Al Horford an All-Star at center but he’s taking a beating
Al Horford (with Joe Johnson) has taken charge and surprisingly is a two-time All-Star at center.
Have you ever seen or heard a 7-foot-1, 270-pound man beg? Stand near Tito Horford the next time he picks up the telephone to call the Hawks’ front office.
“I’ve been begging [general manager] Rick Sund and the Hawks for the last three years – please get a center so my son can pay his normal position,” the elder Horford said Tuesday from his home in the Dominican Republic. “He can’t push guys out of the box like I could. If he moved to forward, he would have a longer career.”
We suspected Al Horford would be a great NBA player. We watched him play on two national championship teams at Florida. It follows that when the Hawks drafted him third overall in 2007, we were overcome with the rarest of Hawks draft-day sensations: comfort.
But what has been stunning is that Horford has turned into an impact player at the wrong position. He just made the NBA’s Eastern Conference All-Star team for the second straight season as a center.
Granted, this isn’t the 1970s or ’80s and the NBA isn’t well-populated with dominant centers. Horford, at 6-10, 245, hardly captains the Lollipop Guild. But he still is playing out of position and succeeding only because of his sheer will, determination and talent.
How good would he be as a power forward?
“He’d be a beast,” coach Larry Drew said.
Horford is a rarity, not just on the Hawks but among athletes on Atlanta sports teams: He is universally embraced. Nobody thinks he underachieves or is overpaid. He is a leader. He is honest. When others have made excuses for losses, Horford has stepped forward and suggested too many teammates were operating as individuals and not within the framework of a team.
He reiterated Tuesday: “The great teams separate themselves because it’s more about the team and winning than everybody getting theirs. It’s a lot better here now than it was before. I think guys are starting to get it, but I don’t know if we’re quite there yet.”
A coach’s dream. A fan’s dream.
It would be nice if the Hawks could keep this guy around for a while. And upright.
He is taking a beating, particularly at the defensive end. Drew is trying to minimize the issue by going with a “big” lineup about 40 percent of the time: Horford moves to power forward, Josh Smith to small forward, Jason Collins steps in at center and Marvin Williams goes to the bench.
Drew admitted, “I’ve even thought of making the change permanent.”
Horford has stepped up his offensive game, averaging 16.2 points (his first three seasons: 10.1, 11.5, 14.2). We learned again Tuesday night how important he is to this team. With Horford a surprise late scratch for the second straight game with a sore back, the Hawks were drilled by Philadelphia 117-83 at Philips Arena. The team was missing Horford’s pulse (as well as seemingly several organs).
Horford was injured Friday in Los Angeles when he was knocked to the ground by Blake Griffin. Drew said, “I didn’t even think he would be able to get up to shoot the free throws.” He did.
How long can he hold up like this? Horford said, “I don’t see myself playing center the rest of my career.”
His father, Tito, was a center (in college at LSU and Miami and later for three years in the NBA). He’s familiar with the banging that goes on in the lane. Horford has learned it the hard way.
“My dad was built for this,” he said. “It takes a toll on your body when you’re going against guys that outweigh you by 50, 60 pounds every night and have three, four inches on you.
“I feel pretty good now. But I wonder how I’ll feel a couple of years from now.”
Then came this novel idea: “I like playing against guys my own size.”
Imagine how good he would be then.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Also see:
– Hawks lay an egg and Drew threatens lineup changes
– Crowell’s recruitment aside, Washaun Ealey did this to himself
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69 comments Add your comment
lanier
February 8th, 2011
4:59 pm
Jeff why dont they get him a true center seriously. Drew sees it
HawksFan86
February 8th, 2011
5:06 pm
Nice Article Jeff! Very relevant! Tito needs to keep calling! And Sund needs to LISTEN. Drew sees it, Tito sees it, the fans see it! And Al knows it! Please do something about this before its too late and Horford moves on to a better situation!
D A DoubleU G
February 8th, 2011
5:15 pm
Atlanta has an NBA team??
why??
What did we do wrong??
How do we get rid of it??
