Horford ‘frustrated’ by progess following surgery
Vivlamore reporting from Hawks practice.
Al Horford said Thursday he is “frustrated” by his progress as he works to return from surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle.
The Hawks All-Star center went through a full-contract practice with the team.
“Today was the first chance I actually got to play 3-on-3 half-court with the guys and I’m not where I need to be,” Horford said following the workout. “I had a deadline in my mind that I wanted to be back by the last game of the regular season … but I’m not where I need to be. That is a little frustrating for me.
“I’m going to keep trying to work, but I’m not there yet.”
The Hawks have four games remaining in the regular season with the finale a week from today. Horford didn’t put a timetable on his return nor did he offer the chances he could return in time for the start of the playoffs. The postseason would begin for the Hawks either April 28 or 29. However, he made it clear he would continue to work in hopes of seeing the necessary improvements.
“It’s awkward just because this is only the third time I’ve played with contact,” Horford said. “Once you get moving and doing different stuff that is when you start to realize [how far you have to go] and I feel limited. Any chance we get to practice, I want to get in there. It’s hard because I can’t expect guys to come out and practice just for me. They play every other day. If we get a full practice I’m going to try to get out there and keep progressing.”
Horford said that while he has been working on his game during the rehabilitation process, it’s the physical condition of his shoulder and the nature of the NBA that is the biggest concern.
“When you play in the post you have to have a level of physicality and you have to naturally be able to bang with another player and I’m not confident doing things like that yet,” Horford said. “The other thing is really keeping [my left] arm above [my shoulder] for a certain period of time, that is another weak point for me. Keeping my hands up defensively and if I can’t do that, I’m going to be in trouble. The last thing I want to do is hurt the team.
“It’s very frustrating because I was doing everything on schedule, my rehab was going well. … It’s just tough.”
Hawks coach Larry Drew said Horford will continue to work with the team and that the decision on when he will be able to return rests with the center.
“When he tell us,” Drew said of Horford’s availability.
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204 comments Add your comment
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
6:54 pm
Big Lou
April 19th, 2012
1:21 pm
“Hawks postseason way better than the Falcons postseasons recently.”
That’s like saying one team doesn’t suck as much, but they both suck in the end. One just makes it one step further into mediocrity.
_________________________
Excellent assessment.
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
6:57 pm
drmaryb.[*_*].
April 19th, 2012
2:28 pm
We will not get past round two either way, but what’s new? That was never the plan from the start.
____________________
Yup. And that’s a big part of the problem–it’s never been the plan from the start.
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
6:59 pm
I’d like to see Joe attack the interior of the Celts defense very early in the game and set the tone..Don’t worry about getting your shot blocked. Get into the teeth of the defense and draw some fouls..Generate some free throws..Your 6′8′ 240..Absorb the contact and go to the line..Dictate early and take it to them…
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
7:01 pm
BIG DOG
April 19th, 2012
1:43 pm
Hawks will destroy Celtics in 5 so Horford will not be needed in first round.
Hoops
April 19th, 2012
2:18 pm
With or wothout Horford the Hawks beat the Celtics in the first round.
________________________
Arrogance? Ignorance? Confidence?
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
7:10 pm
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
4:19 pm
Friday night is probably the biggest game of the season for the Hawks.It’s a statement game, a must win on National TV too boot? Uh Oh!
_________________________
Kind of mirrors my earlier post:
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
9:20 am
HUGE credibility game Friday night–and on national TV (espn).
Yeah, we go to the playoffs win or lose, but need to start RIGHT NOW shaking that rep of not being able to take The Big One.
EARN that playoff berth, Hawks. Earn it by showing up tomorrow night!
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 19th, 2012
7:19 pm
josh bout to be live on nbatv
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
7:33 pm
“haters and trolls”, parrots his cousin “reach around”
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
7:37 pm
Those rocks he’s wearing on his ears are freakin blinding! lol!
City Of Atlanta Still Recovering From William Tecumseh Sherman
April 19th, 2012
7:39 pm
lol josh called joe out for being too quiet on the court
tls
April 19th, 2012
7:44 pm
LD needs to turn in the coaching job of his life. This game WILL decide home court for round 1. With the celtics being without 3 key players, this should give Hawks an advantage, but they tend to come out flat when oppoenent isn’t full strength. Hopefully Hawks will come up big and secure home court. Sure wish it looked better on horford, he would be huge plus esp against Celts in round 1. GO HAWKS!!!!
