AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > July > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHorford gave Gators their bite
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
Each of the others had a different handle for him. Being economical, Taurean Green called him Horf. Being whimsical, Joakim Noah called him Horfy. And what was Corey Brewer’s choice of nicknames?
“He just called me Al,” Alfred Joel Horford said Monday.
Because the Hawks called his name on draft night, Al Horford has gone from being part of one of the happiest families in college basketball history to being the biggest new part of one of the NBA’s most dysfunctional franchises. He treasures the years he spent at Florida, but for him and the other celebrated Oh-Fours — roommates Brewer, Green and Noah, so dubbed because they were members of the 2004 freshman class — it was, Horford said, “time to move on.”
Some members of great teams look better than they really are. Horford is the Gator most apt to look great on his own. He’s listed as a power forward, but a full season won’t pass before he’s the Hawks’ starting center. Anyone who saw Florida in person knows Horford was the most imposing among the many imposing Gators. Anyone who watched closely knows even the all-for-one Gators deferred to him when in dire need of a basket.
“Billy [Donovan, Florida’s coach] would tell me, ‘We have to go through Al,’ ” said Tito Horford, Al’s father and briefly an NBA center himself. “If he was double-teamed, he’d make the pass. If he wasn’t, he’d score.”
The biggest hoop of Florida’s second championship run came with 2:34 left and the scored tied against Butler in the Sweet 16. Brewer fed Horford, who was guarded by the 6-foot-6 Brandon Crone. Said Horford that night: “Corey was signaling to me, ‘Go score, go score.’ “
He muscled into the lane, scored the basket, drew the fifth foul on Crone and made the free throw. Said Crone afterward: “Horford’s a great player. He’s also huge.”
Some players are tall but not wide. Horford is both. He’ll get bigger and stronger. “Believe me,” Tito Horford said. “He’s going to come here and do some work.”
You can tell a lot about a guy from the way his teammates view him. The other Gators regarded Horford not with awe — they were too rollicking a crew for that — but with absolute respect. When Noah was in town for his Hawks’ audition, he told Billy Knight that his pal Horfy was “our rock; he was there every night.”
And now the Hawks, who in years past sought to make do with pebbles, have a rock of their own. No Gator improved more than Horford over the summer between the two titles. No Gator will be a better pro. (And this isn’t to slight Noah and Brewer, both of whom will be good.) The Oh-Fours — plus shooter Lee Humphrey and sixth man Chris Richard, who were a year ahead — together authored a run of greatness unseen in the contemporary college game, but Horford’s real greatness lies ahead.
“We all sacrificed [for the common goal],” Horford said of the Gators. And then, gently: “I do feel I can do a little more [in the NBA].”
Yes, he’ll miss the others. The Oh-Fours lived together for three years and never had a major blow-up. “What was so good about it,” Horford said, “was that we’d go somewhere else when we got on each other’s nerves. Like sometimes Taurean, who’s intense, would get into it with Joakim, who’s more laid-back.” (Noah? Laid-back? “Off the court,” Horford said.)
In Gainesville he was part of a glorious whole. Here he’ll be a focal point of a work in progress. He hasn’t yet lost a game in this city — he’s 10-0 here, having won two SEC tournaments and the most recent Final Four — and he’ll help make the Hawks, who haven’t had a winning season this century, winners in due course.
You can call him Horf or Horfy, or you can call him Al. But here’s one thing you won’t be calling him: a bust.
Permalink | Comments (39) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks / NBA, Mark Bradley
Comments
By tyger
July 2, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
Got what I was hoping for: …”I think I can do more in the NBA…” Alot of great college programs hold kids back, like Jordan at UNC, hopefully, Horford has more to his game than we have seen thus far.
By Nick
July 2, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
A lot of pressure on Horford. He’s got to learn how to play center and start for us there by December. Period. Else there will be a log jam at power forward and you’re going to start to get gripes about playing time.
It’s going to be a tough transition. I hope he can make it happen.
No “big Al” nickname, though, okay?
