Al Horford takes a U-turn; excepts to be back for Atlanta Hawks in the Playoffs – NBA Update
Atlanta Hawks Center Al Horford has said that he will be back come the playoffs. Horford has not played for the Hawks since January 11, when he tore his pectoral muscle. Initially, the centre said that he will likely be out for
the remainder of the season including the playoffs, but now he has said that he will back after having consulted with his doctor.
“The Doctor gave me the OK. I'm feeling pretty good about it now. He just said, 'You're going to be limited. That's all. You can go out there and play limited time.' That's kind of why I'm back in there” said Horford.
Horford is quite excited about his comeback but will have to play limited minutes for his team to ensure his injury doesn’t worsen. He believes that he will be able to give contributions offensively, but is not sure how much of
an effort he can make on the defensive end.
"It remains to be seen what I can bring. But I hope to bring some scoring. They can't expect a lot from me defensively because it's been a while since I've even played. That's one of the things that will hold me back, but scoring
I can help. And also with presence with the team in general” said Horford.
The news comes as a pleasant surprise for Atlanta Hawks as they prepare to start the playoffs. Atlanta will play against the Boston Celtics in the 1st round and Horford will be a welcome addition to their team as they
can use all the help they can get in order to defeat the mighty Celtics team.
Last season, Horford averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1 block per game. He also had 3.5 assists and a free throw percentage 79.85 to go with those stats. This season, he has only played 11 games, and is averaging 12.4 points
and 7 rebounds per game. But, he has been a successful center for the Hawks team and will be a key component in their offensive and defensive strategies.
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Horford also has his eyes set on representing his team in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying tournament to be played in Venezuela from July 2nd to 8th. It is good news
to heat that he will be back to play for his home country as the Olympics are once in a life time opportunity and it is every athlete’s dream to play for the country in the Olympics.
The lockout shortened season has seen many players being sidelined with injuries, some for the whole season. In such circumstances, it is good to see a player having made the recovery in time to play in the playoffs since it is
good for the players and the league for them to play in the competitive, intense and pressurizing atmosphere of the playoffs.
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