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Sunday, January 11, 2009
News you don’t want
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HAWKSVILLE - The sight of Al Horford limping off the floor in Orlando Friday night didn’t give anyone cause for major concern.
He walked off the floor under his own power. Did the same on his way out of the locker room.
But now comes word that he’ll be out indefinitely with a bone bruise in his right knee. Talk about news you don’t want if you’re the Hawks or a Hawks fan.
Horford’s absence from the starting lineup and playing rotation will be felt far beyond his 10.8 points, a team-high 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 blocks.
The second-year center from Florida has been the one, and often times only, constant you could count on inside on both ends of the floor (Sunday’s discombobulated effort against Philadelphia being Exhibit A).
The prospect of going west this week (Phoenix, LA Clippers and Golden State) without him, even against three “beatable” Western Conference opponents, has to be a concern.
Playing an extended stretch without him can be done. The Hawks survived without Josh Smith (going 6-6 during his absence). So they can surely survive without Horford.
But you had a better handle on what Smith was dealing with. High ankle sprains cost you anywhere from six weeks to a couple of months.
A bone bruise, on the other hand, is a much more vague injury.
Until the Hawks get a firm handle on what they’re dealing with where Horford’s injury is concerned, things are looking shaky.
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