've seen. Scary thing is, I think we can definitely play even better (Horf has not hit his stride, Mills hopefully will start getting some calls, Jeff getting back from injury)

I think 97 we started out 11-0. That was an excellent team. And I believe we had a 15-1 or something like that start earlier in the 90's.

This team is certainly more exciting and I love cheering for them being underdogs.

[pimp]

 

I'm going to go through the list of guys that I think is better than Al:

 

Lebron

Durant

Westbrook

Curry

Harden

Davis

Chris Paul

Blake Griffin

LaMarus Aldridge

Damien Lillard

Dwight Howard

Dwayne Wade

Kyle Lowlry

John Wall

Marc Gasol (Debatable)

Chris Bosh

 

People might argue that guys like Jimmy Butler, Noah, Mello, Irving, Duncan, Parker an some others are better.

 

Even if we say that Al is better than Millsap... The gap is not as big as the article implies.

 

I'm not saying the article is all bogus or anything. Plenty of good points were made.

 

Replace Bosh with Cousins . He's putting up 24 ptsand 12 rebs a game

Paul George could be another guy...