Posts tagged Al Horford at FanHouse

"Watch what Paul does when he's introduced. He's done it for every game," said Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge. "That's not anything related to" gangs.

Before last night's game, Ainge sought out commissioner David Stern in the press room and the two engaged in an animated discussion. Ainge was clearly seen trying to demonstrate the blood, sweat and tears sign that Pierce makes when he is introduced before games.

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce and Washington Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson have each been fined $25,000 for making menacing gestures during games played this weekend, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident involving Pierce occurred in the fourth period of the Celtics' 102-93 Game 3 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on April 26. The incident involving Stevenson occurred in the first period of the Wizards' 100-97 Game 4 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 27.

We've handed out almost all of the hardware, and we're now down to our final end of the year award, the Rookie of the Year. This one was a two-man race, with one of the candidates finishing as the clear cut winner. Here's how our experts' vote turned out:

1. Kevin Durant
2. Al Horford
3. Luis Scola

Durant took home three of the four first lace votes, while Al Horford picked up one himself. The argument for Horford over Durant goes something like this: hey, Durant had a nice season, but the Sonics weren't going anywhere (um, at least in the standings) so what does it matter? Without Horford, the Hawks might not have made the playoffs. I get that, but it's not like the Hawks had a great season or anything; at 37-44 they just barely got in over the woeful Pacers.

Luis Scola was named on three of the four ballots, and the Clippers' Al Thornton was the final player that made the conversation. While Scola has been a stud this season, the fact that he's like 40 years old (okay, 27) makes it hard for me to consider him for this award, even though it is his rookie season in the NBA. But enough of this talk of second and third place: this award is clearly Kevin Durant's. With 20+ points per game and fearless, clutch shooting when the game's on the line, Durant made it clear that he's the real deal, and did so in just his first season.

Previously at FanHouse:

Who Is the NBA's Coach of the Year?
Who Is the NBA's Best Defensive Player?
Who Is the NBA's MVP?
Who Is the NBA's Best Sixth Man?
Who Is the NBA's Most Improved Player?

Hey, so remember that play at the end of Toronto's loss in Atlanta, where the clock appeared to start early, thus negating T.J. Ford's game winner? Of course you do. Well, the feeling at the time was that this was simply another scorer's table screw-up by the crew in Atlanta, of which there have been many.

But wait: I've got information man! New [stuff] has come to light! If you believe Atlanta's Al Horford, the crew may have actually gotten this one right.

Horford insists that any clock-related controversy surrounding T.J. Ford's potential game-winning layup at the end of regulation is much ado about nothing.

"I was trying to time it and I was so caught up in the moment that it didn't register until this morning, but I touched that ball," Horford told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday. "I reached out and tried to swat [the inbounds pass] away, but it was a great pass and I was only able to get my fingertips on the ball."

"The referee made a judgment that the ball was tipped by Al Horford on the inbounds pass, and that's why he started the clock," [NBA spokesman] Frank said.

So there you have it: the ball was tipped, the clock was started, and the basket was negated, as it should have been. Case closed. And if by chance you're a Raptors fan that's feeling that Horford may not be the most credible source in this situation, here are a few really good reasons that you should just let it go, man.

Last year's March Madness ended with Florida beating Ohio State for the national championship. Maybe they can face off in the N.I.T. instead.

The mass exodus of Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Al Horford have turned the Gators and Buckeyes into viewers of the NCAA tournament instead of participants.

That hasn't happened since 1980 ... which was also due to an exodus of sorts. After meeting in the championship game in 1979, Michigan State and Indiana State failed to make the '80 tourney. Maybe that had something to do with ISU's Larry Bird winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year while MSU's Magic Johnson was winning the NBA championship for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Florida became the first defending champion to miss the tournament since Kansas in 1989. The Jayhawks were banned from postseason play that season and couldn't defend their title.

Read FanHouse previews for all teams actually in the NCAA Tournament.