By **billy g**
July 2, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
A lot of people are not happy that the Hawks did not work a trade for Gasol or Amare. I admit that, at first, I felt the same way. But, now that I see what kind of man Al Horford is, I am comfortable with him at Center.
The Hawks will be championship contenders in three years.
By Samuel I AM
July 2, 2007 11:35 PM | Link to this
I wanted Yi on draft night at 3. I finally realize I was a fool. Horford will solve the hole at C for us in a big way. Horford and Law make us Hawks’ fans proud.
By Tom
July 2, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this
What’s this positive aura about this year draft picks? Hopefully this will translate into the season. GO HAWKS!
By smackie
July 3, 2007 12:11 AM | Link to this
PG-Acie Law SG-Joe Johnson SF-Marvin Williams PF-Josh Smith C-Al Horford
supersub-Josh Childress supersub-Zaza Pachulia supersub-Shelden Williams
yeah, yeah - that is starting to sound like a “real team”
By Nick B
July 3, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this
As a die hard Gator fan recently relocated to Atlanta from Florida, its nice to see someone else go through the same journey. Al Horford may not have been the best player in the draft, but he was the most mature. I was hoping the Hawks shocked the world and picked Green over Law being a huge Taurean Green fan, but Acie will mesh and will outshine Tlue makin this a draft class to remember.
Joe will get all the highlight reel shots while Law will be the one setting him up. Smith will lay down the law anytime he gets the ball and posterize anyone who stands in his way. But it will be Horford who holds down the fort. Horford will be the dominant force and anchor the team down low while Zaza sits and watches. Al is a good kid who deserves everything he gets. Hes a hard worker who will be sure not to disappoint.
By Carlyle
July 3, 2007 1:09 AM | Link to this
People gonna gawk, gonna SQUAWK, at them young, swoopin, hoopin, high-flyin Atlanta Hawks.
By SkinnyJ
July 3, 2007 2:07 AM | Link to this
The days of needing a big, bruising center are over. Most 7 footers play more like ZaZa than Shaq these days. What every team needs is a 6-9 banger who can score we needed, along with a european style center. Thats exactly what Horford is. Horford will play a lot of D down low, but dont think he is moving past ZaZa at C.
Also, with ZaZa and Horford on the floor at the same time, we would have one of the best passing front-courts in the league. JJ and co should get plenty of open looks…
By TITO
July 3, 2007 3:15 AM | Link to this
Yo, Mark. This is the first decent article you have written in years. Kudos! I could have sworn it was written into your contract that you had to bash the Hawks and/or Billy Knight.
I agree that my son Al will be seen as a a great pick. I hope you are right about Al being a Center - if he can thrive there, then we really will be set. I believe Law to also be a great player that will help us a lot in year 1.
Hawks are headed up, what what!
By Randy Duncan
July 3, 2007 6:12 AM | Link to this
GOOD PICK EVEN THE HAWKS CAN GET IT RIGHT ONCE EVERY TWENTY FIVE YEARS OR SO.
By J
July 3, 2007 7:24 AM | Link to this
Team looks great … depth and youth at every position. Should make it fun this season!
Thank God we didn’t pick up Conley. Of course, Tony is in love w/ the guy.
By Nique
July 3, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this
I like Horford, I do, but for the hawks 2 be REAL championship contenders in the future, HE CAN’T BE OUR CENTER! Was i the only one who saw him get MANHANDLED by Oden in the championship game? No of the Gators “great inside players” could contain him! Horford is a 4, who will be able to play the 5 in the east, get us into the playoffs either this year or next, but if we are planning on making him the Permanent fixture at C here, then we are preparing to be just a playoff team & not a champion! The few real C’s left in the league will eat him alive. Shaq, Yoa, Amare, D. Howard. But what’s done is done now! I do like the direction the team is going in. But we need 2 more parts. I Big legit shot blocking big man at C & I shooter with some size to spell J.J & keep him from wearing down & getting injured
By Big Bopper
July 3, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Hey, Wes Unseld was a great center and he was 6-foot-7. Horford can do it. He was a good pick. Teri Moore is stupid.
