Hawks center Al Horford out 3-4 months with torn pectoral muscle

Al Horford

The Atlanta Hawks learned this afternoon that All-Star center Al Horford will likely miss three-to-four months of action after an MRI revealed a torn pectoral muscle in his left shoulder as a result of an injury he suffered with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game at Indiana.

Typically, this type of injury requires surgery, but Horford will get a second opinion and make a final decision at that time.

“We are very disappointed for Al and our team and we wish him the best as he moves forward in the rehabilitation process,” said Hawks’ Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund.  “He has contributed greatly to our success since his arrival in Atlanta, and that’s evident by his selection to the NBA’s All-League team last season (third team pick).”

The two-time All-Star finished with five points and two rebounds before leaving last night’s contest, and in 11 games, Horford posted 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks to go along with .553 FGs (eighth in the NBA).

Kwame Brown needs surgery, will miss at least three months

Kwame Brown

Results of an MRI performed yesterday on Golden State Warriors center Kwame Brown revealed a torn pectoralis major (the large chest muscle that attaches to his right shoulder), which will require him to undergo surgery within the next few days, the team announced today.  The surgery, which has not yet been scheduled, is expected to keep him out for a minimum of three months.

“Obviously, we’re very disappointed, especially for Kwame, who was playing extremely well and had worked diligently since his arrival,” said Larry Riley, the team’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager.  “In a short time, he had proven to be the anchor to our low post defense and certainly lived up to his reputation as one of the top interior defenders in the NBA.  He had provided us a big, physical presence in the middle, which is something that we’ve lacked in the past.  Unfortunately, surgery of this nature typically requires, approximately, a three-month recovery period.”

The injury occurred at the 6:22 mark of the fourth quarter during the Warriors’ game against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, January 10.

Brown, 29, appeared in all nine of Golden State’s games this season, averaging 6.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game.  He started each of the team’s last three games, averaging 9.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in those contests.  He was originally signed by the Warriors as a free agent on December 14, 2011.

“I feel extremely bad for Kwame,” said Head Coach Mark Jackson.  “He had done absolutely everything that myself and our coaching staff had asked of him and quickly started to change this team’s image on the defensive end of the floor.  If you look at the last week, in particular, he had some pretty impressive defensive performances, especially against some of the top scoring big men in the NBA.  This is a blow, but Kwame and the Warriors will recover and move forward.  I know that he will work as hard as he can during rehabilitation.”

Alonzo Gee steadily improving for Cavs

Alonzo Gee

In the NBA, a player rarely comes back from the offseason with a completely new look.

In Alonzo Gee’s case, he has returned with a completely new game.

The Cavaliers small forward could be the team’s most improved player from last season. Heading into the Phoenix Suns game at 9 p.m. Thursday at U.S. Airways Center, he’s averaging 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals.

The 6-foot-6, 219-pound Gee started his transformation last year when he started 29 games with the Cavs (4-5). Now coming off the bench behind starter Omri Casspi at small forward, he makes things happen when he’s on the court.

“I’m going to keep getting better,” Gee said. “Hopefully, I can be consistent on my shot if I continue to shoot.”

— Reported by Bob Finnan of the News Herald

Antoine Walker still trying for NBA comeback

Antoine Walker

Antoine Walker is in a battle with time.

Time has stripped him of what made him part of an NBA championship team, a three-time All-Star and a prolific scorer. His 3-point shooting has gone flat, his legs have turned from springs to anchors and financial trouble has plagued him like a pesky defender. It’s overshadowed his NBA career — a 17.5 points per game average and 10th all-time ranking for 3-point field goals (1,386).

But Walker, 35, has found a way to fight back. He now plays for the NBA D-League’s Idaho Stampede, which is playing in the D-League Showcase this week at the Reno Events Center. Surrounded by youth and energy, the Stampede’s elder statesman has found a way to slow the final seconds ticking off his career and find hope for one more return. He wants to end his career on his own terms.

“I didn’t get to leave on my own merit,” Walker, known for his “Walker Wiggle” celebrations, said. “I still love the game, I still want to play. I believe that if I’m in the proper shape I could play another year or two and help some teams out.”

— Reported by Brian Nordli of RGJ.com

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Andre Miller not thrilled with role on Nuggets

Andre Miller

Denver Nuggets point guard Andre Miller regularly was a starter in his first 12 NBA seasons. He’s not too happy with that changing.

Miller, who becomes a free agent after the season, said before Wednesday’s game against New Jersey that he would “probably not” return to the Nuggets next season if the role is to back up Ty Lawson. But Miller wouldn’t completely rule that out as a possibility if no better situations were available.

“At this point in my career, I don’t see myself as a backup,” Miller, who entered the NBA in 1999, said in an interview with FOXSports.com. “For 13 years, I wasn’t a backup before. This is a short season (due to the lockout), so I’ll deal with it. But I don’t see myself as a backup at this point in my career. I don’t see that.”

Interestingly, Miller did start his first game of the season against the Nets because Lawson was out with a right foot strain. But Lawson’s injury isn’t expected to sideline him for long, and he could be back starting Friday against Miami.

— Reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida

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