"Chef" Tim Dix
February 8th, 2011
5:22 pm
Al should be the face of Phillips as long as he desires.
moorman
February 8th, 2011
5:24 pm
at least drew is thinking about a PERMANENT solution. the hawks are basically all forwards and 3 guards. package teague and williams and get a center. teague is too tentative and williams can be replaced………….
Jamaaliver
February 8th, 2011
5:38 pm
@moorman:
Our team is basically 3 forwards and 3 guards. The rest of our team are all scrubs.
We could have gotten Shaq over the summer or drafted a Center with thefirst pick in the secound round. Alas, we saved some money and just signed Etan Thomas who never plays and re-signed Jason Collins who SHOULD never play.
Our GM is hamstrung by pur cheap, inept ownership. We go bargain basement shopping for everything. And we still need today what we’ve needed for the last 6 years: a Point Guard and a legitmate 7 footer at Center.
moorman
February 8th, 2011
5:42 pm
jamaaliver, i FORGOT they couldve gotten shaq. at least he wouldve game them REAL minutes at center. they couldve rotated him and collins and got a DECENT center by committee. i forgot that major gaffe by the hawks, and it wouldve have broken the bank to do it either. GOOD POINT…
Trojan
February 8th, 2011
5:59 pm
We are a good team that is poorly constucted team.
jeffrey d
February 8th, 2011
6:05 pm
package teague and williams and get a center. teague is too tentative and williams can be replaced………….
Have you ever considered writing the descriptions of entrees in restaurant menus? You really can really sell.
jeffrey d
February 8th, 2011
6:10 pm
i FORGOT they couldve gotten shaq. at least he wouldve game them REAL minutes at center
Wait, what? Shaq’s career is fading fast. He averaged 23 minutes last season (and only 53 games), and only 20 minutes this season (and has already missed 15 games)
Nate D
February 8th, 2011
6:22 pm
I like Al at either postion but to take the next step in the playoffs we need a true center.Vernon macklin at florida could be a great pickup at center. Move josh and al down and keep marvin just for bench or trade him. We should trade marvin for Andrw Bynum or Adrew Bogut.
Jt
February 8th, 2011
6:26 pm
A bonafide center is the next piece to be added. As valuable as Jamal is, Hawks did not re-sign him because they all know that a defensive presence in the middle is the next expenditure. Marvin has to accept going to the bench and coming in with the 2nd team- he can make his mark in that manner- plenty of players have. I think they are going to preserve Horford and maximize his abilities- he will dominate most 4’s in the league-both offensively and defensively
WeBurn
February 8th, 2011
6:29 pm
Horford will never move to pf unless we trade Josh Smith. Smoove isn’t smooth enough to play small forward full time, and he pouts too much to ever come off the bench.
GT Alum
February 8th, 2011
6:30 pm
My main problem with moving Horford to PF is while it may allow him to be even better, I still think moving Josh to SF will decrease the value the Hawks get from Josh.
You could trade Josh for a C, but I don’t know how much of a net improvement that will be, especially since most centers tend to miss a significant amount of time. The Hawks’ best opportunity to improve the team would probably be if they could trade Josh and Marvin and get a true center and a quality SF in return.
Either that, or get a C and move Josh to the bench. A starting lineup of Bibby-JJ-Marvin-Horford-C with Teague-Crawford-Wilkins-Smith-Pachulia along with Mo, Twin and Powell coming off the bench could be pretty potent. Just don’t know if Josh’s ego would allow that.
Jt
February 8th, 2011
6:37 pm
For ALL of his negatives, I would not get rid of Josh- he frustrates the hell out of me at times, but I would not give up on him yet. Hand it to him- he has improved his game every year- he works his tail off- he wants to win and loves ATL. He is too valuable- ask Horford or JJ
jlewis
February 8th, 2011
6:38 pm
Jeff:
What makes AL this great leader? The quote you attributed to him is the same things JJ said two years ago. His D is weak and he doesnt play hurt, perception and reality are two different different things.
GT Alum
February 8th, 2011
6:39 pm
Jt -
Actually, the reason the Hawks didn’t re-sign Crawford is because it would likely put them into the luxury tax next season. Horford’s getting a $6.5M raise next year. Add in raises of almost $2M for JJ and about $750K for Smoove, Marvin, Bibby and $500K for Pachulia, and the Hawks payroll next year is about $6M below this year’s payroll with only 8 players under contract. They’ll spend up to luxury tax levels just filling out the roster with guys like Evans, Collins, Powell, etc. If you’re expecting the Hawks to have money to go playing around in the FA market this summer, I think you’re going to be greatly disappointed.
