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
Luke Cage
January 12th, 2012
8:16 pm
Nice Old School Logo
The Spook who sat by the door
January 12th, 2012
8:16 pm
Is it going to be a Johnson & Johnson night? [Joe & Ivan]
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
January 12th, 2012
8:19 pm
Big Ivan with the block
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:19 pm
We’re doomed.
By the way, what happened to Marvin?
Did a quarter pounder attack him?
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:20 pm
Fire someone.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
January 12th, 2012
8:20 pm
Why you take Big Ivan out and put Zaza in?
FIRE LD
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:21 pm
Non-existent defense…
The Spook who sat by the door
January 12th, 2012
8:21 pm
Vlad-Rad with the weak D. Good drive Josh.
Runner-
January 12th, 2012
8:21 pm
smoove playing much smarter these past few games
bigdave
January 12th, 2012
8:22 pm
thats what its gone take.. a lil Joe.. a lil Josh.. a lil Jeff..
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:22 pm
So he can rest?
Besides, zsa zsa is a potential HOFer…
TeamBlowUpTheCore
January 12th, 2012
8:23 pm
more like hall of flamer
The Spook who sat by the door
January 12th, 2012
8:23 pm
Who’s more lackadasical [sp.] – Vlad-Rad or Boris Diaw?
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
Just at the very moment you think the Hawks might have a team that can do something, down go Fat marvin and Horford…
Atlanta teams couldn’t catch a break if it landed in their laps.
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
January 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
“Besides, zsa zsa is a potential HOFer…”
Well, first she’s dead. HOF as an actress? Nah.
MattP
January 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
“Besides, zsa zsa is a potential HOFer…”
Please tell me that was a joke.
Big Lou
January 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
Everytime Zaza goes into the game… I cringe.
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
The commie!
northcyde
January 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
Just to continue the discussion with Grandad . . .
Those 4 players you named ( Russell, Bird, Magic, Big O ) would all agree with me. Because when they took over games, they would all do what they do the best. With Russell, he would dominate the boards even more. With Big O, he would increase his scoring. With Bird, the same way ( see the Nique vs Bird battle ). Even with Magic, his scoring would increase, although he normally used his elite playmaking abilities to take over games.
But in each instance, those players would simply do what they do best, in order to take over the game.
The situation we were in last night was a situation in which a fairly hot JJ needed to be looking for his shot. And since we need him to score the basketball, he needed to shoot more, to see if he could score more.
Depending on his playmaking abilities wouldn’t be a good option, seeing that Zaza was fumbling passes, Teague wasn’t finishing, and Vlad wasn’t making jumpers. I’ll give you the defense on Granger, although with Granger, he took over the game how? . . . . by scoring more. Matter of fact, it was the same way that Kevin Martin took over the game in the loss @ Houston on New Year’s Eve.
The approach that you’re currently seeing out of JJ and Josh tonight, is what should have been going on last night. I love the way both are being assertive offensively and looking to score in their comfort zones. It’s what these two will have to do from now on, with Al out.
Like others have said, including me . . . this is a golden opportunity for Smith. If he continues to attack the rim, and not settle for jumpers, he could average 20 ppg in the absence of Horford. The same goes for JJ.
Great job by both guys so far this game.
The Spook who sat by the door
January 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
Vlad-Rad for threeee!
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
8:25 pm
Josh with some nice finishes down low. Good to see Vlad stroke the 3.
Big Lou
January 12th, 2012
8:25 pm
Dude has no ball skills and always flops when he brings up the ball.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
January 12th, 2012
8:25 pm
What was the name of the light skinned guy in The Spook who Sat by the Door who fought against the poilice?
Blast
January 12th, 2012
8:25 pm
Ivan is our own poor man Rodman, except he looks to score. With experience, playing time, and more basketball smarts, dude could make a name for himself.
That’s only Vlad’s 2nd shot and his 1st score on the three. He needs more touches.
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:25 pm
Do i have to tell you it was a joke? Lol…
Runner-
January 12th, 2012
8:25 pm
zaza’s moan… LOL
Najeh Davenpoop
January 12th, 2012
8:26 pm
I really had no idea that Zsa Zsa Gabor was that well known until I saw how many people spelled Zaza’s name wrong. Zaza, after all, is the one who spells it phonetically.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
8:26 pm
Oh damn….that was nasty stuff by Henderson. Josh needs to answer…
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
8:27 pm
Nice pass by Josh that time…right on the money.
Good job by him on the glass as well.
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:28 pm
The commie is lighting it up.
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:29 pm
I can’t ever remember how to spell za za’s name….
northcyde
January 12th, 2012
8:31 pm
14 pts – 8 boards for Josh Smith already. Great job man.
And Ivan getting 5 points and 5 boards in 9 minutes . . . I’ll take that all day. That dude obviously has offensive skills. He just need more playing time to find his comfort zone on the NBA level.
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:32 pm
Ivan whoever the heck he is better do something!
northcyde
January 12th, 2012
8:32 pm
Grandad’s boy BJ Mullins is ballin
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
Very nice. Smith to Teague, who hits a three. Nice way to end the half…
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
January 12th, 2012
8:33 pm
No shot blocking at the rim
northcyde
January 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
Outstanding quarter by the Hawks. (( standing ovation ))
bigdave
January 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
not sure why Josh didnt come over and help Jeff on that DJ drive.. then he passes to Joe on the inbound..
but, he sells the 3 and passes to Jeff for the 3..
Najeh Davenpoop
January 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
16-8-3 for Josh in the first half. 15-4-2 for Joe. Fantasy owners everywhere celebrating. Way to bring it when the Al news could have easily caused a mental letdown.
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
Fire FG!!
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
Hawks look very professional. Just need to step up the intensity on defense, but the offense was very measured.
Sautee
January 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
Zaza: 1 rebound in 14 minutes.
Good thing it’s the Bobcats.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 12th, 2012
8:34 pm
16 assists for the Hawks, only 4 turnovers.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
Northcyde,
I wish we’d have picked up Mullens for what he costs and is doing….but I’m happy we’re getting real production from Ivan, who has really been a pleasant surprise.
phil
January 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
We still have the 3rd qtr for that letdown….don’t curse us!
SteveW
January 12th, 2012
8:36 pm
Mullens for a 2nd pick for the ‘Cats
Okur for a 2nd pick for the Nets
Xman and a 2nd pick for Spieghts
We ought to be able to get somebody for a 2nd pick – and yes ya’ll, agreeing with the ‘Dad – Mullens would look real good in a Hawks uni right now
We do have 4 2nd picks the next 2 season – trade them all for somebody serviceable right now
And with Hinrich gone, I guess the odd man out would be Stackhouse. We need Sloan in case Pargo or Teague get hurt. But Ld sure seems to like Stack.
Big Ray
January 12th, 2012
8:36 pm
Clyde,
Congrats on the Tide. Truly dominating.
Defense at the rim is missing and you can’t blame Horford. Whatever will you do?
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 12th, 2012
8:37 pm
Has anyone ever seen a black Mormon?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
“Has anyone ever seen a black Mormon?”
Only in the commercials and on the billboards.
northcyde
January 12th, 2012
8:39 pm
lol @ that random question
I would have to say . . . no