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• Learn More • Log Out of Facebook • Remove Experience Shots for Al Horford equal success for the Atlanta Hawks

Published Saturday, Nov 24, 2012 at 7:09 pm EST DeAntae Prince Sporting News View Comments Join the conversation

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While the offseason trade of Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets meant the end of the “Core Four ,” it did not mean the end of success for the Atlanta Hawks. One major reason for the team’s continued solid play is the return of Al Horford, who has taken on a bigger role since Johnson ’s departure.

For the Hawks, the formula is simple: Get shots for Horford and see wins. Atlanta (7 -4) has won every game in which Horford has totaled 15 or more points. He averages 11.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in three losses, while his numbers jump to 18.5 points and 10.2 rebounds in seven wins. The Hawks suffered a fourth loss, to Golden State, without Horford in the lineup.

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Al Horford has played well for the Atlanta Hawks after suiting up in only 11 games last season. (AP Photo)

The law of averages would suggest that Horford, one of a small batch of talented centers in the NBA, deserves elevated touches. Yet Horford averages fewer than nine shots in losses and hoists the ball 15 times per game in wins.

He is second in shot attempts for Atlanta, almost a full three shots behind Josh Smith, but Horford continues to lead Hawks in points (16.5) and rebounds (9.3) after playing only 11 games last season because of a pectoral injury. Without him last season, the Hawks revolved around Johnson, Smith and Marvin Williams for one last time.

The group was broken up this offseason when new Atlanta general manager Danny Ferry dealt Johnson to the Nets and moved Williams to Utah. In their place, he added scorer Lou Williams, shooter Kyle Korver and defender DeShawn Stevenson.

Notice the adjective “distributor” is missing from that list. Just as they did before their recent moves, the Hawks have plenty of shoot-first players and very few playmakers. Jeff Teague runs the offense and accounts for an impressive 6.9 assists per game, but there’s no real backup point guard. Smith is a good passer, but his 3.5 turnovers negate his 3.6 assists.

With few true centers to challenge him, a player of Horford’s level demands attempts at the rim. That rationale is knocked down by the fact that Horford’s usage percentage (20.23) is lower than lesser players like Spencer Hawes and DeJaun Blair, according to Hoopdata, a theme that also affects Atlanta’s efficiency in the few avenues through which big men are known to score points.

Post-up play accounts for 9.8 percent of its offense and 0.761 points per possession are converted on the block, a below-average rate, according to Synergy Sports. Pick-and-rolls account for 24.3 percent of the Hawks’ offense with passes, but Atlanta’s conversion rate is only 0.845, also below average.

Horford’s best performances have come against teams with quality bigs and teams with slow-it-down styles, even though Atlanta is best in transition. Matchups with Kendrick Perkins, Roy Hibbert and DeMarcus Cousins have brought out the best in Horford.

He put up 23 points and nine rebounds against the Thunder (Perkins), registered 16 and nine against the Pacers (Hibbert) and charted 20 and 10 against the Kings (Cousins), all while averaging a block per game and maintaining his reputation for doing the little things.

« OLDER Andrew Bynum injury update: Sixers center out indefinitely with right knee injury NEWER » Sixers C Andrew Bynum out indefinitely

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