The Al Horford Thing

[slamminsammya]

So I am not sure how aware people are of this, but for years - I mean years, dating back to 2007, Al Horford has randomly flinched at missed shots. About one or two per year, but consistently. Two nights ago, against Toronto, it struck again:


I have been belly laughing at this for about five minutes.

Here is some background if you have missed out on this amazing piece of internet esoterica.


This year he has had exactly two. Now I found these to be absolutely hilarious. I think its a joke and he is playing the long con. Just rare enough to leave people doubting whether he is serious or not. Evidence supporting this theory includes his teammates referencing it with humor. IT made a twitter video last year making fun of him for it.

There are some other theories kicking around. That he has anxiety, that it is an uncontrollable tick, that it is a result of concussions.

What say you denizens of this Port Cellar?

 

[slamminsammya]

The other this season:

 

[BuellMiller]

Yeah, that's strange. That first one in the video that slammin posted I guess made sense, you can't tell, but it seems he's looking at the bench, not expecting the ball to be shot, and maybe catches it out of the corner of his eye at the last second.... And then while it airballs, it could easily have clipped the bottom of the rim, and deflected right towards his head. But, yeah, those other one's he's clearly looking at it. Maybe he's daydreaming or something? (Or thinking a few moves too far in advance...)

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

He's had multiple concussions in his career, I think he's just protecting the dome.

 

[slamminsammya]

He's had multiple concussions in his career, I think he's just protecting the dome.

I could see that. But how do you explain the most recent one? Watching it all the way, nowhere close to it.

 

[Gash Prex]

I've done this a number of times - you aren't paying close attention and you catch something out the corner of your eye and think its heading for you so you duck..

 

[Cesar Crespo]

It's just a reflex. Sometimes things catch you by surprise and you flinch. The odd thing is, it looks like he's actually paying attention in the recent one.

 

[slamminsammya]

Hes paying attention in almost all of them.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

well in the recent one, the ball isn't even headed in his direction or remotely close to him. The others you could maybe explain by the ball taking an unexpected trajectory or something.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

IT knew about it.

 

[Schnerres]

Nothing wrong with trying to create his own dance move and showing it off in NBA games.

 

[JCizzle]

Apparently he was asked about this today, good timing!

 

[DJnVa]

The timing is because a decently-known Celtics tweeter (@timi_093) that puts together a lot of video clips and contributes to @celticslife tweeted about it early this morning with the video the opened this thread. The guy that asked Horford likely saw that tweet.

 

[slamminsammya]

Case closed. The long con.

 

[djbayko]

Apparently he was asked about this today, good timing!

I don't know about case closed. It looks to me like he's making that up on the fly.

 

[queenb]

I don't know about case closed. It looks to me like he's making that up on the fly.

In the "every few years" clip up-thread, after the Otto Porter free throw, you can see the Hawks bench right behind him. Bazemore, Schroder, and a few others instantly react like he's clowning.

 

[slamminsammya]

I don't know about case closed. It looks to me like he's making that up on the fly.

I hope the russians hack his emails so we can get to the bottom of it.

 

[djbayko]

In the "every few years" clip up-thread, after the Otto Porter free throw, you can see the Hawks bench right behind him. Bazemore, Schroder, and a few others instantly react like he's clowning.

I see them laughing, but I don't know how you can tell the difference between them being in on a joke and them simply laughing at his reaction. Because it is funny either way.

 

[Marciano490]

Wait, is that Isaiah’s kid it was it a short joke?

 

[slamminsammya]

Wait, is that Isaiah’s kid it was it a short joke?

No its a video of IT.

 

[queenb]

I see them laughing, but I don't know how you can tell the difference between them being in on a joke and them simply laughing at his reaction. Because it is funny either way.

I can't, but my best guess is that while it is funny, if it was a complete aberration I would expect his teammates to be confused and maybe cock their heads or look to one another like "WTF was that?" and then start laughing, but they instantly point and laugh. Especially the dude next to Bazemore who hangs his head. The reactions just read to me more like instant recognition of a running bit than confusion or awe. But who knows.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Speaking of Al Horford, it's kinda crazy he leads the team in rebounding at 7.3 per game.

 

[nighthob]

IT knew about it.

It’s good to see Lil’ Zeke up and about this soon after surgery.

 

[slamminsammya]

Bump since he did it again last night.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

And he did it in a very safe spot to do it. