He’s not exactly a secret weapon.
Yet having Al Horford for these playoffs is a big piece of the Hawks’ arsenal that was missing in action last year.
“We are all very excited that he’s not going to be sitting at home this year,” Kyle Korver said. “He is a huge part of our team. He’s an All-Star center. You add an All-Star center to any team, and you have a much better team.”
Horford missed most of last season, including with playoffs, with a torn pectoral muscle. The Hawks were third in the Eastern Conference when he went down that December. They managed to earn the eighth and final spot and took the top-seeded Pacers to seven games in their first-round series. All as Horford watched in a suit.
Horford has been healthy all this season, and the Hawks are the top seed in the conference. They open the first-round playoff series against the Nets at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Philips Arena.
“It was great to be able to play the whole season,” Horford said. “… You play to be able to put yourself in this position, to me in the playoffs. I’m excited.”
What a difference in the Hawks’ playoff chances with his 15.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 blocks. Horford scored in double-figures 65 times this season, including 19 20-point games.
“I know I’m a lot better coach when Al is playing,” coach Mike Budenholzer quipped.
Horford played in all four regular-season victories over the Nets this season and averaged 17.8 points, squaring off against 7-footer Brook Lopez.
Horford was named to his third All-Star game after a four-year absence. He finished the regular season ranked sixth in the NBA in field-goal percentage, 17th in field goals made, 22nd in blocks and 38th in rebounds.
It is Horford’s presence on both ends of the court that Hawks players and coaches said make such a big difference.
“As everybody has seen as the season has progressed, what a great player he is,” Budenholzer said. “The more guys you can have who impact the game on both ends of the court. He is one of those unique players that as a center he is very good on the defensive end, he’s very good on the offense end. In the playoffs, those kinds of players become more and more valuable.”
Look no further than the Hawks’ win over the Nets last week. After losing a double-digit lead, Horford dunked with 19.1 seconds left to secure the win. The Hawks drew up a play following a timeout designed to get Korver a 3-pointer. Horford rolled to the basket when Lopez left him to guard Korver, who completed the pass to set up the slam.
Delivering in the clutch wins games in the playoffs, and Horford gives the Hawks another option.
“Al is a huge part of what we do, especially in the fourth quarter and down the stretch when we have to execute and have to get good shots,” Korver said. “He’s a guy who has a center can get good shots and knock down shots and can roll to the basket. He plays good defense. He makes good passes. He’s just a great all-around player. In the playoffs, a lot of games come down to the very end and to have another guy out there who can make plays is a huge bonus for us.”
Horford is part of the advantage the Hawks have at center despite their lack of size compared with the Nets. They can pull Lopez away from the basket with Horford and Antic, muscle him with Elton Brand or nearly match his size with Mike Muscala. It’s not all on the centers, but the Hawks outrebounded the Nets twice this season.
“It’s big, his ability on the offensive end to spread the floor,” Jeff Teague said. “On the defensive end, he’s the anchor. Having him being able to get up and down the floor and run and try to get Brook Lopez to keep up with him.”
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