Can Al Horford become Karl Malone?

[Harry10]

Can Al Horford become Karl Malone, if Al is given 20 field goal attempts?

[Mufasa]

lol

[some_rand]

so, if hes given 20 attempts a game that will magically turn him into a top 3 power forward of all time?...i just dont see it

[Lue_4_MVP]

I already cringe when he's getting 10 attempts a game. No offense to Al but his post game needs a lot of work.

Also he doesn't have someone like John Stockton feeding him.

[tontoz]

Malone averaged 15 as a rookie and 21 in his second year. Horford is a lot closer to Reggie Evans than Karl Malone.

[killbuckner]

I still can't believe people are trying to compare Horford to Malone. Malone WORKED poor defensive players. Horford just hasn't shown any ability to exploit a mismatch in a half court set.

[Jamaaliver]

Horford is highly regarded across the league as a young up and comer. He is strong, fundamentally sound, consistent. At PF, Horoford will be unmatched in a very short time.

Just as soon as he becomes the first (or ideally second) option on offense and he gets a REAL center to protect him, AL will be dominant for the next decade. But NOT as a center.

So, yes. Al CAN be Malone. Horford is the most important of our young draftees. The most talented player EVER drafted by ATL.

Except maybe Cal Bowdler.

[Jamaaliver]

Horford has gotten at least 10 Field Goal Attempts in only two games this year.
In those games he's averaging 19.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG while shooting 50% from the field.

In the other 7 games Horford is averaging only 7 Field goal attempts and 8PPG with 8RPG on 42% shooting.

FEED THE BIG MAN

And he will produce!!!!!!!!!!

I repeat, when AL gets at least 10 shots up in a game, he's averaging 20ppg and 11rpg.

[JoshB914]

Wow....

[tontoz]

Horford has gotten at least 10 Field Goal Attempts in only two games this year.
In those games he's averaging 19.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG while shooting 50% from the field.

In the other 7 games Horford is averaging only 7 Field goal attempts and 8PPG with 8RPG on 42% shooting.

FEED THE BIG MAN

And he will produce!!!!!!!!!!

I repeat, when AL gets at least 10 shots up in a game, he's averaging 20ppg and 11rpg.

That is ridiculous. The stats are completely skewed by the Chicago game and their Bust Brothers front line of Noah/Tyrus.

Horford just hasn't produced so far and he won't until he stops trying to back down bigger guys.

[Jamaaliver]

Horford wouldn't ALWAYS have to back down bigger guys if he had a REAL center and wasn't a part of our ridiculously small frontcourt.

Name one player on our team who could produce offensively on only 7 shots a game.

How effective would Joe or Smoove be with only 7 shots a game. Less than 2 shots a quarter.

[killbuckner]

Jamaaliver- Horford doesn't have the ability to break down weak defenders to create his own shot. His shots mostly come in transition and off of a drive and dish from another player.

And Maybe he would have more capability against PF's as opposed to centers. But even against at team like the Nets with a decimated front line Horford just isn't the kind of player you can force the ball into.

[Jamaaliver]

I guess we'll have to just agree to disagree. But if I have a matchup of Horford versus Yi one on one or Horford versus Brook Lopez one on one.........I'll take Horford everytime. (new Jersey's inferior frontcourt)

Let's just hope Woody lets AL loose against Rasho and Troy Murphy on Tuesday night. (Indy's inferior frontcourt.)

[tontoz]

Horford wouldn't ALWAYS have to back down bigger guys if he had a REAL center and wasn't a part of our ridiculously small frontcourt.

Name one player on our team who could produce offensively on only 7 shots a game.

How effective would Joe or Smoove be with only 7 shots a game. Less than 2 shots a quarter.

That makes no sense at all. Horford tries to back guys down because he chooses to. Period.

why do you think the opposing center guards Horford instead of Smith? Because they know Smith would blow right past a big center like Big Z or Bogut. That is how Amare does his scoring. You don't see him trying to back guys down.

Last year Horford got pulled against Cleveland when Big Z was abusing him and the Hawks put Smith at center. After Smith blew past Big Z for scores on consecutive possessions Big Z got pulled out of the game.

