Al Horford Decides Enough is Enough (Video)
By Max
Al Horford is Boss, Big Al, the Dominican Stallion, and now, the Decider. In a season where many have cast the Atlanta Hawks as a band of misfits that have somehow come together to win a lot of games, despite lacking a bonafide “superstar”, Al Horford is making critics eat their words. For those who follow the team closely, it’s long been accepted that Horford is by far the team’s best player.
The Atlanta Hawks only won 38 games last season, a season in which Big Al only played 29 games before suffering a pectoral injury. This year, they won 60. I doubt any sane basketball fan would attribute a 22 increase in wins to the off-season additions of Kent Bazemore, Thabo Sefolosha, and Mike Muscala. Sure the team’s success was partially influenced by players getting more comfortable in Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer’s scheme, but it’s pretty clear that the team goes as far as Horford will lead them.
When people talk about the Hawks lack of superstar power, they fail to remember that the Hawks feature a player that was a two time national champion in college, has made multiple All Star teams, and has been arguably the second best player in his draft class behind Kevin Durant. He has done nothing but improve in his eight seasons in the league. His combination of speed, shooting ability, and hustle are unparalleled, and make him easily one of the top 5 centers in the NBA.
However, unlike other flashier players, Horford typically does his work below the rim and outside the paint, making him something like an NBA unicorn for big men. It’s easy for the national media to overlook him when his typical highlight reel features a slew of post up moves and mid-range jumpers. But Horford is finally giving the world notice: he is here, and he is a force to be reckoned with.
“But he’s so undersized! There’s no way he can compete with bigger and stronger centers!” Oh really? Facing Washington’s front line, Horford has simply averaged 18 points, grabbed 10.4 rebounds, dished out 4.4 assists, blocked 2.4 shots, and garnered 1.2 steals, per game.
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He took his game to a new level on Wednesday night, posting a 23 point, 11 rebound, 2 assist, 5 block stat line, with no turnovers and only one foul. Long story short, Big Al said, we are not losing this game.
It’s no secret that Boss and Paul Pierce don’t like each other very much. This video, taken from the 2008 first round match up between Atlanta and Boston, apparently shot before the invention of HD, shows a much younger Horford taunting Pierce after hitting a jumper over the former Celtic.
On Wednesday night, Pierce was finally able to return the favor. Pierce buried a corner three with eight seconds left in the game, giving his team a one-point edge. Not only did he hit the shot, Pierce proceeded to strut around the arena with his chest out, declaring that the series was over.
Depending on the results of game 6 on Friday, Pierce might have been very, very right.
What’s the old saying about not counting your chickens before they hatch? Now, I don’t know if the bad blood between Horford and Pierce from 2008 was in the back of Al’s mind on the final play, or if it was just a case of feeling disrespected on your home court but one thing was obvious.
On the last play, after Dennis Schroder’s missed shot, Al Horford came in for the offensive rebound like a man possessed. It wasn’t a play of skill or positioning, Horford simply wanted it more. In one sweeping motion, he decided that he was tired of the national media not giving his team the respect they deserve. He’s tired of people saying that Atlanta doesn’t have a superstar. And most of all, he’s sick and tired of losing to a team who’s best player has one good hand and is relying on a 37-year-old man to bail them out of close games.
With that one offensive rebound and put back, the Decider has restored the glory and prestige of being the East’s number one seed. It is the same prestige that the Hawks have been fighting so desperately to lose for the past few months.
With a victory on Washington’s home court in game 6, Al Horford can silence all of the critics (and Paul Pierce) once and for all. He can lead his team to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1970, with only Chicago or Cleveland standing in the way of the NBA Finals. It’s a good deal of pressure resting on the shoulders of the Hawks unquestioned leader, but at this point, every game left is a high pressure situation.
This is the time where boys become men and legends are made. Buckle up Hawks fans, it’s going to be a wild ride.