Jt
February 8th, 2011
6:44 pm
GT I don’t expect them to sign a free agent- you can’t have but one player with a contract like JJ. But I do expect them to address the need-more than they have done in recent years with the likes of the current cast of characters at cheapest cost. Certainly there will be some serviceable big men available through some means. What I am hopeful of is there is some since of urgency that that aspect of their team needs to be addressed.
LIVE from the Hawks (who must do without Horford again) | Jeff Schultz
February 8th, 2011
6:46 pm
[...] I came to Hawks’ practice this morning to talk to Al Horford for a column I posted a couple of hours ago, fully expecting to update it after tonight’s game against Philadelphia. But that’s not an [...]
GT Alum
February 8th, 2011
6:54 pm
Well, if they don’t sign a FA, that means a trade. They could potentially trade Crawford at the deadline, but that doesn’t help their salary issues. Bibby’s expiring contract could have some trade value. I don’t know how much trade value Marvin has, considering he’s owed $23M the next 3 years. ZaZa could have value as an add-in, but he wouldn’t be the primary component of a trade. Then, Josh and Horford are our most attractive trade pieces, but they come with the drawback of we’d like to keep them.
Adrian J.
February 8th, 2011
6:57 pm
whats funny is ATL continues to rue their mistake of taking Marvin yet wont trade him for either a C or a PG. Do that trade and the team improves immediately. Do that trade a couple of years ago and Childress doesn’t leave. Still can look to trade Marvin for a C, now.
Jt
February 8th, 2011
7:00 pm
I think they are handcuffed this year and based upon Sund’s talk and mannerisms, they will go where this team takes them. Just provide enough success in qualifying for post-season and then try to increase hope for next year- keep fans hanging, even if they are always a little frustrated- name of the business
Beast from the East
February 8th, 2011
7:07 pm
I’m a Gator fan that moved to Atlanta some years back and I have beeen a Hawks fan every since they drafted Al. He is still the same humble, hard-working, team first player that he was at UF. A born leader that is willing do whatever it takes to help his team win. Hope the Hawks can find a big so Al can move to the PF position. I would love to see him play here for many years to come. He’s the type guy you want representing your team.
Go Gators and Go Hawks!
Beast from the East
February 8th, 2011
7:09 pm
Jeff,
Great post, even if I am just a little biased about Big Al!
Thanks!
Najeh Davenpoop
February 8th, 2011
7:26 pm
Today’s NBA is not Tito Horford’s NBA. Yes, it is a good idea to get a quality 5 so that Horford can start (or at least play big minutes) at the 4. But players with Horford’s size and skill set do play center for significant stretches in the NBA today, because there simply are not that many quality players who are bigger than Al. Against Dwight Howard and Shaq, of course you find a way to get Horford to the 4. Against the Spencer Haweses of the world, Horford is fully capable of playing the 5.
MaxxHawk
February 8th, 2011
7:31 pm
Yea, I’ve been saying this for years now. There’s nothing good about Al playing out of position. We need a Center BAD
Jody
February 8th, 2011
7:44 pm
Jeff,
Great article sir. If Horford plays his natural position, he’ll defenitely have a longer and better career. People can say that he should play the 5 because supposedly there aren’t many quality centers anymore. Well, the truth is the teams that contend for the title have quality, legit centers and those are the ones you have to beat if you want to win it all.
Tweets that mention Al Horford an All-Star at center but he's taking a beating | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
February 8th, 2011
8:13 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Denita, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: Al Horford an All-Star at center but he’s taking a beating http://bit.ly/e0fmX5 [...]
prison mike
February 9th, 2011
12:00 am
Who do you play that outweighs you 50-60 pounds every night horf. Where are these 7-1 to 7-2 players that every team has. This guy is just soft defensively and would rather play perimeter defense. Chuck Hayes is 6-6 and 240 and handles his biz without dad chiming in trying to stir trouble.