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 19th, 2012
7:46 pm
If T-Mac and Teague show up on Playoffs and play hard for however long they’re in, we have a chance.
Teaugue still shiEs away from going up to the basket.
And has Marvin EVER made a layup while drawing contact?
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 19th, 2012
7:47 pm
Homecourt isn’t as important as people think. We aren’t that good at home anymore. Boston will easily steal a game here in a 7 game series…probably game 1
High-sider
April 19th, 2012
7:58 pm
@vava74
I hope your “Let Josh [Smith] be Chief Cog” theory doesn’t blowup in the playoffs. I have a feeling Josh Smith in the playoffs will transform/change from “J-Smoove” to “In-COG-nito” or, shall I say, “In-COG-negro.”
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
8:06 pm
Big Lou
April 19th, 2012
4:45 pm
We might have realists like Grandmaster JeJe and Dawgnole, but at least they don’t cheer for the other teams. They legitimately want the Hawks to be better.
doc
April 19th, 2012
5:02 pm
big lou i dont think of them as realists but more cynics . . .
cynics are like that and the atlanta scene keeps them very happy . . . remember, it was funny when the braves started slowly how they were quick with the editorial derision. now they are hitting the ball and winning, nary a peep.
_________________________
You’re hurting me, doc. You didn’t think those thinly veiled barbs would slip by me, did you, you sly ol’ dawg you. Well they almost did. Almost.
I’ve butted heads with Big Lou before, but I believe he’s accurate in his assessment. I AM a realist, and while I don’t profess to speak for JeJe, I see him in the same light.
One of your mistakes is in your contention that a realist and a cynic must be different. While I’m a realist, I’m also very much a cynic. That tends to happen when you’ve pulled hard (for nearly half a century) for teams that have rewarded your loyalty with ONE championship in 154 seasons.
And if you think I’m in any way “very happy” with “the atlanta scene,” you’re not nearly as bright (beneath those grammatical/spelling/typing flaws we can always count on) as I thought you were. This assumes, of course, that the atlanta scene to which you refer is the ATL pro sports scene.
Hey, I made plenty of peeps when the Braves turned it around–was one of the few on this blog who pointed out that they’d won their 5th straight (while the Hawks were bending over for the Raptors). So don’t label me with that “nary a peep” crapola.
I’m as big a fan of ATL pro sports teams as anyone on here–and have pulled for them longer than most. I’m just way beyond weary of the BS excuses. The city’s teams should be well past that stage, and the Hawks, especially, need finally to show some real progress–i.e., make it to Round 3–if not win a title outright. Enough of the BS excuses.
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
8:14 pm
Doc – I’m not sure what you meant about George Karl and entertainment. Maybe 1 of us misread a quote?
Big Lou – Baskets count as much at the 4:56 mark as at the .02 mark in a game. Just because we’ve lost 6 games on the last possession doesn’t mean we couldn’t have won those games be playing better in the 5 minutes before the last possession.
If you think we’re built for closing, fine. But on a consistent basis we’re not. In College, they say you need 3 scorers on the floor to be successful at crunch time. That is almost always true.
In the Pros its a little different, but the context is the same. Gotta have some guys who thrive on taking and making the big shot – and who play just a little harder, and smarter that last 5 minutes.
Kinda like in baseball – Runners in Scoring Position stat.
Trust me, I’ve coached and seen it a bunch.
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
8:15 pm
DawgNole, a couple of bloggers are just very frustrated homers..So they are going to vent on those who see beyond the veil..
They’ll continue to swallow and excrete the bs excuses while attacking others personally…It is what it is….
..
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
8:24 pm
Green, Pargo, and JJ have all been really good closers at times this season. Josh, TMac, and Teague have also at times as well – but many variables – too many to explain on all those guys.
But we don’t have Kobe, Pierce, Durant/Westbrook, DWade/LeBron (hah), Carmelo or Amare, or even Monta Ellis for that matter. That’s what I’m talking about.
We may just have to agree to disagree on this one.
We don’t even have John Drew.
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
8:29 pm
Oh well, about done talkin’ – I’m ready to see some throw down, playoff basketball tomorrow nite. A brutal bloodbath of humanity – I’m just joking on that one.
I just hope we can gut one out and have some psychological advantage over the Celtics in the playoffs. If they beat us, mentally it will not be good in the playoffs.
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
8:30 pm
A 20 pt win would really help the Hawks heading into the playoffs.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 19th, 2012
8:38 pm
I am as big a realist as they come. Don’t worry about that, DawgNole.
