MAKING AN ALL-STAR CASE
The Hawks (25-8) have the best record in the Eastern Conference and the third-best mark in the NBA. Despite the team success, the Hawks leading scorer is 30th in the league.
As it appears by the current All-Star balloting, the Hawks won’t have a player voted a starter for the game. There will likely be at least one Hawks player named as a reserve to represent the Eastern Conference based on the team’s success.
But who will it be?
An argument can be made for each of the five starters. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will state the case for each in a five-part series.
Friday: DeMarre Carroll
Saturday: Kyle Korver
Sunday: Paul Millsap
Monday: Jeff Teague
Today: Al Horford
It took a while, admittedly, but Al Horford is back.
The Hawks’ center has progressed from the torn right pectoral muscle that cost him all but 29 games last season. Horford has returned to be the anchor, offensively and defensively, for the red-hot Hawks.
“I was still working my way back and I was still getting in shape,” Horford said of his early season. “Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve felt back to normal. Once you feel better, you can help the team a lot more. That elevates all of us more because I feel like all of our guys were at that level and I was the one who was holding us back a little bit.”
Proof of Horford’s full return came last month when he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Several times though the first weeks of the NBA season, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague were nominees for the award. Horford won it for games played the week of Dec. 15-21 when helped the Hawks to a 3-0 record with impressive victories against the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets. During the stretch, he led the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game. He also added 6.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals. He shot 60.5 percent from the field.
In 32 games, Horford is averaging 14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 0.6 steals in 30.1 minutes. He is shooting 53 percent from the field, 14th best in the NBA. His block total ranks 15th in the league.
Horford has scored in double-figures 27 times, including eight 20-point games, this season. He has four double-doubles, including two 20-point/10-rebound games. He has led the Hawks in scoring four times and rebounds eight times.
The 3-point shot is slowly working its way into Horford’s repertoire in the Hawks’ spread offense. He already has career highs for both makes (5) and attempts (15). He was 4 of 11 last season in the first year under Mike Budenholzer. In his previous six seasons he was a combined 6 of 18.
The offensive numbers are one thing, but Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer looks at Horford’s defensive presence to know he is all the way back from injury.
“Defensively, how he has progressed is the most exciting,” Budenholzer said. “Most people think coming off an injury not being in sync offensively is the biggest thing but defensively he has really found his rhythm and that is most important for us.”
In Budenholzer’s rotation, Horford is normally the first starter to be come out of the game. The move is made so that he can return with the second unit when the other starters are given rest. Horford said the move is by design in Budenholzer’s defense-first philosophy and that he is to be the anchor.
Horford is no stranger to the All-Star Game. He was selected as a reserve in 2010 and 2011. Injuries and a change in format that included centers with all front-court players hindered his return. Now, he is faced with a crowded frontcourt that includes his teammate Millsap. Horford is 14th in the most recent balloting, one spot behind Millsap. LeBron James will be voted a starter and Pau Gasol and Carmelo Anthony seemed destined for the other spots. That leaves Horford and Millsap up against the likes of Chris Bosh, Kevin Love and Al Jefferson.
Still, it will be hard for coaches to ignore the Hawks’ record and current first-place standing in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks were third in the East when Horford was injured last season. They made the playoffs with a below-.500 record in his absence. They are in a better position today with a healthy Horford.
“If you look at all the guys, the guys have been putting in work,” Horford said. “Obviously it helps that I’m back but what Paul has been doing and Jeff and Kyle (Korver), all the guys. I feel like we’ve all gotten better and that’s why we are in this position.”
About the Author
