Does anyone know Horford's status

[ATL Boy]

Will Horford be back by playoff time?

[Superiorblogman]

out for season all i know

[Jamaaliver]

Can't find the link, but I read last week he just got his arm out of a sling. He's just starting his physical therapy and has lost a noticeable amount of muscle since the injury.

He is right on schedule for a return at season's end (or beginning of playoffs).

I think it was somewhere in the AJC, reported by Michael Cunningham.

[ATL Boy]

Thanks for the info guys

[Jamaaliver]

Two years later, this same thread applies. (Man I love the guy, but he's always nursing some injury or other.)

Anyone here anything on AH's recovery this time around?

[azuresou1]

DPE rules him out for the season, even if he recovers in time.

[PandaKidd]

His arm was still in a sling as of last weekend during the Hawks Casino Night. Hes vacationing with his woman right now down in the carribbeanr somewhere.

[PandaKidd]

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/horford- ... ess/ndTQ6/

[Jamaaliver]

It's curious. Last time this injury occurred he publicly made a point of saying he hoped to return in time for the playoffs.

This time, he publicly made a point of saying he would absolutely NOT return this season.
Is this perhaps a shot across the bow to Ferry for not bringing in adequate options at Center.

I blame Ferry for the way this season has progressed. Ayon has been injured off and on all season long. Antic and Brand are past their physical primes. Neither of those guys can be considered long term solutions at the 5 spot anyway. This comes, of course, after AL publicly asked for more big man help last summer.

The coach has been great. The players have performed admirably. But as bodies continue to drop, we haven't brought in another Center or defensive big. No Ivan. No J-Collins. it's become increasingly frustrating.

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/horford-begins-rehab-process/ndTQ6/

MAN, he's lost a lot of weight. He almost looks like a SF there.

[D21]

Or he won't come back because Ferry decided to tank the rest of the season ?
I was against this idea, but I have now some doubts, but if it has to be done, it has to start now (or 5 games back if you prefer).

We have 25W, and can't certainly finish lower than MIL, PHI, ORL, SAC, LAL, UTA, BOS but we can be lower than every other western teams, and NYK, CLE and DET seems to try to get a playoffs spot.
This means we could end around the 8th spot.
Since, the teams still fighting now may stop it and start to tank, if it has to be done, it's now or never.

DPE rules him out for the season, even if he recovers in time.

No, ATL got the DPE because Horford is supposed to not come back more than come back.
But we are able to not use it, and let Horford come back if he can.

[ATL Boy]

It's such a shame that this thread is having to be re-visited. smh

[PandaKidd]

There are a ton of serviceable bigs out there we can bring in. Not sure why we arent. Did we really need Cartier Martin AGAIN? Id rather have brought in IJ or like you said Collins if he is till in shape

[FCNATL85]

Will we be in the PO? That is also the question...in any case, Al should rest. I actually hope that we will fight and fight like we are doing now but hopefully the victories will come hard to come by.
That will not change the mindset but I would love for us to have some luck in the lottery falling to 10-7. Couple of big guys available or better chance to move within the draft...
Look at our recent draft glad be got Scott because I think that Jenkins is wasted, big question marks about Bebe (weight and knees) so I would not mind go 2 for 1 in this one...

[Jamaaliver]

I think we should forbid Ferry from drafting in the 1st round anymore. As both of his 2nd rounders (4 year college ballers) have looked like keepers while his 1st rounders look...less impressive.

[ATL Boy]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10604 ... urn-season

Can't say I blame him. Why return and risk injury for a first round playoff exit? We need a legitimate C so that we can move Al to PF.

[Jamaaliver]

“It’s the third one to happen in basketball, and I’ve had two of them,” Horford said.

Horford said that during the surgery Duralde noticed scar tissue, an indication that there had been a previous issue with the muscle.

Horford said doctors told him that he was not predisposed to such an injury.

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/basketball/horford-looking-forward-after-injury/nfCc4/

Horford called it before the season. He takes so much abuse guarding bigger players. We gotta get this guy some help if we hope to have him as a contributing member of this team. At this point I feel pretty certain we are shortening his career by simply REFUSING to obtain a capable backup or a starting caliber Center.

But then, I guess AL was simply being 'a diva'. Asking for help and all.

[Rip2137]

AGAIN,

This injury has NOTHING to do with playing the C position. He got hurt getting his shot blocked and going for a loose ball. No amount of playing Center will make his pecs detach from his bone. It simply has NOTHING to do with it.

