Atlanta's Horford Not Expcted to Play in Playoffs

[lightspeed5]

Thoughts

[Bankshot]

I hope the Celtics step on their throats and don't play down to the competition thinking it would be easy without Horford.  Remember 2008 against Atlanta?

[dtrader]

I think it would be a mistake to not gameplan for his presence.  He may well miss the playoffs, but it wouldn't give Atlanta any advantage to let us know he'd be ready.  Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

[Marcus13]

Definitely a blessing.  No real excuse to lose to Atlanta unless Ray has to sit out

[Who]

Never expected Horford to play. Not a surprise he won't play.

[jgod213]

I think it would be a mistake to not gameplan for his presence.  He may well miss the playoffs, but it wouldn't give Atlanta any advantage to let us know he'd be ready.  Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

Has he even been able to shoot a basketball since January? He's been dealing with setbacks and slow rehab with a torn pectoral muscle, he wouldn't be much of an impact due to that and lack of game conditioning if he was even able to suit up.  Not a concern.

I'm more concerned about gameplanning around the JJ/Bradley matchup.  JJ gained some good confidence in that last matchup (at least on the offensive end).

[Kane3387]

We should sweep this team, but likely won't. I am not worried about Atlanta at all unless we have a key injury. If that happens then we have no chance at 18 anyways.

Honestly I just want to see Orlando beat Charlotte so Miami plays NY.

It's ironic that if the seeding ends as it presently is then both Miami and Chicago have by far the more difficult first round series then either Indiana (vs Orlando) or Boston (vs Atlanta).

[Fafnir]

Kane3387 why do you say we should sweep this team?

They've been playing very well late in the year just like the C's and also sport an effective defense.

So far the games have been what 2 points, 2 points (OT), and 5 points, all close.

I think the C's should win the series but I don't expect a sweep. I also disagree with you on Miami/Chicago, the Hawks are a more challenging team than Philly/New York. Only the Pacers draw an easy opponent (in all likelyhood) but that's due to Howard's injury only.

[2short]

I'm glad he isn't going to be able to play against us (but would love him in green!)

[jambr380]

I never thought there was a chance he was playing. It would have been pretty devastating news to hear he was.

[Tai]

Umm....

http://www.sulia.com/source/S-6707711/

Marc J. Spears

    Al Horford changes mind telling Yahoo! he will return to action in limited fashion 4/26 vs DAL after doc meeting. The Hawks forward-center told Y! Sports in the morning he didn't expect to return from the postseason due to pectoral injury suffered earlier this season. But doctor told him some pectoral weakness is normal and not to be fearful of it, which led Horford to changing his mind and becoming more confident for return. He will play about 15 minutes per game in 1st round.

Soooo hold the phone. We may have to deal with Horford, after all.

[SHAQATTACK]

We should sweep this team, but likely won't. I am not worried about Atlanta at all unless we have a key injury. If that happens then we have no chance at 18 anyways.

Honestly I just want to see Orlando beat Charlotte so Miami plays NY

Lord yes...it would be a great series for the CHEAT to endure  and a really great time for us to watch them beat the crap out of each other...LOL

[action781]

I know we've been playing Garnett mostly at C lately, but I think running with a front court of KG at PF and Steimsma at C for a good amount of minutes would be very difficult for Atlanta to match up against us with, both offensively and defensively.

KG can guard Smith much better than Bass can while Steimsma can play about the same type of C defense we'd need from whoever is guarding the Atlanta center (Collins or Zaza).  Steimsma could give us comparable, while slightly inferior, help defense.

The idea of Smith trying to guard KG with the way KG has been focused on pounding it down low lately is very appealing to me as well.  I'd much rather Smith be guarding KG than Collins (a better post defender).  Would ATL put Smith on Steimsma regardless?  I wonder.

[thestackshow]

Definitely a blessing.  No real excuse to lose to Atlanta unless Ray has to sit out

To be honest we should sweep the hawks even if Ray has to sit out, which they might very well do if his ankle isnt 100%. I say sit him until the 2nd round. Ray disappears for at least one series every year, maybe we can avoid that by just sitting him against the hawks.

[letsgoblue86]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--al-horford-changes-gloomy-playoff-prognosis-after-meeting-with-doctor.html;_ylt=AlTby.eJwKN_EH_f4hwqY3u8vLYF

"Not so fast my friend!" - Lee Corso