Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford out 3-4 months with injury
The Hawks say Al Horford will miss 3-4 months with a torn pectoral muscle suffered during last night’s 96-84 loss at Indiana.. Horford is to get a second opinion on whether to proceed with the surgery.
Under the most most optimistic time frame, Horford would return in mid-April. Atlanta’s final regular-season game is scheduled for April 26.
“It’s disappointing news,” Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. said. “Al is a big part of our success. Hopefully he will be back by the playoffs. The tough part is we have been playing hard and playing well. We will have to try to get through it. We’re a veteran team and we have to find a way.”
Gearon said he hadn’t yet spoken to GM Rick Sund and wasn’t sure what moves the Hawks might make in the wake of Horford’s injury. In addition to Hoford, Atlanta’s centers include Zaza Pachulia and Jason Collins.
Atlanta’s payroll currently is slightly above the luxury-tax threshold of $70 million. The roster players without salary guarantees include guards Jannero Pargo, Donald Sloan and Jerry Stackhouse and forward Ivan Johnson
Veteran free agent centers include Erick Dampier, Kyrylo Fesenko, Dan Gadzuric, Joel Przybilla, Earl Barron and D.J. Mbenga.
Zach Klein of Channel 2 Action News first reported that Horford had a serious injury. Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports reported Horford would miss 3-4 months with a pectoral injury.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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605 comments Add your comment
vava74
January 12th, 2012
6:56 pm
Oh brother! In a normal situation, I would be worried with loss but intrigued with possibilities that this would bring (take as much good out of the bad as positive trying to get in the playoffs… But I had a feeling that something good was brewing.
I was dead certain – in spite of LD and the roster’s shortcomings – that we would reach the ECF.
Our play against The Heat and the Bulls WAS NOT LUCK.
Harry Hawk
January 12th, 2012
6:57 pm
Shouldn’t “Sandbagging MFers” be on that list?
bobby
January 12th, 2012
6:57 pm
Trade Willie Green and Ivan Johnson to the Rockets for Thabeet and Terrence Williams
Wolf
January 12th, 2012
6:59 pm
Ignore that comment.its dumb ^^^^^^^
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 12th, 2012
7:01 pm
Just Brutal!
This brutal schedule should have been slowly increased with a bulk of the b2b2b’s scheduled more toward the middle or perhaps extend the season itself all together.
There will be a lot more groin pulls for the older guys and torn ACL’s to come this month. So brace yourselves. This is an indictment on the owners and Stern.
I stand by that, I take no sides whatsoever in the lockout. As a fan, not my concern. I just want to see really good NBA basketball, I no dog in their financial fight.
Blast
January 12th, 2012
7:05 pm
Bad injury for Al, dude, get well soon!!
Most of you doomsayers are going on like Hawks can’t win without Al. The season is done. Blow it up, blah, blah, blah. Why don’t people wait and see how things play out 1st? Maybe this will cause the ASG to finally do something.
And besides, that was not a block, that was a foul on AL.
Maybe a 2nd opinion will give better news, and hope Al heals as quick as Joe and Josh.
And this is just the beginning. With a short season and all those games back to back, look for more guys to go down league wide.
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
7:06 pm
Luke Cage
January 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
Are you Horford Haters happy now!!!!
Now watch ownership resign Keith Benson???? Or maybe bring back Mario West???
Injuries happen. I do not think any fan of the Atlanta Hawks wished any harm upon Al Horford. He would have been an ideal PF next to a “true NBA CENTER.” Al is not a true NBA center.
bigdave
January 12th, 2012
7:06 pm
wait a minute.. Al the anchor of our defense?
Blast
January 12th, 2012
7:07 pm
Sund needs a decent big, though. They cannot win consistently with their back up centers and Marvin and TMac being out.
bigdave
January 12th, 2012
7:07 pm
Larry thinking about starting Ivan.. not a bad idea. need the board work..
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
7:08 pm
Where is Dikembe Jean Jacque Mutombo? He is only 59y/o and i think he lives in the ATL like some of
our Blog family.
The Truth
January 12th, 2012
7:10 pm
Our season is over! I hope we can get in the lottery and get the #1 pick.
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
7:11 pm
Get with Toronto right now and acquire a center they passed over a few years ago who is now in the D-league, Solomon Alabi. 7″1″ 250. He has a low post game. Needs to work on defense and rebounding.