ATLFAN
February 9th, 2011
12:03 am
If you’re an Atlanta/Georgia Sports fan and want to talk with other fans, check out our NEW message board.
http://www.atlsportsnation.com/forum
We have team forums for the Falcons, Bulldogs, Hawks, Braves, Yellow Jackets, Thrashers, etc. Please register and post! Be apart of a huge site in the early days of existence. See ya there! We’re looking for posters, moderators, bloggers/writers. Join up if interested.
P. Bull Terrier
February 9th, 2011
12:09 am
I don’t care if he is an All-Star, I’m still not jumping on the Al Horford bandwagon. It’s only a matter of time until the Hawks trade him for Aaron Gray, a dozen MARTA tokens, and a couple of hamburgers.
Whopper Dawg
February 9th, 2011
12:21 am
Isn’t it just a no brainer – he is the only class in this act. Better yet, trade him to a bona fide contender.
Atticus
February 9th, 2011
7:57 am
This franchise is going NOWHERE. They are good guys but so flawed. They just don’t play every night. Horford is being wasted. Drew was the cheap option, they still get nothing out of Teague and they don’t play enough defense.
Hawk gone
February 9th, 2011
8:13 am
Another poorly coached hawks team–they’ll be lucky to make it out of round 1. Losing to the lowly 76ers by 34 points? Are you serious??? They keep going cheap and hiring these worthless coaches—nothing will ever change. That’s why everyone calls atlanta loserville.
juice sourcer
February 9th, 2011
8:15 am
Another reason why the Hawks suck. He will leave when his contact runs out.
npgator
February 9th, 2011
8:25 am
Harford deserves some help!
npgator
February 9th, 2011
8:26 am
Horford (SP)
Jay
February 9th, 2011
8:53 am
To sum it all up, the Hawks are stuck but we’re not terrible.. W/ all the bad choices we made in the previous drafts, they are doing their jobs to me.. I love my Hawks but the writing is on the wall. We will make the playoffs, get to the 2nd round, & then it’s a toss up (as a true fan we can do it, in reality, it’s gonna take a helluva effort). We need a center & for Dwight Howard coming back to ATL, I would send Smith, Williams, Teague, money, cars, strippers, (well.. you catch my drift).. Come home DWIGHT!!!
Dawgfan79
February 9th, 2011
8:56 am
I wish the ASG would have the balls to trade Smoove for a PG or C.
Even an average PG and C would make this team much more well rounded.
Eric
February 9th, 2011
9:24 am
As soon as the Hawks trade Josh Smith it’ll go another 8 years without a playoff bid, like it did when the fans suggested it should trade Steve Smith and Mookie Blaylock for “Isiah Rider”. If anybody needs trading it’s Marvin Williams and Zaza Pachulia.
Road Scholar
February 9th, 2011
9:26 am
All the Hawks players should be docked a weeks play for that “game” they attended (not played) last night! This is not the first time they marauded as a pro team!
Buckeye
February 9th, 2011
9:41 am
Wow! Jeff changed the subject!
Tell the truth
February 9th, 2011
9:50 am
The jock sniffers have no desire to open their wallets for a good big man.
chem
February 9th, 2011
10:09 am
Al Horford is a center. The average height and weight for starting centers in the NBA is right around 6′11 and 240-250 lbs.
Nate ArchiBALL
February 9th, 2011
10:21 am
Al will do what it takes to win….except play center.
It might help if Al would bulk up in the off season.
ATL born and raised
February 9th, 2011
10:42 am
Josh, Marvin, & Teague for Bynum and Artest. Lakers want a change too. We get a big man who can play most of the games and a harassing defender to handle Lebron and Pierce.
steve brown
February 9th, 2011
10:50 am
The Thrashers have shown that you can play guys at any position and still be effective-not! This may come as a surprise but players do better when they play the position they are suited for. The only people who don’t seem to get this are our owners, GM’s and the Thrasher coaches. Drew seems to understand this simple idea.
Anti-ATLSpirit
February 9th, 2011
11:19 am
In typical moronic fashion, the Atlanta Spirit Group has not and will not bring in a true center to allow Al Horford to move his natural position. This would improve the team and and protect their investment in Al for long term returns. It only makes good business sense, but the ASG wouldn’t know “good business sense” if it ran over them on I-75.
