Al Horford was one player Hawks couldn’t afford to lose (UPDATED)
Center Al Horford is the biggest of losses for the Hawks.
(UPDATED: 7:50 p.m.)
Not that anybody had been worn out by victory parades at any time in recent history (or ancient history). But it seems like the Atlanta pro sports world has been strapped to a wrecking ball lately.
Since last May, an NHL franchise was crushed by local ownership, then packaged, sold and shipped to Winnipeg. The Braves collapsed down the stretch of the season and missed the playoffs. The Falcons could’ve avoided a lot of pain by missing the playoffs, for when they got there they were dismembered again.
The Hawks had been our shining light. OK, maybe a 60-watt bulb. But they eliminated Orlando in the first round of the playoffs last season and gave Chicago a run in Round 2.
Then on Thursday, Atlanta gravity pulled them back down into the rubble.
Al Horford — the one player the Hawks could not afford to lose, the one player on the roster that other teams actually want, was counted out by an MRI. Horford suffered what had appeared to be a shoulder strain in Wednesday night’s loss to Indiana when he had his arm pulled back after having his shot blocked by the Pacers’ Roy Hibbert. But an MRI revealed a torn pectoral muscle.
This is not a day-to-day thing. It’s closer to a see-you-in-training-camp-next-year thing. Horford will have surgery and miss three to four months. It’s mid-January. The regular season runs through April 26. Do the math.
Hawks coach Larry Drew was asked what the Hawks will miss without Horford, other than the 12.4 points, seven rebounds and a couple of blocks and assists per game. His answer suggested this was like a live body losing a vital organ.
“Leadership and presence — that’s going to be sorely missed,” he said. “He’s kind of a glue for us. He’s a stabilizer. He’s a guy who huddles the team, who talks in the huddle. He’s a guy who’s not afraid to call people out. Certainly the guys respect him. You can see how guys respond to him.”
Horford is — was — the Hawks’ most important player. It’s not Joe Johnson, the five-time All-Star who too often disappears in big moments and has seldom exuded much in the way of leadership. It’s not Josh Smith, the athletically wonderful but occasionally head-scratcher of a player.
Horford isn’t a brilliant offensive player. But he’s as smart and consistent a performer as the Hawks have on the roster. He rebounds. He bangs. He distributes. Equally important, as Drew noted, is his presence off the court.
“I was hoping it was a strain and I’d rehab it for a couple of weeks and I’d be back,” Horford said.
That, the Hawks could manage. Every team has, or will have, injuries in this condensed season. But the Hawks couldn’t afford a debilitating one like this. What now — trade for Dwight Howard? That has long seemed like a pipe dream because Howard, an impending free agent, has said nothing to indicate he would be willing to sign an extension with the Hawks. And if the Hawks ever had a shot at Howard, Horford figured to be one of the players that Orlando would ask for in a trade.
What do the Hawks offer now — Horford with a torn pectoral, Tracy McGrady with back spasms and Marvin Williams with an ankle sprain?
Whatever it was that you believed the Hawks could achieve this season, adjust down. They’re probably still a playoff team in the Eastern Conference, although Drew said only, “I hope we are.”
It will be interesting to see how the rest of the team reacts to this loss. Said Horford, “All of the guys have to raise their game, help a little bit, and it all starts with Joe and Josh.”
Johnson was the eternal optimist of the group in the locker room Thursday.
“We still have enough talent to be an elite team in the East,” he said.
He gets points for being a rare ray of sunshine. But the reality is, it feels like a wrecking ball just hit another team.
By Jeff Schultz
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137 comments Add your comment
Let's Be Honest
January 12th, 2012
7:36 pm
BLOW IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bigman needed
January 12th, 2012
7:40 pm
Okafor is available. No way does new orleans want to be on the hook for his massive contract if they’re gonna lose for years to come and in fear of contraction! Kaman would also work for hawks but he is on an expiring deal and likely hornets could get a draft pick from any number of contenders. Hawks dont have that to offer.
Okafor would it in too. He doesn’t score these day, just rebounds and defends.
