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Page 1 of 17 • AOL • MAIL • You might also like: Huffington Post and More More Links ◦ HuffPost Sports ◦ HuffPost Travel ◦ Engadget ◦ Games.com ◦ HuffPost Comedy ◦ HuffPost Ent. ◦ MapQuest ◦ MovieFone ◦ TechCrunch • NFL • NCAAB • NBA • NCAAF • NO38 Den40 2nd/ 3:34 • Det100 NY121 Final • SA111 Tor106 Final • Por85 BK98 Final • Bos116 Orl110 Final • Pho101 Phi104 Final NBA Search • Home http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 2 of 17 • NFL ◦ NFL Home ◦ News ◦ Fantasy ◦ Video ◦ Scores ◦ Schedule ◦ Standings ◦ Statistics ◦ Teams ◦ Players ◦ Injuries ◦ NFL Tickets ◦ NFL Shop ◦ iPhone App ◦ Virtual Fan Cards • MLB ◦ MLB Home ◦ News ◦ Fantasy ◦ Video ◦ Scores ◦ Schedule ◦ Standings ◦ Statistics ◦ Teams ◦ Players ◦ Injuries ◦ Transactions ◦ Tickets ◦ MLB Shop ◦ FanDuel ◦ iPhone App ◦ Fantasy Newsletter ◦ Virtual Fan Cards • NBA ◦ NBA Home ◦ News ◦ Video ◦ Scores ◦ Schedule ◦ Standings ◦ Statistics ◦ Teams ◦ Players ◦ Injuries ◦ Transactions ◦ NBA Tickets ◦ NBA Shop ◦ FanDuel • NHL http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 3 of 17 ◦ NHL Home ◦ News ◦ Video ◦ Scores ◦ Schedule ◦ Standings ◦ Statistics ◦ Teams ◦ Players ◦ Injuries ◦ Transactions ◦ NHL Tickets ◦ NHL Shop ◦ FanDuel • NCAAF ◦ NCAAF Home ◦ News ◦ Video ◦ Scores ◦ Schedule ◦ Standings ◦ Polls ◦ Teams ◦ Recruiting ◦ NCAAF Tickets ◦ NCAAF Shop • NCAAB ◦ NCAAB Home ◦ News ◦ Video ◦ Scores ◦ Standings ◦ Polls ◦ Schedule ◦ Teams ◦ NCAAB Tickets ◦ NCAAB Shop • NASCAR ◦ NASCAR Home ◦ News ◦ Video ◦ Drivers ◦ Standings ◦ Schedule/Results ◦ NASCAR Illustrated ◦ NASCAR Shop ◦ NASCAR Tickets • SOCCER ◦ Soccer Home ◦ News ◦ MLS Scores http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 4 of 17 ◦ MLS Schedule ◦ MLS Standings ◦ MLS Stats ◦ MLS Clubs ◦ Soccer Shop ◦ Soccer Tickets • FANHOUSE • LINEMAKERS • BURST | • Tickets | • FANTASY ▾ ◦ Fantasy Home ◦ Bracket Insanity ◦ Fantasy Source Football ◦ Fantasy Source Baseball ◦ FanDuel Fantasy Leagues • SHOP ▾ ◦ NFL ◦ MLB ◦ NBA ◦ NHL ◦ NCAAF ◦ NCAAB ◦ NASCAR ◦ SOCCER • MORE ▾ ◦ Tickets ◦ Olympics ◦ Covers ◦ Yearbooks ◦ Inside Lacrosse ◦ Golf Digest ◦ Games ◦ My Account • NBA Home • News • Video • Scores • Schedule • Standings • Statistics • Teams • Players • Injuries http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 5 of 17 • Transactions • NBA Tickets • NBA Shop • FanDuel Experience Sporting News with your friends. Connect with Facebook and see what your friends are reading. Enable Social Reading ? Close Activity Shared to Timeline • 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 Text size A A A 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. http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 6 of 17 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 http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 7 of 17 Share Your Comment Recommended NBA Headlines Bobcats vs. Wizards: Charlotte matches win total from '11-12; Washington winless in '12-13 http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 8 of 17 Andrew Bynum injury update: Sixers center out indefinitely with right knee injury Detroit Pistons' late-game struggles could fall on Lawrence Frank Celtics vs. Thunder: Pierce leads Boston past OKC; Rondo posts 16 assists Boston Celtics facing early struggles on defense • Sports Illustrated • Popular • Friends • Huffpost Thunder beat 76ers in overtime • Can Sixers win without Bynum? • Parker, Spurs squeak by Raptors in double OT • Heat net final nine points to survive against Cavs • Hornets' Davis (ankle) to be out weeks longer • Big first quarter keys Lakers' first win on the road • Watch: Griffin's amazing block on Deron Williams • Rubio only 4 weeks from returning to T'wolves? • Daughter of Rockets' coach McHale dies at 23 • Bynum ruled out indefinitely after recent setback Minnesota Timberwolves are too white? Argument doesn't stack up • Mike Brown fired: Lakers coach relieved of duties after 1-4 start • For Israeli journalist Gilad Shalit, a long, tough road to the NBA Finals • Dan Roundfield, former Atlanta Hawks star, drowns in Aruba while saving wife • Derrick Rose cries at unveiling of new adidas shoes • Kevin McHale's daughter, Sasha, dies after battle with lupus http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 9 of 17 • Lakers new coach: Phil Jackson return to Los Angeles almost certain, according to report • Miami Heat, LeBron James claim NBA championship; James named MVP • Remembering Jack Twyman, the greatest teammate in the history of the NBA • Video: Kevin Durant gives fan a kiss after hitting her in face with ball • Dwyane Wade Twitter comments: 'We shouldn't be here' for game in New York 'CLIMATE FISCAL CLIFF' • More Republicans Abandon Grover Norquist's Anti-Tax Pledge • CEOs Who Collect Billions In Govt. Money Demand Cuts To Poor, Elderly • Egypt Clarifies President's Decree • Fox News Host Challenges John McCain On Taxes • Fiscal Cliff Talks Could Sideline Key Issue • Hezbollah Issues Warning To Israel • Sheriff Admits It Made Mistake In Casey Anthony Case • Lesbian Couple Taking Fight To Supreme Court • Activists: Air Raid Kills 10 Children Near Damascus http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 10 of 17 More NBA Headlines At least dysfunctional Lakers didn't bet future on Andrew Bynum Kevin McHale's daughter, Sasha, dies after battle with lupus • Shots for Al Horford equal success for the Atlanta Hawks • Knicks vs. Pistons: Anthony scores 29, New York ends losing streak at 2 games • Nets vs. Blazers: Johnson helps Nets beat Trail Blazers 98-85 • Watch: Harrison Barnes dunks on Nikola Pekovic in Warriors-Wolves game • Lakers vs. Mavericks: LA ends mini-skid with blowout of Mavs; first road win of season • Andrew Bynum injury update: Sixers center out indefinitely with right knee injury http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-11-24/al-horford-stats-atlanta-hawks-trade-jo... 11/25/2012 Page 11 of 17 Sporting News More From Huffington Post Media Group • National News • World News • Science News • Health News • Weird News • Entertainment News • Politics News • Business News • Tech News • Comedy • Games • Stock Quotes • Stock Market News • Investing • Small Business • Movie News The Huffington Post Sporting News • Site Map • FAQs • Feedback • Contact • Cancellation • Media Kit • American City Business Journals, Inc.