“Playing out of the position can be difficult to reach certain goals,” noted Horford.
He was unsure, even going into his second season, that staying at the center position was going to benefit him in terms of statistics and efficiency.
After Horford’s rookie season, GMs changed, with Rick Sund replacing Billy Knight. Sund, however, firmly believes that Horford can be a difference maker–at center—and set about, with the help of his head coach, in convincing the willing big man that he can achieve his goals–even at center.
“Talking with GM Rick Sund and Coach Woodson they always had confidence that I could play in this position and be an all star,” confirmed Horford.
Horford has excelled, though he routinely gives ground in height and weight most every night out. Still, in Atlanta’s uber switching defense, Horford just as readily defends guards as centers. His quick feet and lower body power helps him on defense, but Al still is troubled by going up against taller, longer players when he gets the ball offensively.
Horford agrees: “No question—but I feel like I have gotten better playing them taller guys—there’s still a size disadvantage but I feel I try to use my size and quickness little things that those guys aren’t able to do.”
via The Human Highlight Blog: THHB Conversation With: Al Horford.
We over-complicate things. At least I do. So and so’s size can’t match up with so and so. This guy can’t get separation on that guy. This guy doesn’t have that killer instinct. But at the end of the day, it’s basketball, man. I mean, it’s a game that involves putting the little round thing in the other round thing.
Al Horford’s kind of a mystery this season. He was selected as an All-Star, which most people question because Josh Smith has been so outright spectacular. People still consider him too small to play the position, even though he regularly gets the job done. From my limited experience in talking to players, I can tell you Horford was one of the smartest I talked to. And when you watch him work the glass, you can see why. Horford does all the little things that Ben Wallace talks about in “Art of a Beautiful Game” by Ballard. The tap on the guy’s hip then flip to the other side. The burst out to the elbow on three pointers (longer trajectory means a longer rebound). And other than that, he just always manages to outmaneuver his guy. Horford’s All-Star position isn’t wrong. It’s just prescient.