Thanks for the kind words, doc
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 19th, 2012
8:42 pm
“cynics are like that and the atlanta scene keeps them very happy . . . remember, it was funny when the braves started slowly how they were quick with the editorial derision. now they are hitting the ball and winning, nary a peep.”
Don’t think I’ve ever made one post about the Brave on this blog.
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
8:42 pm
Marvin’s minutes should be reduced significantly, but that will probably happen naturally as Paul attacks and draws fouls on him…
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
8:47 pm
2001 dot dot dot dot dot
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
8:50 pm
Knicks clinch tonight if the Bucks lose.. They are losing…
Astro Joe
April 19th, 2012
8:51 pm
The Truth, Paul Millsap was a pure blue collar guy when he entered the league. But he “evolved” or some might say that he actually improved his game. I understand what Al was when he first came into the league. I also understand that he was the 5th or 6th option behind guys like Bibby and Flip when he entered the league. The blog world often complained about shot-happy guards who didn’t get the ball to the big men. Over time, the shot distribution changed (for the better) as Josh and Al refined their offensive skills.
That was then and this is now. I don’t see anyone asking Josh to be the same player he was in his first 2-3 years in the league. Do we really want Teague to be the same in 3 years as he is now? I don’t think it is a man in the mirror thing, I think it is a guy who has busted his butt to develop his skills so he can do more than what a 27 YO undrafted FA does.
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
8:52 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 19th, 2012
8:38 pm
I am as big a realist as they come. Don’t worry about that, DawgNole.
_____________________
Figured you were. Are you a cynic as well (like I am)?
Astro Joe
April 19th, 2012
8:55 pm
doc, yes, a little Brandon Bass and a whole lot of Jason Maxiell. And probably a healthy dose or Danny Fortson, too. I recall my post when I went to the free scrimmage several months ago. I said something like “that #44 won’t make the team but he sure could bring something to this team that they have been lacking”. It was “man crush” at first sight. My tweener has finally arrived.
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
8:57 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 19th, 2012
8:42 pm
“cynics are like that and the atlanta scene keeps them very happy . . . remember, it was funny when the braves started slowly how they were quick with the editorial derision. now they are hitting the ball and winning, nary a peep.”
Don’t think I’ve ever made one post about the Brave on this blog.
________________________
Just to clarify, I was simply responding to doc’s accusation that some of those he views as cynics didn’t praise the Braves during their recent revival–after criticizing them during their 0-4 start. I was speaking for myself on that one to refute his contention that “nary a peep” was made by the cynics as the Braves were righting their ship.
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
9:02 pm
SteveW
April 19th, 2012
8:30 pm
A 20 pt win would really help the Hawks heading into the playoffs.
___________________
Now don’t go gettin’ greedy on us, SteveW. As for me, I’d be more than satisfied with a one-pt win, which also “would really help the Hawks heading into the playoffs.”
Luke Cage
April 19th, 2012
9:23 pm
Heard the WOODY may start BIBBY from here on out.
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
9:32 pm
Watch out Luke Cage, you keep this up for a couple of days, and “Haters & Trolls who parrots his cousin Reach Around” will be riding your jock! lol!
doc
April 19th, 2012
9:33 pm
yeah aj i kinda fell for the guy when he took on bosh in the first miami game then played big afains the twolves wojdering what was taking ld so long to get the guy mnutes. lve his quick hands and feet.
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
9:39 pm
Knicks are in Luke! Bucks just lost to Indiana..
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
9:43 pm
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 19th, 2012
4:01 pm
D12 is for Quitters!
FTPB: STRETCH
Thanks for that Howard update. Yeah man, I posted last week that I don’t believe Dwight has a herniated disc, more like a herniated brain.
_____________________
Espn is reporting tonight that he has a herniated disc and is done for the season. Back surgery scheduled for a few days hence.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 19th, 2012
9:44 pm
Biggie Love
“The haters can sing this anthem all they want, but I’m not going nowhere. I don’t back down from anything, especially some internet troll.”
_________
Hugh? Your new love handle is all about your passion for Hawks BBall, at least for me anyways. I used the term “ish” positively – to describe your points of view basketball wise. That’s it.
LOL! A little touchy there?
___________
Meanwhile, I like what Shaq just said on TNT @ The Bulls team discipline. Shaq said, in the first half, this team hasn’t taken ONE BAD SHOT … and, that’s why they are leading the east and up by two.
Barkley said, the Heat will never win a championship with their bench, Haslem starting and, only Battier coming off that bench. Barkley said the Heat need a rebounder like a Varejao.