And if we get al back for playoffs, we could make some noise in the playoffs
Let's Be Honest
January 12th, 2012
7:40 pm
No surprise that Atlanta fans underestimated the value of leadership on a team, most of you haven’t see many LEADERS on your team teams so you think highlight dunks are everything. But that won’t get you far in the playoffs. No one else even wants to lead on this team lol:
Drew said it himself:
“… Larry Drew on Horford: ‘You can see when he’s out there how the guys react [to him]. He’s kind of a glue for us. He’s a stabilizer.’…”
Time to end this charade and build a winner. Ship out everyone except JT and AH, fire Drew and Sund, and let’s start it over next October.
chris
January 12th, 2012
7:41 pm
Been a rough year for Atlanta sports wise for sure Jeff, this sucks..this team plays well when its scoring and without Al and his presence we going to need another piece for sure….hope something can be done through the trade wire.
Let's Be Honest
January 12th, 2012
7:42 pm
So the goal is to make the 2nd round again? Make a deal to get embarrassed by the Heat or Bulls again? LOL… no wonder everyone makes fun of Atlanta fans. Idiots!
JSS
January 12th, 2012
7:42 pm
Why don’t all you multiple user-name suffers pick one name and stick with it!
I’m not for breaking-up the core with any possibility that Rick Sund and the ASG are any where around another lottery pick… Trade one piece maybe to get under the luxury tax. Go and get Mbenga or bring back Joel Przybilla, rather have Dan Gadzuric…
Michael Gearon, Jr.
January 12th, 2012
7:46 pm
I have a small penis.
Let's Be Honest
January 12th, 2012
7:48 pm
I haven’t seen one name mentioned as a potential trade possibility that is going to get you past the Heat and Bulls in the second round. You guys just want to make the playoffs, but don’t want to be champs. I get it.
88Hawk
January 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
Glad someone else besides me thinks Za Za is a clutz and no one covers him 2 feet away from the basket because he won’t take shots in every game. He does play better when TMac is in the game, but anybody else passes Za Za the ball, the other team knows he won;t shoot and if he gets under the basket, he’s immediately surrounded by 3 bodies with no where to go. How many times has Za Za had the ball taken away so far this season? Collins is on the bench, so Za Za is not the only holdover. So far, not very impressed with Collins. Who will take either of these 2 centers? No one! Even if we offered Jjjjjjjj oe Johnson and season tickets. Joe is playing great D, but he’s missing too many shots. umpredictable from game to game or quearter to quarter. Josh Smoove the same way. Marvin the same way. Jeff Teague, the same way. This coach does not know how to chew some a$$ during timeout and tell this team to play the way the should and know how? I blame the coach when this team is getting a new one from any other team. Tell Za Za to get it together or sit. Tell every player to get it together or sit, even Jjjjj oe Johnson.
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
8:10 pm
Grandmaster JeJe
January 12th, 2012
5:17 pm
Al Horford is not a leader.
This team has no leaders.
I could not agree more. Charles Barkley POUNDED the Nail RIGHT ON ITS’ HEAD ABOUT
this “TOO SOFT CREW”
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
8:10 pm
Grandmaster JeJe
January 12th, 2012
5:17 pm
Al Horford is not a leader.
This team has no leaders.
I could not agree more. Charles Barkley POUNDED the Nail RIGHT ON ITS’ HEAD ABOUT
this “TOO SOFT CREW”
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
8:12 pm
What did Al do against the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs? He did didly poo, nothing, Joakim Noah dominated him.
steven A.
January 12th, 2012
8:14 pm
Noah dominated Horford in the playoffs last season. He exposed Als’ defensive liabilities.
Let's Be Honest
January 12th, 2012
8:28 pm
So you think the team is better off NOW? You think this team can beat the Heat and Bulls without their starting center? What’s the goal? Didn’t Gearon say ECF or bust in the offseason? No wonder GA ranks near the bottom in test scoring/education.
Let's Be Honest
January 12th, 2012
8:47 pm
Barkley also said he’d want Ivan Johnson over every Hawks frontcourt player except Horford.
BravesFan79
January 12th, 2012
8:49 pm
Lets be Honest: your a fool who listens to that Has-Been looser Barkley. Clearly what u have to say holds about as much weight as Barkley doing weight watchers.
BravesFan79
January 12th, 2012
8:55 pm
How about that has-been Barkley being jelous of Tebow. He will never be the man, or champion, that Tebow is, and is clearly jelous. I know a girl who “was” friends with Barkley, dudes a womanizing rapist scumbag. Hes lucky hes still alive.