W.R. Terrell
January 12th, 2012
7:12 pm
Well….we will see what the HAWKS are made of in the next few weeks. Can they win with the injuries mounting? Personally I don’t think so because of the fragile mindset they possess, we should be able to beat charlotte tho but who knows now. I feel an IMPLOSION coming about. The Highlight factory will be officially named the LAUNCHING PAD. It all starts tonight. Stay tuned
Blast
January 12th, 2012
7:16 pm
For every Hawk player that does not shoot 78% or better at the line going forward, Drew should make him shoot 1000 free throws after every game.
Hawks free throw shooting is horrendous! Maybe worst in the league. Even Teague and Marvin are missing free throws. Sometimes, making those freebies will earn you a close win.
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
7:19 pm
Zsa Zsa will be exposed as a horrible defensive player against other teams starters. He is much to slow
to be on the floor for an extended period of time. Trade Zsa Zsa for picks, anything, I beg you, PLEASE?
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
7:22 pm
Where is Rasho Nesterovich? Great fill in. Fabricio Hunberto, nice back-up. GM has to think outside the box on this one. Offer Andre kirilenko Nice deal to come back to states.
Grandad
January 12th, 2012
7:23 pm
Before I discuss Big Al;
I must answer northcyde concerning his definition of ……
” putting a team on their back ” !
If you [n c] think that jackin’ up shots is the definition of putting
a team on your back; it becomes more and more evident of our
generation gap.
Bill Russell or Oscar Robinson even Bird & Magic would
cringe at that thought.
1st and foremost … what was the scoring disparity between Joe and Granger.
What was the final score ?
Did Joe have to take one extra shot to:
* hold Granger under his scoring avg / [24 -10 = 14] ^(10)
** (16 being DG’s scoring avg)
* Joe himself scoring 17 rather than 15 = ^(2)
* Joe avg’s 3 assts / let us say he got 5 assts = ^(4)
* Joe gets one Xtra def Reb / Indy got 9 off rebs / – one basket = ^(2) pts
* heaven forbid he made a hustle play and saved two points ^(2)
* Joe made 4 TO’s, is it too much to suggest he make 1 (+/-) at least ^(6)
That equal a 26 point swing w/o him doing anything extraordinary !
We lost by 12.
Joe puts the team on his back or more definitively Joe show up;
we win by 14 !
All you guys think about is shootin’ and scoring !
-moronic-
I once had a 5-10 player dominate a game bu stealing the ball [defense]
scoring when presented, assisting his teammate, and most importantly;
involving our post player who was previously apathetic.
The post player dominated physically, but, it was the guard who actually
through “athletic arrogance” put our team on his back.
Our whole team gained confidence just from his attitude and demeanor !
He took over the game -mentally & psychologically- !
Clearly, I know what I mean’t, on my original post.
Consequently I know my craft,
whereas your depth of knowledge “pertinere” basketball is dubious.
BoneKollector
January 12th, 2012
7:28 pm
I have no faith in this team with zaza starting
one of the worst bball players i have ever witnessed
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 12th, 2012
7:37 pm
Look at what Miami did without a center last year. They had spit and glue with Joel Anthony and Haslem. Undersized? Yes, but relentless on the boards.
See Rodman in Chicago, who compensated for Luc Longley or, was it Bill Cartwright? Hopefully, Ivan can do some damage and control his foul rate and increase his usage %.
Blast
January 12th, 2012
7:38 pm
MC! No game thread?
How Hawks start the game will tell a lot.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 12th, 2012
7:39 pm
“we would never go that high in the lottery, even without Al”
The Bulls were 8th in the lottery and leapfrogged to #1 the year they got Rose.
jbnimble
January 12th, 2012
7:40 pm
Honestly, does anyone, anyone at all care about the Hawks? What a total waste of time. Sorry about Horford but really, No one cares about the Hawks.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 12th, 2012
7:40 pm
“But some bloggers have taken their hatred too far.They are happy because Al went down!!!!”
Nobody hates Al except for one very well established blogger with multiple names. Everyone else gives him at least some credit.
O'Brien
January 12th, 2012
7:40 pm
Game Blog MC?
You’re running late tonight, aren’t you?
bigdave
January 12th, 2012
7:40 pm
bimbo walker? say what Nique?