By Big Al
July 3, 2007 9:02 AM | Link to this
I agree that Horford will become a star in the NBA. Unfortunatley it will be after his contract is up with the Hawks and he is playing for a real NBA team.
By Steven
July 3, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
Nique I don’t think we were watching the same championship game because Oden did not manhandle anyone.If anything, I saw Oden exposed, especially against the bigger Roy Hibbert who silenced the critics momentarily. And I don’t think the center position is dominated anymore, because power forwards are controlling the paint these days and he is big enough and strong enough to play both the 4 and 5 so he’ll be just fine.
By Sautee
July 3, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
Hey Nique, remind me again, which team WON that championship? And don’t you think the idea for FLA. was to let Oden get his, without Horford and Noah fouling out? That’s why Chris Richard did most of the heavy lifting on D that night. I’d certainly be happy if the Hawks met the Blazers for the championship and Oden MANHANDLED Horford and the Hawks won the series. And I certainly remember how Shaq MANHANDLED 6’ 9” Ben Wallace on several plays a few years ago, while the Pistons WON the championship. Try seeing a bigger picture. The Hawks just drafted possibly the two smartest college players
(in basketball I.Q). Fewer bad decisions means fewer turnovers! That in itself is reason for optimism.
By GE
July 3, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
Hey all you experts. Let the Hawks build a team then feel free to comment on their weak and strong points.I saw Horford match up with Oden in the final game and he held his own. I also saw Oden almost foul out Florida’s entire front line of Horford, Noah, Brewer and Richards. That convinced me that Oden was for real. Nique is correct as to what happened during the final game(Forida still won). However, he is wrong on what will happen as Horford grows into the center position with the Hawks. He will be better than Ben Wallace and the Hawks will be back in the playoffs as a real contender.
By HawksFan
July 3, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this
If the refs had called fouls on Oden like they were calling fouls on the Gators’ big men, Oden would have fouled out after 10 minutes in the game. Watch the replay of the game if you don’t believe me.
By Nique
July 3, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
Yeah the Gators won, by Sautee if u really paided attention to the tournament like anyone else who really paided attention, you would know that the real reason that the Gators won is that they took conley out of the game. Oden got in foul trouble 4 out of the prvious 5 games in the Tournament, conley kept them going when that happened, because he set up everyone else, in addition to scoring himself. The team with him at p.g. could flow & run efficently & overcome Oden being out, but the team could not run without conley & through Oden, which is y they lost (& also y we should have taken conley @ 3! He’s a real p.g who can score, penitrate, & facilitate) But back to out discussion. Dispite the plan for the Gators, if Horford is ever gonna be a real C in the NBA, he’ll have to be alot tougher & better on defense that to let a not full developed low post player in G. Oden, who still hasn’t reached or become aware of his true offensive potential dominate him the way that he did in the national championship game! That would b great to see, but while portland is on it’s way to building a finals team, we unfortunately are not, as long as we think Al Horford is a C to build a franchise & a future around! He is a PF! & 4 EVERYONE WHO KEEPS SAYING HE’S A. Stoudemire, being the same size doesn’t make you the same player. Horford isn’t half as aggresive or the beast that Stoudemire is & won’t be the player he is either! But somehow if that matchup did happen, Oden would take it to Horford AGAIN!!! & while this is true I certainly remember how Shaq MANHANDLED 6’ 9” Ben Wallace on several plays a few years ago, while the Pistons WON the championship. It just goes on to further prove my point, 1st off we r not the pistons & don;t have the balance, leadership, or coaching that they had, so that’s just a mute point! All i’m saying is Horfod is a good player & will be a good pro, but we will NEVER WIN A TITLE WITH HIM @ THE 5!!!
By james
July 3, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
I would like to finally commend the Hawks for their latest draft picks. Every team goes through a rebuilding process to find pieces that will fit. I think Mr Horford knows about being a right fit. His ability was an exact fit for the Gators nor did he change anything between Championships. This guy is an every day hard worker an quickly will become an elite compared to such like K.G or D. Howard. I believe that he’s an all round good kid and I wish him the best. I will be purchasing season tickets and you should too. There will be excitement in Phillips arena this season !!