BravesFan79
January 12th, 2012
8:58 pm
Steven A: Yea, because Barkley knows SO much about winning Champions right?? He even tried to piggytail on Drexler and Akheems Houston squad and failed at that.
WalterEgo
January 12th, 2012
8:59 pm
Agree with Najeh here. Great op to blow up the core. Our draft pick probably jumps 8 slots. However, I can’t see Orlando wanting an injured Horford as part of any deal nor can I see Howard re-upping with us if we trade JJ and JS and Horford never gets to play with him.
keepinitreal
January 12th, 2012
9:08 pm
The Hawks will still make the playoffs (the 9th best team in the East is probably the Bucks, and they’re a mess), but this probably drops them down a 7 or 8 seed, which means they’ll be one-and-done in the playoffs. Very unfortunate, because this team was showing some real promise. For the first time in a very long time, I thought getting to the Eastern Conference Finals was a possibility. Not anymore.
BravesFan79
January 12th, 2012
9:10 pm
Yea, blow up the core and be bad for the next 10 years… GREAT plan guys! Thats worked so well for other teams. Its why the Wizards are now on the verge of a world title right?
BravesFan79
January 12th, 2012
9:16 pm
Look at how long it took to get the team competitive again after blowing up the Mutombo/ Steve Smith, Mookie Blaylock team. Do we Really wanna go back to winning 15 games a year again? People say “blow it up”, but offer no real solution. Maybe you magically expect 3 superstars to pick the Hawks to go to like Boston and Miami. Or maybe you expect a few years of drafting high picks to make us title contenders. That method has worked so well for teams like the Bobcats and Nets!
tree rollins
January 12th, 2012
9:22 pm
Al’s the first decent center the Hawks have had since I played – it figures. This franchise is hurting man!
tree rollins
January 12th, 2012
9:28 pm
If they want to sign me or Dikembe for a short term deal I might think about helping them out!
Altie Kocker
January 12th, 2012
9:36 pm
LOL – superiorblogman, are you a troll from Charlotte?:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/01/12/al-horford-was-one-player-hawks-couldnt-afford-to-lose/?cp=all#comment-433046
Mr. ATL
January 12th, 2012
9:37 pm
I like Horford and I’m sorry he’s hurt. But since I no longer attend Hawks games, it doesn’t much matter to me. Thanks to the Spirit, I’ve become totally indifferent.
teedub
January 12th, 2012
9:40 pm
I’m convinced Schultzie has never watched a Hawks game. Horf disappears just as often as Joe and Josh. We all know there isn’t a ton of leadership on this team.
The problem isn’t really the lost productivity or leadership…it’s more so that we don’t have squat on the bench to replace him. The 5 is the one gaping hole on this bench. I love ZaZa, but he can only play a limited role. There’s a time and place for him, and it’s not starting at the 5.
Hopefully Smoove can hold it down at the 5 and we can use the bench to prop up the 3 and 4.
tr
January 12th, 2012
9:52 pm
No Horford, Hawks win in blowout. hmmm
phil
January 12th, 2012
9:54 pm
This is LD’s fault.
Fire LD!
phil
January 12th, 2012
9:55 pm
tree rollins
January 12th, 2012
9:22 pm
Al’s the first decent center the Hawks have had since I played – it figures. This franchise is hurting man!
*****
you were far from decent, bonehead!
Bamaboy1
January 12th, 2012
9:59 pm
tr
January 12th, 2012
9:52 pm
No Horford, Hawks win in blowout. hmmm
It was a blowout to the Bobcats. Be realistic
Bamaboy1
January 12th, 2012
10:00 pm
tr
January 12th, 2012
9:52 pm
No Horford, Hawks win in blowout. hmmm
It was the Bobcats, be realistic….
JSS
January 12th, 2012
10:04 pm
The maligned Josh Smith goes all monster!!! Oh-oh Scoob!!
WE OWN TECH!
January 12th, 2012
10:15 pm
Can’t Kenyon Martin come back in march? We need to get him!
KevinM
January 12th, 2012
10:34 pm
Jeff, all-star Al is in no way more important than Jeff Teague, Teague has no valid replacement.
Al has backups and his backups aren’t complaining about playing and defending centers. When Al comes back, wanna bet he stays out of the middle even more?
