Will Al Horford be an All Star starter in 2013?

[dtown8]

Will Al Horford be the All Star starting Center for the East in 2013?

[Rip2137]

no. Dwight Howard will be.

As much as people will hate him for his babying around this offseason, he will still get the fan vote, even if he is slow to come back from Back surgury.

If the Knicks or Nets get off to a fast start, Chandler or Lopez could steal the starting spot.

But i don't see how Howard isn't the starter.

[DirtybirdGA]

That would be something if the dwightmare causes the voting margin to slim down, lol. I kinda hope Al and others ball out just for that.

[Rip2137]

People hated Lebron alot more and he still started.

[dtown8]

People hated Lebron alot more and he still started.

it is not just the popularity factor.... Horford's points per game might go up with no more Joe, and as you stated, Dwight injury.

i don't think it will happen, because i think that the international vote of the casual fan will go to Dwight because they don't fully understand everything that is happening, but their might be a 9% chance for Horford.

[Rip2137]

Its always the popularity factor when it comes ot the starter and nothing else. There is a reason Iverson, Tmac, Hill and Hardaway all were Allstar starters in seasons they barely played the first half of the season.

[GrimeyKidd]

As a power forward i think he can be an all star

[Rip2137]

I still wish someone would explain this logic. (by they way, he is a allstar right now at the 5).

Horford is major problem at the 5 because of his quickness over opposing C's, his abilty to hit that midrange jumper that pulls opposing 5's away from the boards and outrunning opposing Centers down the court.

Right now the more athletic big defends Smith because he is everything that Al is of a mismatch at the 4 on offense. So why in gods name do people think Al being guarded by quicker, more atheltic bigs would make him BETTER.

His Post game isn't bad becuase he is undersized. Its bad because its mechanical and bad.

[GrimeyKidd]

I still wish someone would explain this logic. (by they way, he is a allstar right now at the 5).

Horford is major problem at the 5 because of his quickness over opposing C's, his abilty to hit that midrange jumper that pulls opposing 5's away from the boards and outrunning opposing Centers down the court.

Right now the more athletic big defends Smith because he is everything that Al is of a mismatch at the 4 on offense. So why in gods name do people think Al being guarded by quicker, more atheltic bigs would make him BETTER.

His Post game isn't bad becuase he is undersized. Its bad because its mechanical and bad.

Horford is pretty strong and quick himself i think he would do just fine at 4 . I just wish we had a more natural 5 so we can stop playing people out of position

[Geaux_Hawks]

I still wish someone would explain this logic. (by they way, he is a allstar right now at the 5).

Horford is major problem at the 5 because of his quickness over opposing C's, his abilty to hit that midrange jumper that pulls opposing 5's away from the boards and outrunning opposing Centers down the court.

Right now the more athletic big defends Smith because he is everything that Al is of a mismatch at the 4 on offense. So why in gods name do people think Al being guarded by quicker, more atheltic bigs would make him BETTER.

His Post game isn't bad becuase he is undersized. Its bad because its mechanical and bad.

+10. Lopez, Chandler, or Hibbert will make it over Horford. I wouldn't count Monroe out either if the Pistons are winning consistently and Monroe is leading them. Al has had the luxury of playing on a playoff team and having a lack of 5s in the East, but his fortunes are running out..

[Jamaaliver]

I don't believe there's any chance Horford starts in the ALL Star game unless he scores 20 ppg.

Horford nor the Hawks get enough publicity for voters.

He'll have trouble making it as a backup also now that Hibbert and Chandler have raised their profiles.

[dtown8]

I don't believe there's any chance Horford starts in the ALL Star game unless he scores 20 ppg.

Horford nor the Hawks get enough publicity for voters.

He'll have trouble making it as a backup also now that Hibbert and Chandler have raised their profiles.

LOL at Jamaaliver, Hibbert and Chandler won't come close to 16/10 next year. the only person i'm worried about is Greg Monroe, he put up 15/10 last year.

