Shareef was also an all-star if I'm not mistaken. I don't think Horford was as prolific in college as Brand or Boozer was, but if he's a notch below them scoring-wise but productive as a rebounder and defense then I don't think Atlanta will be all too upset. Horford is actually Atlanta's first true legit post player since Shareef.
Boozer was a terrific college player, but nobody thought he'd be nearly this good in the pro's, and as a prospect, he was certainly much less thought of than Horford. Not that it's necessarily true, but I think some people look at Horford's stats, and aren't impressed, and ask themselves how he was a top three selection. You have to remember, he played on an incredibly unselfish and balanced Florida team the past two seasons. Nobody on that team put up eye popping stats. Horford has the skill set and work ethic to be a really good pro. Whether or not he becomes one is yet to be seen, but I'm confident in his abilities.
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Taurean Green, Lee Humphrey, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, Al Hoford: The ONLY starting 5 to ever repeat as National Champions. We'll miss you guys... good luck in the league.
It's not just that he didn't put up the stats, it's that he didn't stand out. I never watched him and said to myself "now THAT'S a guy who will dominate the NBA". When I watched Dwight in high school I was saying that every two seconds. I'm a big Noah fan, I'm a Brewer fan, but I just don't think Horford is as good as some people make him out to be.
Draft time is great because everyone is so optimistic, but if you think realistically the odds are against him being an All-Star even once. A perfect example of a guy who understands the reality of rookies, and I can't believe I'm saying this, is Billy Knight, when he was asked about Law's contribution in the coming year and if he would start. The Hawks don't have a point guard, but Knight said "well, I don't know if he'll start." Yes, Al Horford CAN be an All-Star, but he's not there yet, and the odds are against him.
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Trevon Hughes is better than you. Yeah you, the person reading this.
Let me say this again.. Shareef Abdur-Rahim was an all-star
When did making the all-star team cement your status as a good player? Lots of players make all-star teams. Quit talking like it's making the HOF, it's not that huge of an honor. Lots of really good players have never made all star games
Now that we know where everyone is going, I think it's safe to say Horford will be the best rookie in the East. The only guy I see giving him a run for his money may be Nick Young. In my opinion Durant is the clear favorite for ROY with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis headed elsewhere, there's no reason he won't average 20+ ppg. Horford and Oden will have the best rookie seasons after Durant.
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About the Cavs greatness:
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Originally Posted by HB
They'll also sweep whatever team they meet in the ECF. They are that good
After about 15 minutes of Game 1 of the conference finals:
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Can someone please tell hobojoe to change his signature before he gets embarassed
I never got the big hype over Al Horford. The guy just screams SOLID. Not star. I think he will turn out to be the 3rd best of the three Gators taken. Never got why Horford was seen as that #3 prospect, above Noah, who I felt was better in college, that shoulder injury effected his play a bit, but from his sophomore season, I think its clear that Noah was the better player of the two. Better shotblocker, passer, better overall defender, and an equal rebounder to Horford. Both Noah and Horford will just be role players, but Noah will be the much better role player, especially in Chicago, where a vocal leader (which Noah is), is needed. Most of the love seems to be that Horford has the ideal body for a powerforward, and the ideal skillset...but his ability to use these, and dominate with them just isn't the player Horford is.
At #3 I think that Atlanta should have been picking a guy they can feel can be a future allstar/superstar. Conley Jr./Yi/Brandan Wright....Wright doesn't make sense based on their depth at small forward. Conley was the obvious pick here...but they still keep f'n up here, and don't take the stud point guard. Oh well. Horford is a bad fit for Atlanta as well. They don't have a good center, and Horford will probably have to play out of position since they'll want to play two of Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and J-Child in the starting lineup.
Ranking best rookies in the East, I'd rank them:
1. Yi Jianlian
2. Joakim Noah
3. Al Horford
4. Thaddeus Young
5. Sean Williams
West won the draft imho. Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Brandan Wright, Marco Belenelli, Conley Jr, Tiago Splitter, Rudy Fernandez all going out West is a complete coup of this draft.
