Questions remain on how the Hawks will handle the loss of Al Horford. With the two-time All-Star lost for three to four months with a torn pectoral muscle leadership must answer:
-- Who will fill Horford’s role and minutes?
-- Will the Hawks make a roster move?
-- Can the coaching staff keep the team on track for a fifth consecutive playoff appearance, the loss compounded by a compacted NBA schedule?
The Hawks learned of the severity of Horford’s injury hours before Thursday’s home game against the Bobcats, a blow Josh Smith termed “devastating.” Joe Johnson and Smith will be counted on to pick up much of the loss of Horford, on and off the court.
Horford, fourth on the team in minutes, averaged 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and a .553 field-goal percentage (eighth in the NBA) in the first 11 games. He has played both center and power forward, his natural position, in his five years with the Hawks.
As a center, he has the rare ability to grab rebounds and start the fast break, a clear advantage against the more stationary big men in the league. In Wednesday’s game against the Pacers, before the injury, he started a break that Smith, playing power forward, finished with a basket. Not many players in those positions can match that versatility.
Coach Larry Drew said Horford’s leadership and willingness to “call guys out” when necessary also will be missed.
Smith responded with a season-high 30 points in Thursday’s 30-point win over the Bobcats. Johnson added a season-high 23.
“We understand that it might be a little more added pressure on us,” Smith said. “But we are not looking at it as pressure. We’re looking at it as an opportunity to be able to step up that much more as leaders.”
Johnson said he spoke with Smith and veteran Tracy McGrady of the need to “take ownership of this at both ends of the court.”
In the short term, Drew said he will take each opponent into account as he determines how to divvy Horford’s playing time at center. Zaza Pachulia started in place of Horford on Thursday. He played 31:38, well above his season average of 15.9 minutes per game. Ivan Johnson played 20:50, well above his season average of 10.4 minutes per game. Jason Collins likely will see more playing time against bigger centers. There were times Thursday when Pachulia and Johnson were on the floor together.
“We don’t have too many big men,” Johnson said.
Drew said it is too early to decide if the team will make a roster move to replace Horford. He and general manager Rick Sund will have that discussion in the near future.
If the Hawks want to sign a veteran free-agent center and also avoid paying some luxury tax at the end of the season, they would have to release two of their four players on non-guaranteed contracts before all contracts become guaranteed Feb. 10. Since the Hawks need Johnson for frontcourt depth, the most likely candidates to be released would be two players from among guards Jerry Stackhouse, Donald Sloan and Jannero Pargo.
Both Drew and Sund said how the Hawks handle the adversity of Horford’s loss will be the key to the remainder of the season.
“When you have a key piece like Al, who won’t be there, you are hoping they can maintain some type of stability,” Drew said. “Sometimes, teams have a tendency to fragment when something is not going right or a key player is out. I’m hoping our guys will rally around one another and take on this challenge. ...”
“The question is can our depth pull together, can our team pull together, can the coaches coach around it to keep us a playoff-caliber club?” Sund said.
Those questions will take longer to answer.
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