_________
Interesting there because I thought the Hawks matches up better with the Heat than the Bulls. I’d rather see Drew vs Spolestra than Thibbs from a coaching perspective.
____________
Dwight is having minor surgery to clean up that herniated disc. I fully endorse that for him and surmised that as well a couple weeks ago. I was telling Briggs, who asked me the
differences between: Byron, Amare (disc buldges) and Dwight with a herniated disc. Of those three I thought Dwight should opt for th surgery, like Marvin did.
I also mentioned that the “dunking” from Dwight will have to decrease, my rationale is because of the axial load put on the spine from jumping straight down after the dunks. That is the same problem you see for long distance truck drivers who bounce up and down on those “springy” seats.
Wow! Dwight would rather have the risky surgery than play another game with SVG. That is quite telling and, I hope he fully recovers. I think he will.
DawgNole
April 19th, 2012
9:48 pm
Make that tomorrow morning on Howard’s back surgery.
From the espn story:
“The back issues have forced Howard to miss eight games this season, one more game than he missed in his first seven seasons combined. His total of 621 games and 22,471 minutes is the most by a center in his first eight seasons in the modern-NBA era.”
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 19th, 2012
9:52 pm
DawgNole,
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
April 19th, 2012
8:38 pm
I am as big a realist as they come. Don’t worry about that, DawgNole.
_____________________
Figured you were. Are you a cynic as well (like I am)?
LinkReport this comment
****
jeje, maybe not as much. I think you have a few years on me so I can’t fully appreciate 0-45 ha
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
9:53 pm
“LOL! A little touchy there?”– drmaryb–
sounds like a description of Larry Drew….Hehehe
The Truth
April 19th, 2012
10:07 pm
“I don’t think it is a man in the mirror thing, I think it is a guy who has busted his butt to develop his skills so he can do more than what a 27 YO undrafted FA does.” – AJ
AJ, Al evolving his offensive skill is welcome news and was never suggested otherwise. But for the man in the middle main responsibilities, his first priority should be defending the paint, blocking shots, rebounding and other related intangibles. Being pick-and-pop capable is desired but should not be necessarily required.
The biggest complaint about Al on these blogs prior to his injury is that he has become a softy in the paint on defense and only interested in scoring mostly away from the basket. I often wrote after opponents victories against the Hawks; how their “block party in the paint” was a major factor. That was a direct swipe at Al.
Even LD has acknowledged that they can’t win games by just trying to outscore the opponents. He knows they need more physicality as the reason Ivan has been music to his ears. The outcry on these blogs for another big to help defend the paint has been so loud most of us need hearing aids as a result.
brigadierjerry
April 19th, 2012
10:16 pm
drmaryb,
thanks for the explanation between the different types between Amare, Dwight and Baron Davis. Out of the three which one is more likely to reoccur?Sounds like Amare but I could be wrong.
Slimjr,
What percentage do you give the Hawks against the Celtics if Hawks have homecourt advantage?Also let say Hawks beat Celtics who do you give them a better chance against Heat or Bulls?
doc
April 19th, 2012
10:23 pm
dawgnole @ 7:01
the answer is ….. hawks psychosis
brigadierjerry
April 19th, 2012
10:24 pm
It is interesting that and I have stated myself the Hawks win in spite of Larry Drew but I think the Heat do as well but they get away with it because of their three players and they play defense. I do not see any set plays runs with Miami. Bulls reminds me of those 90’s Knick an Heat teams that would wear u down with defense and rebounding. Look end of 3 and bulls down 5 without Rose. As long as you can keep Heat in halfcourt and keep turnovers and play solid defense you can have a chance against the Heat u have to swing the ball and make outside shots and rebound the ball
steven a smith
April 19th, 2012
10:24 pm
The Atlanta Hawks are only in the playoffs because of the Brook Lopez injury. Those early wins against New Jersey padded their record. Their record is misleading!!!
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 19th, 2012
10:29 pm
Call Em’ Out!
DawgNole – standing ovation for calling out the ole windy fart-bags and, sly red foxes. I’ve noticed the testy reach arounds on here too, from others when you don’t share their veiled opinions. When you call them out? They walk it back a little, but no one on here is stupid.
I will do and say what I please and if someone doesn’t like it – “SCROLL BABIES – SCROLL”. The rude name calling is not necessary, keep the personal opinions to your selves.
I don’t fight often, but when I do – I fight dirty! They know “I eat kids.”