By Joe
July 3, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
Al ‘the Force’ Horford at the five……Josh ‘no Joshin - or J. Smoothe’ Smith starting at four with Sheldon ‘the Landlord’ Williams backing him up…Marvin ‘Glide’ Williams at three…Joe Johnson at two and Acie ‘THE’ Law at point————-we sure got ourselves a league crown as far as nicknames go.
By HawksFan
July 3, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
To all those clamoring that Al Horford won’t be able to play center in the NBA b/c of his size…Amare Stoudamire is 6’10” 245lbs…Al Horford is 6’10” 245lbs…
Al is just as athletic with the same temperament…outside of Shaq, Howard, and Curry, there are no flat-out centers who just dominate the paint…merely space-eaters who defend and post up…
I see no reason why Horford can’t come in and have the same impact as Amare…perhaps not right away…but eventually once he learns the nuances of the game and finds his niche’…
By Dictator
July 3, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
NIQUE you put same to the name you are biting. you must be CONFUSED. when was conley ever a scorer? and facilitator? sure, if you call throwing the ball to ODEN in the post, i guess so. then your argument is idiotic to. ok, so ben wallace and his team defeated shaq and his but they are the one in a million team that can pull this off huh? oh oh, and then you would take HORFORD over ODEN??? But then you say we can’t win a championship with HORFORD??? SOMEONE PLEASE HELP THIS PERSON
By Mark Bradley
July 3, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
A little more on the Hawks and how much they’d come to admire the way Florida played: If Joakim Noah had been available at No. 11, Billy Knight would have thought hard about taking him over Acie Law even though Knight had said publicly before the draft that he expected to get a guard. (Noah wound up going to Chicago at No. 9.) Knight really likes Noah’s energy. That said, I can only imagine the outcry if the Hawks had exited yet another draft without a point guard.
By tim
July 3, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
mark bradley, that being said i’m glad noah was not available at 11. I think that we got the best pg in the draft. I’m not convinced on conley. He may be the best in 5 years but i don’t think he is ready now and is a huge risk/reward player. i think it was the best draft for the hawks in a long time. they need to make the playoffs this year. especially in the weak east
By No Dawgs Here
July 3, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
I think the Hawks did right in the draft. They address issues that needed addressing. They went with young players that can be taught. Why bring in a high profile player? We did that with Issah Rider and where did we go? We did not need a ball hog. We needed good talent and we got it! Way to go Hawks!! Stay with this group for about 2 years and we’ll see the playoffs!! Patience fans, patience. We have the start of something great!
By Brian L.
July 3, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
NIQUE,
You made good points about Horford being our Center and the difficulty he will have guarding Shaq, Oden, Yao, etc….We all know that, BUT….Who do you propose we should have gotten? There was no one else who could handle those guys either. Horford was the best option. At least he has a chance of guarding them. Its fine for you guys to make your points but to complain when there is no better option is just silly.
HERE IT IS EVERYBODY, In order for the Hawks to win a championship, we must start thinking like champions. The Spurs dont worry about how they match up to everyone else, They focus on what they are going to do great and make the other teams match up to them. If we focus on making JJ and JSmith outstanding players, we may have a tough time guarding other centers but they’re gonna have a tough time guarding our superstars.
By JohnGTFan
July 3, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
I believe the Hawks did exactly what they needed to do, improve the 2 most important areas.
Nique Please don’t use a HOF’s nickname if you’re going to be negative and ignorant. So you know for a fact that ATL will never win a championship with Horford at center? WOW, someone on the AJC blog who can actually predict the future. Putz.