The head coach Larry Drew is quoted in this article as contemplating moving Al to 4 (PF) “permanently”.
I ask WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG? Al is getting his brains beat in!
This organization has proven it’s ineptitude 10 times over.
When Al begins to breakdown in a couple more years and ASG is “confused” how this could happen…
We (the fans & Tito Horford) can all come back and say “I TOLD YOU SO”, idiots!
Pete
February 9th, 2011
11:49 am
Against the 6′ers the Hawks looked like a bored, tired, over rated, over paid bunch of sorry, spoiled American brats………….called pro athletes.
A completre joke.
Joycee Banicheck
February 9th, 2011
12:00 pm
Joe Johnson doesn’t care what any of you think, remember that.
GT Alum
February 9th, 2011
12:23 pm
Eric,
The Hawks didn’t trade Blaylock and Smitty for Rider. They traded Blaylock for the draft pick that netted Jason Terry, which in itself was a good trade. Then they traded Smitty and Ed Gray for Rider and Jim Jackson. The Hawks thought they were getting younger, and, from a pure talent perspective, it looks like a 2 for 1.
However, Rider was the personification of a selfish, undisciplined athlete who completely wastes his talent, which meant he actually had a negative impact on the team. Also, when the Hawks traded Smitty, Grant Long took that as a sign the team was going into rebuilding mode and declined to re-sign. Since Alan Henderson was never able to be an effective player after that, it left the Hawks without a PF. Also, they had given a sizable contract to Chris Crawford, who was basically the late 90s version of Marvin Williams and never justified that contract, which also hamstrung the Hawks’ attempts to improve the team.
Tim from EP
February 9th, 2011
12:36 pm
Jeff, I thought you were crazy for writing about this last week, but after watching last night’s game I think the Hawks best move is to trade Josh Smith. If having Josh Smith allows Horford to play center then maybe trading Josh could get a serviceable big man that will allow Horford to play PF, while freeing up some cash. With the payroll the Hawks have, they should get better production on a more consistent basis they what they do. Might be time to change up the roster. The Hawks shouldn’t get rid of Horford and can’t get rid of Williams or Johnson. Everybody else is fair game.
DTC
February 9th, 2011
12:38 pm
This is what I I have been saying for the past 2 years. GET A TRUE CENTER FOR THE HAWKS. If there is no center in place when his contract comes up, if I was him, I would look elsewhere. Otherwise, he will not have a long career. And Joycee Banicheck, I do not know where the comment “Joe Johnson doesn’t care what any of you think, remember that.” comes from, but I totally agree with you on that fact. I have also said Johnson is the most overpaid and selfish member of the NBA. They should have let him go this year. Look at the money they would have to spend this coming year in the off season – FOR A CENTER!
CHEM, if you believe what you wrote, READ THIS ARTICLE AGAIN! Look at Horford. Consider the beatings he is taking every night. How many games has he missed this year, because of his back. The thing Atlanta is going to regret is when Al Horford goes to another NBA team and plays with a team that has a true center. That is when you will see the quality of player this man is. AND I AM A FLORIDA GATOR HATER! Horford, is one of the most under utalized athletes in all sports. Football, baseball, soccer, NBA, etc. Name one player that is more under utalized than Al Horford. Tito, I hope you get someone’s attention in Atlanta. Otherwise, your wish will be granted, through another team. If Al was my son, this is exactly what I would tell him. Play out your contract, and find the best situation for you out there, as a Power Forward.
Drew, if you think it needs to be done, DO IT! We are i 4th place for now, in consideration of the playoffs. If this stays as is, we will either not make the playoffs, or be swept out in the first round. The decrease of Horford at Center with Collins at center wll be offset by Horford at Power Forward. It is a win win situation. Horford is playing. Otherwise, start waving by to Horford now.
DTC
February 9th, 2011
12:44 pm
GTAlum, we are going to be greatly disappointed BECAUSE WE SIGNED JOHNSON TO THIS STUPID CONTRACT.
DTC
February 9th, 2011
12:47 pm
Beast from the East – I am not a Gator Fan, and will never be one. However, Al Horford is a credit to any college he came from. Agree with your comments on Horford.
