Atlanta’s spirits took a huge dent, when the team and the fans learnt of Horford’s injury. The All Star center met with an injury that puts him on the bench for at least a couple of months. The Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford met with a gruesome shoulder injury that does seem quite ominous with the doctors’ initial verdict coming in. The doctors feel that given the state his shoulder is in, and the nature of the injury and its healing time, complete recovery would take around three months. The Hawks met with this predicament when Horford took a nasty blow damaging his pectoral muscle, during the first quarter in the Wednesday game at Indiana. The announcement came in late on Thursday, with the doctors passing on the verdict to the team. The Star would require a surgery to start off the healing process.
Al still seems to be in a bit of shock to learn of his present condition. He was quoted steaming off his frustration and surprise. He said, when he had got jammed trying to get a rebound against Roy Hilbert, he heard a ‘pop’ sound. He had surmised that the immediate shooting pain that he felt on his upper shoulder was going to put him in rehab for a couple of weeks, at the max. But, like everybody else, Al himself was shocked when he learnt he needs to sit out for several months before he can be deemed fit to get on the court again.
The Hawks, who had an average season last time, would be trying to lift their performance this time around, but with their two times All Star missing from action, this seriously is a setback for the Atlanta team. The star could also be sitting out for four months, which would be his rehabilitation would stretch right into the middle of the playoffs. This could spell doom for the Hawks, as the center replacements for Al, Zaza Pachulia and Jason Collins doesn’t seem capable of filling in Al’s shoes. The All Star is still undecided on his surgery, putting it off till he gets a second opinion.
The tragedy echoed in their coach Larry Drew’s voice, though he remained hopeful, counting on the team’s ability to mesh and jell together as a unit.
Whereas, the Star seemed to try and buoy the team’s spirit by saying that they need to “pick up the slack” and “raise their games” and Josh Smith and Joe Johnson would have to take up a much bigger role henceforth.
Josh Smith and Joe Johnson have a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders, with the playoffs just having kicked off. Josh mentioned that the “void” left by Al’s absence is a gaping one, and would take all of them to pitch in their best efforts to make a good performance on the court. Though it’s a big setback, but none seems to be counting out the Hawks, the team seems to be determined and rearing to go. There is sure to be some changes, in the lineup on the court and also on the basketball online live betting with Al not in the picture.