__________
Just Joe
April 19th, 2012
10:32 pm
Boston signing Sean Williams for the playoffs. Hmmm….Hawks couldn’t pull off that move? Releasing J O’Neal.
Slimjr
April 19th, 2012
10:54 pm
Slimjr,
“What percentage do you give the Hawks against the Celtics if Hawks have homecourt advantage?Also let say Hawks beat Celtics who do you give them a better chance against Heat or Bulls?”
brigadierjerry, whats up homie? Glad you asked that question.. If I were a delusional homer like the dude who parrots his cousin “reach around”, I would say 85-15 Hawks with the home court. Since I tend to be a realist I’m going to say 55-45 Hawks.. LD’s substitution patterns have got to improve such as reduce Marvin’s minutes significantly. Increase Ivan minutes significantly along with T-Mac’s.. ZaZa has got to play effective also or else….Need positive contributions from Pargo and Green too.
If and I mean BIG {IF} the Hawks advance theoretically, I believe Chicago would be a hand full (Hawks may get one win,maybe).. So I will have to say Miami would be a much better match up..But forget about advancing this year… The Chief Gangster will see to it.. Hehehe
45 11-20
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 19th, 2012
11:15 pm
Ditto!
“Since I tend to be a realist I’m going to say 55-45 Hawks.. LD’s substitution patterns have got to improve such as reduce Marvin’s minutes significantly. Increase Ivan minutes significantly along with T-Mac’s.. ZaZa has got to play effective also or else….Need positive contributions from Pargo and Green too.
If and I mean BIG {IF} the Hawks advance theoretically, I believe Chicago would be a hand full (Hawks may get one win,maybe).. So I will have to say Miami would be a much better match up..But forget about advancing this year… The Chief Gangster will see to it.. Hehehe” -slim-sexy-
___________
Co-Sign that. Me too.
drmaryb.(*_*).
April 19th, 2012
11:29 pm
Boston gets Sean Williams.
Hawks should waive Damp and grab the best D-League PF/C available. Maybe Sund can pull a name out of Ivan to help us for the post season.
brigadierjerry
April 19th, 2012
11:36 pm
Interesting seeing all the teams in the Eastern Conference that are in the playoffs it is like the 90’s all over again.
Going down memory lane, I was looking at the Hawks draft picks in the late 80’s 90’s some of these draft picks were brutal, look below:
2000 2 57 Scoonie Penn Ohio State University
1999 1 10 Jason Terry University of Arizona
1999 1 17 Cal Bowdler Old Dominion University
1999 1 20 Dion Glover Georgia Institute of Technology
1999 1 27 Jumaine Jones University of Georgia
1998 1 20 Roshown McLeod Duke University
1998 2 49 Cory Carr Texas Tech University
1997 1 22 Ed Gray University of California
1997 2 49 Alain Digbeu
1997 2 50 Chris Crawford Marquette University
1996 1 28 Priest Lauderdale Central State University
1995 1 16 Alan Henderson Indiana University
1995 2 42 Donnie Boyce University of Colorado
1995 2 45 Troy Brown Providence College
1995 2 57 Cuonzo Martin Purdue University
1994 2 34 Gaylon Nickerson Northwestern Oklahoma State University
1993 1 15 Doug Edwards Florida State University
1993 2 40 Rich Manning University of Washington
1992 1 10 Adam Keefe Stanford University
1992 2 38 Elmer Bennett University of Notre Dame
1991 1 9 Stacey Augmon University of Nevada, Las Vegas
1991 1 15 Anthony Avent Seton Hall University
1991 2 30 Rodney Monroe North Carolina State University
1990 1 10 Rumeal Robinson University of Michigan
1990 2 36 Trevor Wilson University of California, Los Angeles
1990 2 41 Steve Bardo University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1989 1 23 Roy Marble University of Iowa
1989 2 49 Haywoode Workman Oral Roberts University
I am not gonna lie, out of that group, I thought Roy Marble, Steve Bardo, Scoonie Penn, Jason Terry were gonna be decent and it turns out I was only right about Jason Terry.
By the way does anyone remember that Russian player that got drafted by the Hawks in the late 80’s early 90’s played on those Nique teams?I think his name was Alexander Volkov. I remember he got a lot of hype back then and he was an absolute bust. I think he went back to his country
Big Lou
April 20th, 2012
12:02 am
drmaryb
Nah, never touchy… unless you want me to.
I am passionate about ATL sports–all day, everyday. How about them Bravos? They keep killing the ball lately. I’m loving the runs.