Never Mind the Playoffs … Here’s the Draft Lottery

The Hawks' MVP, from my perspective, is done for the majority of the 2011-2012 season. What does that mean for the Hawks?

Last night, in the first quarter of a game on the road against the Indiana Pacers, Al Horford tore his left pectoral muscle. He’s out for at least three months.

I don’t want to be dramatic, but I’m pretty sure that means the Hawks’ fan base will miss out on watching the team’s annual performance of getting to the second round of the playoffs and bombing out.

Last year, Horford led the team in player efficiency rating. He was second to Josh Smith thus far this year.  Joe Johnson makes more than five and a half million dollars per season than Horford, but I don’t think there’s much of a case to be made that the latter is a bigger cog in any potential Hawks playoff run. (Update, Jan 16: The Hawks one their first two games after the Indiana game where Horford was injured, beating the decidedly non playoff-bound Bobcats and TImberwolves, respectively.) 

I’m drained from another exhausting one-and-done Falcons playoff season. Now I feel like I might not have to waste too much time on the Hawks this year. That said, this may be a boon. Maybe I’ll take up a hobby with my spare time.

With so much money tied up in Johnson, it’s not like the Hawks were going to be able to get the player they need to get over the hump through free agency. Maybe they’ll win the lottery.