Phil Lunney
January 12th, 2012
10:36 pm
The hawks played a good game tonight. I was very worried after seeing the injury to Al last night. But, this is my “annual I dream a Hawks dream” message. This is the time for the team to learn Drew’s offense, their defense hasn’t been this active for years. Then if they get Henrich back, they grow stronger and maybe Al for the play-offs. That is my hope, lucky it is MLK weekend, maybe Martin will shine his light on our Hawks. And Ivan does bring some energy and the Hawks need energy.
ATLien
January 12th, 2012
10:50 pm
I did the math and the team will be fine. Josh Smith is on his way to a MVP caliber year. All the haters can choke on their words as Josh steps up and puts it on his very capable shoulders. Horford was never the leader, he’s not even really a All Star. Good player…yes? The kind of player that a team just can’t live without? Not even close. Josh Smith is that player and all of you haters, including the head hater in chief Mr. Schultz, will be eating your words.
tree rollins
January 12th, 2012
11:31 pm
Agree Al is no all star calibre! I’m not even sure you could say that I was back in my day. All I can tell you is that Al doesn’t block enough shots!
tree rollins
January 12th, 2012
11:34 pm
Dikembe – now that boy knew how to block the shots – study some film while you’re out Al!
Tron5000
January 12th, 2012
11:44 pm
I like that Big Al is already calling out Joe and Josh to step their games up. Wish it didn’t take him going down for that to happen. And Schultzy, luckily I don’t have to worry about adjusting my expectations: These are the Hawks, so my expectations were already low to begin with. Been watching this team for 30 years. Fool me once…
tjy
January 12th, 2012
11:49 pm
This is a great opportunity for Josh to step up and become the best player and leader of this team. He’s always had that potential and based on how he’s played over the last few games, I think he’s going to do it. The Hawks will definitely miss Al, but sometimes injuries like this bring teams together.
Hawk to the Tawp.
January 12th, 2012
11:58 pm
Don’t worry Hawks fans… When Josh, Joe, and Jeff help get us the 3 seed, I will come back and lead us past the first round, and then we will beat Chicago in round 2. Then we will beat LeBron in the ECF. Next up, we will take out Oklahoma City in the Finals…
I will be back for a championship.
Hawk to the Tawp.
January 12th, 2012
11:58 pm
I am the Hawk that you don’t know of.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 13th, 2012
12:07 am
Schultz is the same guy who thinks the Hawks refuse to go over the cap.
hawks d
January 13th, 2012
4:38 am
we need to make a move for a veteran center who can put up a few minutes each night and protect the paint. Im a zaza fan but the guy is just too clumsy… We need a big man who can clog the lane.. Twin is useless, I dont really understand why, the guy is huge but so ineffective.
JUNGLE JIM
January 13th, 2012
6:58 am
To show the level of interest in the Hawks … Jeff’s column drew about 93 comments in 12 hours. If this had been a UGA or Falcons key injury – the reponse would have been at least 5 times that.
BulldogBen
January 13th, 2012
8:54 am
Feel awful for Horford but even with him everyone knows we can’t compete with the elite teams. This will just allow me to not start beleiving come playoff time.
BLECH. It’s a bad time for sports in this state when the only thing I have to look forward to in the next 4 months is the NCAA tourney (watching other teams) and The Masters.
*shudder*
coloradofalconsfan
January 13th, 2012
9:06 am
They will get someone. Maybe Hinrich and his expiring contract for Okafor. Probably will have to throw in a pick. Okafor can give you what Al gave and even more size. We will miss the leadership so hopefully while rehabing he can stay around team. But real key to this team is Josh and a keeping the vet like T-Mac healthy. Josh has raised his game this year. Very smart is hold back T-Mac vs Bobcats. We need him for the long run.
coloradofalconsfan
January 13th, 2012
9:07 am
BulldogBen, if you don’t think with Horford that we can compete with elite teams, you must not have watched the 4 games vs Heat and Bulls. 2-2 split and could have easily swept.
JSS
January 13th, 2012
9:12 am
JUNGLE JIM
January 13th, 2012
6:58 am
“Jeff’s column drew about 93 comments in 12 hours. If this had been a UGA or Falcons key injury – the re(s)ponse would have been at least 5 times that.”
And 95% of those comments would be gibberish… Sorry, but UGA (and college football fans in general) fans just blog about nonsense…
And word of advice, the people interested in the Hawks (and the NBA) generally hit the basketball related blog sites away from the AJC (no indictment on the paper), they hate nonsense gibberish…