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Home > ajcsportstalk > Archives > 2008 > April > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWhy Durant and not Horford?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sonics forward Kevin Durant will be named NBA Rookie of the Year Thursday, edging Hawks forward/center Al Horford among others (see story).
Durant averaged more than 20 points per game and led the Sonics in scoring. Horford, on the other hand, didn’t average as many points on a team that includes All-Star Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, but led the team in rebounding, had more double-doubles than any rookie (double figures in scoring and rebounding) and has been the emotional force on a playoff squad.
So, what do you think? Do you think Durant should have won the award, primarily based on his scoring, or should Horford’s all-around play earned the honor?
Let us know what you think.
Comments
By Tenaciousd
April 30, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Hell, I could average 20 a game if I shot as much as Durant does.
By T
April 30, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
Boooooooooo! another Atlanta player burned by the national media. It really is a crime because Horford deserved the award.
By jeff
April 30, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
Hopefully, Horford will use this tonight as incentive to put up a monster game and help will the Hawks to victory tonight.
By Atownfan
April 30, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Now we all know that politics rule the NBA. Al is going to win MVP one day, then he can look back on this and laugh.
By ATLplayer
April 30, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Highway robbery!!! The NBA got who they wanted. They advertised Durant with no mention of Horford. Voters saw Durant not Horford. comparing stats Horford wins hands down. The guy had 26 double doubles! Durant had none! Horford Led his team in rebounds… and went up against the BEST big men Please!!!!!!!!!
By Colorado Bulldog
April 30, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
You got to be kidding!?!
By Get_Real
April 30, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
Horford has a talented team around him and was never the other team’s focus. Durant was the only scoring threat on a terrible team and faced everything superior teams could throw at him. Durant is so much better than Horford it’s a joke.
By dj
April 30, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
Horford deserves roy more not only because of his stats but because his team made the playoffs.
By The Realist
April 30, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
So, what’s the point in disguising it as the “Rookie of the Year” award? The NBA should just go ahead & call it “The Rookie Scoring Title.”
By T
April 30, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
Hey Get Real,
How do you explain double-double stats 25-1 for Horford. That takes everything into consideration…and the reason the Hawks have “more talented” players IS Horford. He makes everyone better around him. Durant can fill up the scoring column and that is all. He took a lot more shots at a worse percentage… and that was the only important category he led. I think you need to “get real” with your assessment.
By Hawksville Resident
April 30, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Durant’s good. But Horford means a lot more to the resurrgance of this franchise that the “going nowhere fast” Sonics! This is Highway Robbery!!!
By theo755
April 30, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
Face it - Durant for ROY is a bone for the fans of Seattle who are getting screwed by the league with the whole OK City thing.
Horford was the class of this rookie crop, and he knows it. And tonight, he’ll enjoy the playoffs while KD sits and home and polishes his little trophy.
By #1 Carolina Fan
April 30, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Mike Bibby said it best when he said that the award is all about politics. Once Greg Oden went down, it was Kevin Durant’s award to lose. He would have had to be terrible for someone else to win ROY. Unfortunately for Al Horford and every other rookie, Kevin Durant wasn’t terrible. If given a choice, I think Al Horford would gladly trade that award for the position he is in now.
By Darius Crenshaw
April 30, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
theo - you are dead on. Horford is a key player on a playoff team and Durant is sitting at home knowing that he is years aways from getting into the playoff with the Sonics. Al knows who the man is.
By Ryder
April 30, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Get Real, you and Durant can enjoy this trifling award while Horford is in the playoffs year after year! Since Durant will never see the light of the postseason, considering there’s no one decent who will ever come to play in Oklahoma City he can have it!
Besides, all that crap about being the only scoring option is true when you’re jacking up 30 shots a game. You’re bound to make at least 1/3 of those shots.
Big Al won’t need to use this as motivation as he’s concerned with this little thing called the playoffs, something Durant will always watch from home!