Anyway, we improved what we needed to improve. PG IQ and the ability to score from that position. And Acie does that FAR BETTER than any PG in this draft. And a tough guy, wide body, that can rebound, score and block shots. Horford can do that very well. It doesn’t matter if you list him as a C or a PF. As long as he gets the job done, that’s all that matters. And noone other than BK knows if he’ll be our center. I think ATL will be big players in FA or via trade…for all we know, we may bring in a center and let Horford play PF. All I’m saying is, at least give the kid a chance. But no, that’s too much to ask for from so many cry-baby ATL “fans”. Probably shouldn’t even use the term fans, because people like NIque have no idea what a true fan is.
By Southeast D.C.
July 3, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
Jon Konkak 7’0…Hmmm.
By sansho1
July 3, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
That said, I can only imagine the outcry if the Hawks had exited yet another draft without a point guard.
This is why I’m loathe to give Knight much credit — we were lucky with the ping-pong balls, and a trained monkey could have made our picks and not screwed it up. And yet Knight would have been tempted to make the same freaking mistake AGAIN. So far, the only portion of the Knight master plan that he hasn’t lucked into was the part where the team sucked for years.
By vc
July 3, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
Oden got his because the Gators game plans was to shut down Conley and the rest of them…also, anyone who watched saw Oden get away with just about everything in order to keep the game exciting…
As far as comparing Horford to Amare…Horford has a much better all-around game than Amare will ever have…you will be very surprised by his mid-range jumper…he will be compared to Karl Malone…
By gb
July 3, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
hey nique if the gators took conley out of the game, don’t you suppose some nba teams can also take him out of games? you talk in circles man.
By c. jackson
July 3, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this
Thank goodness for an amazing Atlanta draft. I think Al Horford, given time and team support, could evolve into Karl Malone (an overwhelming talented power forward). However, the Hawks must provide him and Acie Law with good support and training to excel in the NBA. As for Acie, I hope he provides quickness, direction, and consistent scoring. Good luck team!!
By Ryder
July 3, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
I believe in two years Atlanta will become what Utah is now. Al Horford proved in the past two years that he is willing to work on his game. He will be able to provide something the Hawks have not had since the late 90’s, a post up presence who can score in crunch time.
Think about it, in Horford and Acie Law Atlanta obtained two of college baskeball’s best clutch players (that missed layup in the tournament by Law notwithstanding). Atlanta sorely needs players who could step in right now and take the pressure of Joe Johnson to carry the team down the stretch, and these guys will be able to do that.
I think if they’re serious about playing a halfcourt style, this should be the opening night lineup: PF-Horford SF-Smith C-Zaza PG-Law SG-JJ
The two forwards would provide instant defense and interior scoring from Al, not to mention relieve Zaza from getting pounded early. The backcourt of Law & JJ would be able to score without having to deal with double teams. As for Marvin, he can come in as the sixth man and take advantage of bench players and tired first-stringers with his extraordinary offensive skills. Shelden, Childress & Claxton/would provide a nice 9-man rotation.
By Darrin "The Vent King"
July 3, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this
Very good analysis. I’ve been telling people for a couple of years that Horford was the real “blue chip” piece to the Gators puzzle. He was the pure breed thoroughbred of the team. No disrespect to Noah, Brewer, T. Green, or Humphries, but Al has the most potential. He will bring the “winning” feeling here, people know of what he and his Gators have done the last TWO years in college. This guy has NBA written all over him. Along with Acie Law, this was a good draft for the Hawks. With JJ, J Smith, and Marvin Williams, this team will be good with the right direction in a couple of years. My Hawks spirit is finally back and I’m glad!
GO HAWKS!!
By Mark Bradley
July 3, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
I don’t see Horford as another Stoudemire. Horford doesn’t jump as high or play as forcefully. He is, however, a much better passer and defender. He can be really good in his own way, which I see as being more Duncan-like.
By mike
July 3, 2007 8:08 PM | Link to this
who are the hawks?
By Remembering Roundfield
July 3, 2007 11:42 PM | Link to this
I really hope that the Hawks will utilize the players that we have better this year. I think if we play great defense and loosen things up a little bit on offense then we can most assuredly win 40-45 games next year. I’m not that familiar with Milicic. I know that he was in Detroit, and that he’s taken awhile to develop. Do you guys think he’s going to be any good?