Think presidential candidates' supporters are a fervent bunch? Get a load of those backing Hawks center Al Horford for NBA Rookie of the Year.

Horford's teammates know that he's trailing Seattle's Kevin Durant in the polls. That has them speaking a bit louder these days.

"It's all political," Hawks point guard Mike Bibby said. "It's been that way before I got here [to the NBA], since I've been here and will probably be that way long after I'm gone. But you've got to go with Al. He's been getting it done every night for a team that's fighting to make the playoffs."

Hawks rookie point guard Acie Law IV has ties to both candidates, giving him a unique perspective.

"Listen, Kevin Durant's a good friend of mine and a great player," Law said, "but for what Al contributes to our team, what he means to this team and how important he is to the resurgence of this franchise, I don't see how anybody but Al could win this award.

"Durant is having a great scoring year. But as far as making his teammates better and his team better, you just don't see that. With Al in the game, he makes it easier on all of our players. I think it's his award, hands down. It shouldn't even be close."

Despite Law's insistence otherwise, Durant's going to be tough to beat. He leads all rookies in scoring (19.6) by a wide margin. He's had plenty of national television exposure, something Horford and the Hawks haven't. Horford's lone experience came during the Rookie Challenge during All-Star weekend.

Horford does lead all rookies in several categories, including rebounds (9.8), double-doubles (20) and efficiency rating (16.4). He also ranks second in minutes (31.5), fourth in scoring (9.8) and is tied for sixth in steals (0.8) and assists (1.5).

Horford has 35 double-digit rebound games and has already been named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month twice (November and February).

"For me, and I know I'm a bit biased, but I've got to go with Big Al," Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson said after practice Monday with Marvin Williams screaming "no-brainer" repeatedly as he walked past. "He's been great for us, no question. He's certainly helped turn this program around. He's got my vote, no doubt. He's done more than what anyone could have asked of him as a rookie."

The Hawks are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff chase —- tonight's game against Chicago being the next in their quest to end the NBA's longest playoff drought.

Along the way, Horford played out of position and crashed through the dreaded "rookie wall" that has claimed so many promising seasons.

"I think for what he's done for our ballclub, taking a man out of college and playing him out of position the way we have, he's handled it with flying colors," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "He's just a different rookie, and I've dealt with a bunch of them since I've been here. But he's unique. This guy has done everything on and off the floor that you could ask a rookie to do. And he's never complained about nothing. I mean nothing.

"And I love him because he's battle-tested. He's been through it all in college. And it really prepared him for our league. To be putting up a double-double every night in this league as a rookie, without a single play being called for him, that's unreal. Once in a while a rookie comes along and does something like that. I'll put it this way, we'd be lost without him."

NEXT FOR HAWKS

> Who: at Bulls

> When: 8:30 p.m. today

> TV; radio: SportSouth; 790 AM