The East has to depend on one of the wings breaking out and being a star (the Youngs), the only potential superstar (Yi), the defensive stud (Sean Williams), Mr. Solid (Al Horford), and Uber Role Player (joakim noah).
Its a shame that so many GM's in the East are such idiots. Riley going after Cook at 20...yeah...this is a pure idiot GM here. Same guy that wanted to take Kaman over Wade. 76ers Jason Smith...Bobcats Jared Dudley, Knicks with Wilson Chandler. Fernandez, Splitter, and Tucker would have been much better in these picks.
Horford won't be an Oden, but I would be surprised if Noah passes him as a better pro. Noah was the better college player and got all the attention in college, I'm not sure where he fits in with the Bulls who need an offensive big which isn't Noah. Hes more of a hustle player who can get you rebounds
I expect Horford to be a beast. ROY? Who knows? I don't care much for awards or All-Star games and the like. They don't mean much of anything. I think Horford's got an excellent chance to be the kind of low post player you can build an offense around. And that matters a ton.
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Sign and Trade for Vince? Any takers... anyone at all...?
Were you guys seeing how Al jefferson was dominating? Horford has similar skillset and body type, I think he'll be a 18-20pts 8-11rbd, type of player.
The thing is that Al Horford has never shown the ability to be a dominant player. 19.0 PPG 12.0 RPG 3.0 BPG as a highschool senior.
Compare that to Al Jefferson's 42.6 PPG 18.0 RPG 7.0 BPG as a H.S. Senior.
Horford isn't even close in the dominance factor. If Horford is getting 20 points a game, I can't see the team being very good. He will be that solid powerforward playing next to a allstar big imho in his ideal situation.
The thing is that Al Horford has never shown the ability to be a dominant player. 19.0 PPG 12.0 RPG 3.0 BPG as a highschool senior.
Compare that to Al Jefferson's 42.6 PPG 18.0 RPG 7.0 BPG as a H.S. Senior.
Horford isn't even close in the dominance factor. If Horford is getting 20 points a game, I can't see the team being very good. He will be that solid powerforward playing next to a allstar big imho in his ideal situation.
That's just ridiculous!
(anyone know what the 'best' high school stats-line is?)
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Life, go easy on me
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How well is the Knicks Starters vs NBA Team Starters? 60%? 50%? 40%? or are we waiting to see by being optimistic because we have a new additional player in the Starting lineup that we assume Stat sheet record says he is better with this Knick roster than the guy he is replacing?
That's just ridiculous!
(anyone know what the 'best' high school stats-line is?)
It was in a weak, Mississippi high school league, most of the players he faced, weren't that great. Monta Ellis averaged like 45pts a game, in hig school, I think it might've been in Mississippi to. If Horford was playing his high school ball in Mississippi, he would put up similar numbers.
It was in a weak, Mississippi high school league, most of the players he faced, weren't that great. Monta Ellis averaged like 45pts a game, in hig school, I think it might've been in Mississippi to. If Horford was playing his high school ball in Mississippi, he would put up similar numbers.
Monta scored 42 points against Oak Hill...the #1 school in the nation is hardly weak competition.
Horford wouldn't have done what Jefferson did, because he simply isn't as good of a player as Jefferson, and isn't as dominant as Jefferson is.
Some players that dominated in HS don't always translate to pro success so I wouldn't focus all your attention on that.
EDIT: I'm not certain of the type of competition Horford played against in Michigan. Also I remember reading that he didn't start playing basketball in the Dominican Republic until recently.
Al Jefferson put up far better numbers than Greg Oden in high school, too. Doesn't make him a better prospect than Oden.
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Taurean Green, Lee Humphrey, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, Al Hoford: The ONLY starting 5 to ever repeat as National Champions. We'll miss you guys... good luck in the league.
Al Horford
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