O'Brien
January 12th, 2012
7:41 pm
You are only as good as your best player, and when adversity hits, you need your best players to step up. I would like to see JJ, Josh and Teague elevate their game.
I will also be keeping an eye on the energy level to see if they hang their heads just because they don’t have Al.
Jerome
January 12th, 2012
7:41 pm
This is very depressing news. My expectations for the team just dropped dramatically. With our current interior depth, we look like a very poor team on the inside. Other than Josh, we have a very poor frontline now. My expectations for the season just dropped dramatically. I’m not even expecting us to make the playoffs now. Just terrible news. I just hope Al’s rehab goes well, and I hope something good comes out of this. Maybe we’ll get a nice lottery pick.
bigdave
January 12th, 2012
7:41 pm
LETS GET IT.. !!
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
7:41 pm
Well Horford haters should be happy – no more Al Horford for the season.
Time for backup centers and additional big men to step up.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut 2 7 footers for 1 tweener
January 12th, 2012
7:42 pm
I thought the Hawks could be something like a 39 – 27 team this season ( which would have them winning 48 or 49 games in an 82 schedule ). Without AL, that number probably drops to 36 – 30.
Al Horford is worth 10 wins on a regular season.
But we’ll see how the team changes. Starters get bigger, bench worse? idk
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
7:42 pm
Joe’s first shot is money….that’s a good thing.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
7:42 pm
I would like to see Teague play better against Walker/Augustin.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
7:44 pm
I really hate it when Josh ignores the PG and runs the break, then throws a pass that is too much for the receiver to successfully convert into points.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
January 12th, 2012
7:44 pm
I’m hard on Horford but I don’t wish a injury on no man. Get well soon Horford.
FIRE LD
Luke Cage
January 12th, 2012
7:45 pm
SWEET CHRISTMAS!!!
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
7:45 pm
Josh hits the long bomb early…now time for about 4-5 misses from the same distance…
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
January 12th, 2012
7:46 pm
“Nobody hates Al except for one very well established blogger with multiple names. Everyone else gives him at least some credit.”
This the only name I post under.
Smith.Leuer.Bogut (two 7 footers for 1 tweener)
January 12th, 2012
7:46 pm
wow at Pachulia vs Mullens…$100 move with a 10 cent finish.
Bogut not looking too bad right now huh guys. At least we got 10cent version of Leuer in Vlad.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 12th, 2012
7:47 pm
“I thought the Hawks could be something like a 39 – 27 team this season ( which would have them winning 48 or 49 games in an 82 schedule ). Without AL, that number probably drops to 36 – 30.”
What you’re saying with this statement is that the Hawks will be a better team this year without Al (.545 winning percentage; 36-30) than they were last year with Al (44-38, .537 winning percentage).
That is the definition of optimism right there.
Al is worth more than 3 wins (4 wins in a full season) to this team, particularly considering that Zaza is his backup.
And by the way, f-ck Memphis. If those fans are satisfied with that team they are chumps. Zach Randolph is not going to carry that team to a championship.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
7:47 pm
Josh = not playmaker. Come on, man! Watch where you’re passing the ball!
O'Brien
January 12th, 2012
7:47 pm
If JJ is hot, keep shooting.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
7:48 pm
Josh is a better passer than that. Gotta focus.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 12th, 2012
7:48 pm
“This the only name I post under.”
Haha I wasn’t talking about you.
Laughing out Loud
January 12th, 2012
7:48 pm
Najeh D, you’re probably the only one on here that ever makes any sense! The rest are “so called” fans and those that rejoice in any player’s injury make me puke! I quit laughing at that. That is classless and much more.
Skip
January 12th, 2012
7:49 pm
ATLANTA SPIRIT KARMA IS A BITCH, SORRY AL HAD TO PAY FOR THEIR DIRTY DEEDS.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
7:49 pm
Another bad defensive rotation…this time it’s JJ, who is strong enough to fight throug a pick.
bigdave
January 12th, 2012
7:49 pm
why do Rad and ZaZa gonna have to quit the volleyball and grab some rebounds..
Luke Cage
January 12th, 2012
7:49 pm
Just means everyone else has to step their game up bigtime, I still believe we make the playoffs
MattP
January 12th, 2012
7:49 pm
Was that an airball by Josh or an assist or Joe? lol