As for the REFUSING to obtain a capable backup Center os starting caliber center, the team added Muscala, Brand, Bebe, Antic and Ayon in the offseason. How can you say this team is not looking for a Center when we added FIVE in the offseason?

[Jamaaliver]

As for the REFUSING to obtain a capable backup Center os starting caliber center, the team added Muscala, Brand, Bebe, Antic and Ayon in the offseason. How can you say this team is not looking for a Center when we added FIVE in the offseason?

I feel that obtaining 4 players who have NEVER proved capable of producing at the 5 spot in the NBA is not adequately shoring up the position. (Two of those four players were deemed too weak/green/unproven to even warrant a roster spot.)

Elton Brand is old.

This injury has NOTHING to do with playing the C position

I disagree. The fact there was extensive scar tissue on the muscle indicates to me he's faced a great deal of abuse over a long period of time. I am of the belief that playing against players his own size or smaller would make such an injury less likely.

This has been an issue for years. I believe this is the toll that's been taken over time. Even Jeff Schultz and Larry Drew addressed the issue...four years ago.

I no longer believe that the issues are unrelated.

He is taking a beating, particularly at the defensive end. Drew is trying to minimize the issue by going with a “big” lineup about 40 percent of the time: Horford moves to power forward, Josh Smith to small forward, Jason Collins steps in at center and Marvin Williams goes to the bench.

Drew admitted, “I’ve even thought of making the change permanent.”
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/02/08/al-horford-an-all-star-at-center-but-hes-taking-a-beating/

[Rip2137]

So what are you suggesting? Where are all these Centers that have been available that the Hawks have passed on? You want a big in todays NBA, you better draft him or grab him from overseas because they are simply not to be had. And paying 10-15 million for a guy like Asik is just overpaying for a guy with minimal talent. Because we haven't hit a grandslam on a Center doesn't mean we are refusing to address the issue. Nikola Pekovic, Nikola Vucevic, Omar Asik are all just hits by their GMs in the draft and none really contributed as rookies. Of the top 20 Centers in the NBA (yeah...TWENTY) only Gortat and maybe Robin Lopez(if you consider him top 20) have been available. Gortat is 6'11 and 240...but somehow he is a Center but 6'10 250lb Horford is undersized? So that leaves Robin Lopez, who I DO feel like we missed on.

As for the injury...you are disagreeing to what is basically medical fact. "Banging" will not make your pectoral muscle separate from bone. It simply doesn't happen. Unless Al Horford is mysteriously defending 2 guys with his arms spread open often, nothing basketball related leads to a torn pec.

As a matter of fact, you can't find another example in the history of the NBA to support it. 3 have happened. EVER. NONE in NCAA Basketball history. Unless you think Al Horford is the first guy to play Center slightly undersized(and lets face it, Al Horford is slightly undersized as a Center) there is FAR more evidence that this injury had nothing to do with his playing "out of position".

The REALISTIC reason's Horford could have torn his pecs are horrible form on bench pressing, overworking himself in the weight room(if you want to argue this is because he is playing Center, go right ahead...this is the only route for your argument here) naturally weakened tendons(which it appears the doctors have ruled out), a previous undiagnosed tear or PED's.

But saying playing Center caused this injury is about as logical as saying him having a cavity is because he plays the center position. They are two separate issues that people are trying to lump into one. His late season issues with fatigue are an issue with him playing Center. His tearing his pec? No.

Does Al Horford need to play the PF? He sure seems to think so as well as his coaches, so sure. Did it have anything to do with his injury? Decades of medical evidence says no.

[Jamaaliver]

I disagree.

"Banging" will not make your pectoral muscle separate from bone. It simply doesn't happen.

Agreed. And neither does a simple, low impact play like 'getting his shot blocked and going for a loose ball'.

The REALISTIC reason's Horford could have torn his pecs are overworking himself in the weight room a previous undiagnosed tear or PED's.

Agree. These are all possibilities I've considered and heard others mention.

But given that this injury has occurred twice, the muscle has significant scar tissue and Horford isn't complete idiot and I don't think he's a cheater...I believe AL when he says that it's taken a toll on his body for most of the past decade.

I believe His coach. I believe the beat writers, analysts, scouts who've all mentioned several times for years that AL takes a beating in the post on the defensive end.

I think it comes down to one of these three things:

1. Al, though a lifetime athlete at the highest levels of competition, injures the muscles repeatedly because he does not know proper weightlifting techniques.

2. AL is a dirty cheater who uses PEDs.

or

3. AL, as he has stated for years, is getting beat up and his body is beginning to fall apart.