Horford Gets Robbed Of NBA ROTY Award... Takes It Out On Boston

[gatorunvrsty]

After getting robbed of the Rookie Of The Year Award, Al Horford got a chance to show voters the error of their ways Friday by scoring 16 points (6 over his season average), grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and blocking 3 shots against Boston, and sending the series to an unlikely Game 7. Horford's numbers weren't far off those of longtime veteran superstar, Kevin Garnett, who had 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. Sadly, the series now goes to Boston; and the home team has won every game in the series.

Just the same, it's hard not to pull for the guys from Atlanta, after they've taken the best team in the NBA to 7 games. They're not even a .500 team on the season, but seem to really be coming together at the right time... pretty impressive stuff. I think they'll be trouble next season... if not even more trouble in this one.

[Gator2753]

All I can say is go Hawks. They are not playing like a typical NBA team. They are playing like a hungry, passionate NCAA team.
The exact same can be said of the Boston Celtics. Why cant all NBA games be this up tempo?

[Tennessee Ted]

I think Kevin Durant deserved it. He was the star on a horrid, horrid team yet managed to average close to 20 points. I knew he had to take 20 shots a game to get that, but he was the star of the team. Horford had a great year, but he had a nice assemblage of young talent around him, so he did not have to carry the team.

[gatorunvrsty]

I think Kevin Durant deserved it. He was the star on a horrid, horrid team yet managed to average close to 20 points. I knew he had to take 20 shots a game to get that, but he was the star of the team. Horford had a great year, but he had a nice assemblage of young talent around him, so he did not have to carry the team.

True, but I still think Horford was the better all-around player. He didn't average as many points; but he is definitely the more complete player at this stage, nearly averaging a double-double every game.

Horford
G MIN FGM-A FG% 3PM-A 3P% FTM-A FT% OFF DEF TOT STL BLK TO PF AST PTS
81 31.3 333-668 .498 0-5 .000 155-212 .731 3.1 6.6 9.7 .74 .94 1.69 3.30 1.5 10.1

Nearly 50% from the floor, .731 FT percentage, 10.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, .74 steals, and .94 blocks. And, he's only upped the ante in the playoffs, shooting 51.67% from the floor, .750 FT percentage, averaging 13.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and more than doubling his assists to 3.7 per.

Durant
G MIN FGM-A FG% 3PM-A 3P% FTM-A FT% OFF DEF TOT STL BLK TO PF AST PTS
80 34.6 587-1366 .430 59-205 .288 391-448 .873 0.9 3.5 4.4 .96 .94 2.90 1.53 2.4 20.3

Durant scores more points, but at the price of percentage. His FT shooting is better, but he has no business shooting 3's at all. And, he does dish out more assists. But, he's only an inch shorter than Horford, but has less than half as many rebounds per game, with less than one offensive rebound per game. Steals and blocks are about the same.

Oh, and Durant gets paid about a half mil more per year to do that.

[sheluvsbama]

Horford deserved the award. These things aren't always fair. This is a shining example of that. When I saw the stats, I couldn't understand why he lost. I thought it was rather obvious that he was the overall best, but as I said....things aren't always logical or fair.

[bigsexxxy]

This lovefest for the former Gator is getting a bit out of hand. There is no way that Horford deserved that award over Durant. Absolutely no freakin way.

[the Paradox]

Back to Reality Folks. Pierce and the Celtics bitch slapped the Hawks today.


RTR

[gatorunvrsty]

Back to Reality Folks. Pierce and the Celtics bitch slapped the Hawks today.


RTR

Maybe so, but they should have done that in 4 games... not 7. Horford and Smith were off bad today, scoring only 8 and 7 points, respectively; although Horford did still grab 12 rebounds.

That a 37-45 team took the NBA's winningest team, at 66-16, to 7 games is an upset all by itself. Watch out for the Hawks next season.

[Tennessee Ted]

If you look at the stats Horford definitely had a great season and nearly equal to Durant. I would pick Durant because he did what he did with absolutely no support. If you are an opposing team playing the Supersonics your primary offensive concern is Durant. That is how dreadful this team was. Their star is a sophomore in college.

The Hawks on the other hand have a nice compliment of talent to surround Horford. Horford probably did not see one double team the whole year. They were both very deserving, but I would vote for Durant based on what he did being the focal point of the opposing team's defense.

[the Paradox]

Maybe so, but they should have done that in 4 games... not 7. Horford and Smith were off bad today, scoring only 8 and 7 points, respectively; although Horford did still grab 12 rebounds.

That a 37-45 team took the NBA's winningest team, at 66-16, to 7 games is an upset all by itself. Watch out for the Hawks next season.

The Hawks should be better next season. It appears that a coach other than Woodson will be leading them however.



RTR

[volimhtown]

What an improbable series for the Hawks. Big kudos to them for what they accomplished this post-season. That was an amazing run.

With regards to the ROTY, Horford had a nice year and is a great role player, but no way is he even in the same class as Durrant. I really don't give a rats a$$ about individual awards, but how can you state that Horford was "robbed"?? Horford actually had some (minimal) talent around him where as Durrant did not; Horford was incredibly inconsistent from game to game where as Durrant got his pretty much at will regardless of the competition; finally and most importantly Durrant got his numbers playing against the MUCH stronger West where as Horford got his against the crappy East.
I mean, everyone's entitled to their opinions, but to claim that Horford is a "more complete" player than Durrant is plain lunacy and completely rediculous. Horford is a budding solid, slightly above average player for his position, but Durrant is a budding superstar that will be in an elite class for many, many years in the NBA.