By LC_Northside
April 30, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
Horford was more valuable to his team and carried many more intangibles than Durant. Just because you score more pts per game doesn’t make you more deserving. Horford should be Rookie of the Year.
By TexEx
April 30, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Congrats Kev! Hook’em
By MsDee
April 30, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Horford IS the Rookie Of the Year for the Hawks!! Thats all what matters right about now!! Horford is one of the main players who helped get us here. Its very disappointing to see that the NBA dont see what we have been seeing this whole season, who by the way, hasn’t hit is rookie wall yet!! I’m very prond of ha AL!! If you are mad/upset/angry about the decision, please show it tonight against KG & K Perkins!! Let’s end it at home so that u will get your true appreciation from the fans after we finish out the “beanmen”!!
By ray
April 30, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Durant was given the ball and the green light on every possession. And, he was not asked to play out of position. Everything was staged for him.
Horford was asked to play one of the toughest positions in the NBA despite his natural position being elsewhere. He excelled despite not having plays run for him, and not having adequate back-up.
The reward results are not unexpected. But I have to say it is probably the least heralded ROY award in years. I guarantee you nobody outside of that organization is at all excited about it. And even some of the fans don’t care, because the team is moving.
By Maxx
April 30, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Horford got robbed, he has been by far the most impressive rookie this year and deserves to be the ROY
By RA
April 30, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
One word, pathetic.
By Chris
April 30, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
im sick and tired of this crap. Why does everyone hate Atlanta. Durant gets like 50 shots a night on a worthless team. Horford is a beast and got the hawks to the playoffs.Makes a wholeloota since for Durant to get it… ha wut a joke.
By Chris
April 30, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
im sick and tired of this crap. Why does everyone hate Atlanta. Durant gets like 50 shots a night on a worthless team. Horford is a beast and got the hawks to the playoffs.Makes a wholeloota since for Durant to get it… ha wut a joke.
By Get_Real
April 30, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
I don’t hate Atlanta, and I think Horford is a great player. I just think people underestimate (yes, underestimate) how hard Durant has had it this year. Durant has played out of position too (SG instead of SF/PF), which cuts into his rebounding numbers. He’s had absolutely no help from anyone, and he’s been double-teamed from day one. His shooting percentages have gone way as the season progressed, so by the end he’d really started to figure it out. He wasn’t just throwing up shots. I’d take Durant over Horford every time.
By Get_Real
April 30, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
I don’t hate Atlanta, and I think Horford is a great player. I just think people underestimate (yes, underestimate) how hard Durant has had it this year. Durant has played out of position too (SG instead of SF/PF), which cuts into his rebounding numbers. He’s had absolutely no help from anyone, and he’s been double-teamed from day one. His shooting percentages have gone way up as the season progressed, so by the end he’d really started to figure it out. He wasn’t just throwing up shots. I’d take Durant over Horford every time.
By Go Hawks
April 30, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
Um… Horford didn’t play out of position???
He’s not a Center. He’s a 4. He went up against the big man all year long and still dominated the glass.
He’s had a great series against the Celtics as well as putting up a ridiculous amount of double doubles this year.
Please.
By Pete
April 30, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
They picked him as the rookie of the year before the season started. The NBA had ads just for Durant. So of course he wins Rookie of the Year with out discussion.
Regardless of the final count, Horford is the real Rookie of the Year. He is more impactful than Durant. Plus, he is on track to be a Hall of Famer because of his double-doubles as a rookie.
By truthman
April 30, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Folks, lots of guys win rookie of the year and then disappear! Not saying Durant is going to fizzle, but…
Horford (and it pains me somewhat to say this as a UGA alum) is the best pick the Hawks have made since the SkyDawg himself, Dominique!
He is smart, savvy in the lane, has great rebounding skills, a nice little jump shot and will not back down to anyone.
He is only going to get better and will be a fixture in the All-Star game, hopefully beginning next year