Horford's dad begging Sundto get a C
February 9th, 2011
1:04 pm
[...] [...]
Stephen
February 9th, 2011
1:14 pm
they did a poor job trying to secure Dampier or Shaq this past offseason and it will come back to bite them. It’s why I have been an advocate to use Josh Smith as a tool to try and get a PG or SF and pick up a center in free agency.
Hopefully they don’t make the same mistake this next offseason.
Al Horford’s father wants some help for his son | Ultimate Team Sports News
February 9th, 2011
1:49 pm
[...] Horford, on Tuesday, talked to the Atlanta Journal-Consitution’s Jeff Schwartz: “I’ve been begging [general manager] Rick Sund and the Hawks for the last three years [...]
James
February 9th, 2011
2:32 pm
Hawks need to trade Josh Smith to Denver for Carmelo Anthony.
James
February 9th, 2011
2:40 pm
Hawks need to make a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and trade for Marc Gasol. The Hawks really need a Center and Marc Gasol will be a perfect fit that way Al Horford can be moved to his natural position Power Forward.
James
February 9th, 2011
2:41 pm
Memphis wants to part ways with OJ Mayo so the Hawks should package a deal to get OJ Mayo & Marc Gasol from them. Hawks can give them Jamal Crawford & Josh Smith.
nique
February 9th, 2011
5:15 pm
Wow! That’s a big deal for Al to be publicly talking about changing positions. They really do need to be playing him at PF. I’m not saying he’s Karl Malone, but imagine what playing C instead of PF would have done to Malone’s career.
Max Joe
February 9th, 2011
9:50 pm
Give Joe J a new max contract—he needs more millions for doing all he can for the hawks!
Al Horford’s Father Says It’s Time Too Move His Son To His Natural Position « News From The Hardwood
February 10th, 2011
8:21 am
[...] but not as well. Tito Horford, Al’s father and former NBA player, on Tuesday, spoke with Jeff Schwartz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about his son playing out of [...]
niremetal
February 10th, 2011
11:50 am
In Tito’s day, Al would have been a PF. In the modern NBA, Al’s a center. We are no longer in the era of 7-foot centers. There is not a single 7-foot center who was even a contender for the All-Star team this year. Not one. Yao is done, Shaq’s days as a starter are over, and David Robinson’s been out of the league for 8 years. The best centers in the NBA are 6′11 (Howard, Duncan, Nene, Noah) or 6′10 (Horford, Perkins). Guys like Amare, Jefferson, and Lee who would never have played PF 20 years ago spend most of their time at center today, and put in All-Star level work.
The only 7 footers worth a damn are Brook Lopez (averages 5.6 rpg), Andrew Bynum (can’t stay healthy), and Andrew Bogut (shaky offensive player who can’t stay healthy). That’s it. And Horford is a better center than any of them.
I’m sure Josh would love to spend most of his time at SF, but that’s not what his skills are best suited for. If he talked in the media about wanting to be moved to SF full-time, he’d get laughed at. Don’t know why we aren’t doing the same for Al.
Tremaine
February 11th, 2011
9:43 am
Jeff what is Sund number so I can beg him to get us a center to?
James
February 13th, 2011
5:49 pm
What is seriously frustrating is that since this ownership has took over we have been saying we need a true center, and a franchise pg. Why is it that we still havent achieved neither???? the oppurtunities have always been there and we keep on passing them up. positions 2,3,and 4 are the easiest to fill, yet we continue to take the easy way out each year and bring in more and more of those players than make a serious effort to fill the 2 most important positions on an nba team. Why does a player have to beg his management to make obviously needed changes? that is disheartening in itself
James
February 13th, 2011
5:55 pm
@niremetal what your saying is true about 7 footers, but that still doesnt mean we cant find a player who is naturally a center. Al never has had a dominant post game, its good most nights but not betther than his off the dribble and jumpshot. We need a natural 5, I dont care how tall the guy is as long as he is a natural rebounder and post player and has the stregnth to defend anybody down low.
Gary
February 14th, 2011
9:50 am
If LD or Rick does not make some moves, this team could be in the trouble. Especially if the Knicks get Carmelo.