You are just making excuses. Horford doesn't produce when he gets the ball that is why he doesn't get more opportunities. If he actually did something with it other than hold it for 5 seconds, clumsily try to back someone down and throw up an off balance shot then he would get more looks.

It is always someone else's fault with Horford. Somehow he is never to blame.

[parson]

Horford shot better (.499% to .496) and rebounded better (9.7 to 8.8) than Malone in a comparison of their rookie seasons.

The biggest difference in the 2 is that Malone had John Stockton and you REALLY cannot underestimate the value of that.

I don't understand the level of hatred for Horford. All the guy does is work like a dog. He doesn't play with an ego; he doesn't whine; all he does is work. Al Horford with a jump shot and a PG would be dangerous and his critics need to acknowledge that.

You want excuses? Try this 'un: he played center in HS; he played center in college and he played center last season for us in the pros. He's only playing PF for us because of Smoove's injury. He has almost zero PF experience.

[killbuckner]

I just have no idea what you guys are watching where you think that Horford has shown the ability to attack a weak defender 1 on 1 and exploit it. He just isn't that kind of offensive player. He is a defense/rebounding forward who can score in transition but doesn't create his own shot. And there is nothing wrong with that.

[tontoz]

Horford shot better (.499% to .496) and rebounded better (9.7 to 8.8) than Malone in a comparison of their rookie seasons.

The biggest difference in the 2 is that Malone had John Stockton and you REALLY cannot underestimate the value of that.

I don't understand the level of hatred for Horford. All the guy does is work like a dog. He doesn't play with an ego; he doesn't whine; all he does is work. Al Horford with a jump shot and a PG would be dangerous and his critics need to acknowledge that.

You want excuses? Try this 'un: he played center in HS; he played center in college and he played center last season for us in the pros. He's only playing PF for us because of Smoove's injury. He has almost zero PF experience.

LOL @ shooting .3% better.

Stating a fact isn't hating. The fact is that Horford's scoring is subpar so far.

Marvin has been playing PF a lot since Smith went out. What position do you think Horford was playing last game?

If you think the biggest difference between Malone and Horford is stockon all i can do is laugh. Malone was scoring on 15-20 foot jumpers that Stockton had nothing to do with. Stockon didn't give Malone the strength to overpower people like he did.

Horford hasn't scored at the 5 or the 4. A scorer will score regardless of where he plays. Playing center or pf didn't make much difference to Amare or Bosh, both of whom scored twice as much as Horford at both positions.

[LL Cool Scott]

Jamaaliver - remember when you used to make the exact same arguments about Shelden Williams? How'd that turn out?

I think Horford is a great young talent, and he should be given the ball a little more often. And you're right that he'll flourish as a 4 once we get a real 5 on this roster. However, he is not even in the same GALAXY as Karl Malone. And he never will be. He'll be an all-star eventually, but he's a lot closer to a Buck Williams type of player than a Karl Malone type of player. He needs a LOT of work on his back to the basket game.

[Jamaaliver]

lol Yeah I do remember the Shelden argument I used to wage.

And I maintain that as I do now, if Horford was made the focal point on offense.......he'd KILL.

[Rip2137]

People don't pay attention to how Karl Malone scored. He had a deadly almost never miss midrange shot and they ran the pick and roll with him. Oh, and he played with one of the greatest pure point guards of all time who basically always put the ball right where it needs to be.

One on one, or back to the basket, Malone wasn't THAT great. He had a tough to guard fade away, but besides that he was a product of a system and his skill set fit it perfectly.

That said, Horford doesn't have the natural stroke of Malone, doesn't finish as well, and there ain't a stockton out there for him to play with. no, he can't become a Karl Malone. Dirk Nowinski had a better chance at being a Karl Malone...yeah...Dirk...

And another thing...this whole "Horford will be better when we get a real 5". Would anyone please suggest how that would actually work? I mean, if we get a 5 that isn't that great offensively then the other team will put their best and biggest defensive big on Horford just like they do now. If the 5 can score well with his back to the basket, why the hell would we go to al? Why not go to the legit 5 in the post?

Al horford being the PF has no bearing on how the other team plays D on him.