[Jamaaliver]

That's not to say that Chandler or Hibbert will be more deserving, but:

Chandler is a World Champion who won Defensive Player of the Year last season. He also plays in the biggest city in the world. His team will contend for a playoff spot next season.

Hibbert was an All-Star last year. Played on one of the top 3 teams in East and was the biggest name on the Free Agent market at his position.

Hell, even Brook Lopez has the advantage of being in Brooklyn next to Deron Williams and will be on Sportscenter constantly as part of Dwightmare 2013.

Horford plays for the Hawks and missed most of last season.

Most fans around the league forget we even have a team. And starters are picked by the fans.

[Jamaaliver]

LOL at Jamaaliver, Hibbert and Chandler won't come close to 16/10 next year. the only person i'm worried about is Greg Monroe, he put up 15/10 last year.

Yes regarding Greg Monroe. But Roy Hibbert averaged only 13/9 last year. Yet was recognized as an All Star while Greg Monroe sat home.

Being on one of the top teams accounts for something with players, fans and coaches. We will likely be in a rebuilding year.

[MaceCase]

Only way he starts is the same way Joe started....because someone is injured/pulled out.

I don't see how his status as a reserve is in doubt though. His raw stats are comparable to all of these "emerging" bigs, coaches still love him and he gets the biggest boost of all of being a repeat All Star because we especially know that coaches tend to vote on previous history so I don't see how he'd get passed over by a Hibbert or Lopez unless they are dropping easily distinguishably better stats....... Which is doubtful considering that by simple deduction, Al's role will increase with Joe gone and the Hawks are still a playoff team.

Although he faltered in the last rounds that was punctuated by the nationally televised beat down by team USA where he only managed 7,7 and 4, he was still 6th in points, 4th in rebounds and 19th in assists at the FIBA tournament with averages of 18, 9.8, and 3.2 on 53% shooting. Those numbers aren't far off from what he averaged in his last full season (15, 9.3, 3.5 on 56% shooting) so spot him the extra points, subtract some efficiency but those still blow out the water anything these other centers have done thus far.

[Geaux_Hawks]

If we are switching the subject to having a reserve spot, I say its debatable. Bosh, KG, & Nene will battle for the PF spot.

As gas centers go; Chandler is more popular, Hibbert plays for a top team, and Lopez is emerging as well. Monroe is a sleeper as well if Detroit jumps out the gate and can maintain while Monroe is being very productive. Monroe could double as a PF too. We forget about Noah as well. If Chicago is at least .500, and Noah is averaging a double double, then I could see him getting fan votes. Horford has to be a 20-10 big, and have the Hawks winning for him to get in as a reserve.

[MaceCase]

Why exactly does Horford have to be 20 and 10 when not a single one of those other guys have sniffed close to that amount? The Hawks haven't exactly fallen off the playoff radar so I'm not getting why Horf has to reach a higher standard than other East Cs to reimpress coaches for a reserve selection. Fans don't vote on reserves, coaches do, yet I'm getting the sense that people think Horf wasn't worthy of his selections when he put up greater stats both years than these "emerging" guys. Hibbert made it with 13 and 9 yet Al is the one who has been a beneficiary of a weak East C crop? Okay.

[Yungsta404]

no way he isnt nearly popular enough. tyson chandler will get a all star starting spot before him.

[dtown8]

everybody loves Horford, but even the super Horford fans will agree that his back to the basket moves are not elite.

that killer mid range jump shot of Horford has been great, but has been used as a bail out for Joe and Josh for the last few years.

with Joe gone now, i hope that Horford puts that jump shot on a quick trigger and looks more to shoot rather than being so passive. i don't think Horford has it in him to be a ball hog like Bosh or Joe, even though i think Horford's jump shot is better or same as Bosh, but i think if he can average 20/10 in the first month, he can sustain it for the rest of the season, barring an injury.

[Ruhiel]

no way he isnt nearly popular enough. tyson chandler will get a all star starting spot before him.

guess people are writing Dwight off already.