Can the Hawks make or win the Finals with Horford at the 5?

[ATL DirtyBird]

My question is now is Joe Johnson not a superstar? Im kinda torn on this subject cuz I love the man as a player and is nice as hell, but maybe im to tied up emotionally with this for me to give a clear answer. He seems to have become a better teamate but is still not a leader and will prob never be one. Hes a great player no doubt and is one of the best guards in the league butt a superstar isnt just stats. Im so torn on it I cant tell you. I wanna say he is a superstar but he isnt. Hes a star, thats what he is. You can win a championship without a superstar in my opinion if you have enough stars. Bibby is an incosistent star and Smith seems to be blossoming into a star and Joe is on the cusp of superstar. What yall think?

[JoshB914]

Joe Johnson is absolutely not a superstar. He is certainly a star, but he doesn't have enough influence on games to be considered among the truly elite players in the NBA. He doesn't have the stats, the intangibles, or the ability to belong in that select group.

That's no knock on the guy, he obviously is a very good player and who knows where we'd be without his services. But if he was a true superstar we would be in title contention right now.

[tontoz]

JJ has shown that he is better than people thought when he was with the Suns. But it is also clear that he would be better off with someone else as good as he is offensively to take the pressure off him.

Right now I believe he has the ball in his hands too much. I would like to see him play without the ball more.

[mattlanta]

Horford has shown that he can keep up with the centers in this league. He has the heart to do anything he wants basically. Sounds cliche, but it's true. It'd just be easier if he got some help from the bench. Zaza is good offensively, but after him, we have on one that can really spell out center for Horford.

[Danimalz]

I think it's ridiculous to blame Horford for us not making the Finals.

Horford is every bit as good as Kendrick Persons in Boston.

The whole height thing is silly. We have Josh Smith who is the best weak side shot blocker in NBA history. We don't need a 7 foot center. Not to mention the game is changing. There are not as many 7 footers dominating the game anymore.

The Hawks are an athletic team that can present mismatches for teams that are bigger than them.

We need more depth, our starting lineup is fine

[parson]

From Wikipedia

Eating crow (archaically, eatin boiled crow) is an English idiom meaning humiliation by admitting wrongness or having been proven wrong after taking a strong position.

[LL Cool Scott]

2 things:

1. Tontoz - almost everything you said in this thread was (Please Use More Appropriate Word). It's like you'll argue a point to the bitter end even when it's clear you're wrong. Perkins can't hold Horford's jock-strap.

2. As most already said - the answer to the original question is yes, as long as we somehow get a superstar. Which is not likely. We had our chance and Knight picked Marvin Williams.

[TheOGJabroni]

Sorry but 11/9 in his second season doesn't scream star potential to me. If i had said after he was drafted that he would be averaging only 11/9 in his second season you would have laughed at me.

Or I'd assume he'd been injured..

He hasn't played since his injury. His injury has no effect on his numbers at all.

I REALLY REALLY want to know where you get off equating Kendrick Perkins with Al Horford

OK

Scoring per 40 minutes
Perkins 11.6
Horford 13.1

Rebounding per 40
Perkins 11.18
Horford 10.57

Try posting a Horford for Perkins trade on the Boston board. You might be surprised at the responses.

I don't think anyone will disagree that Horford is the more talented player, but you're right; there's no way we'd make that trade. Perkins is perfect on the C's.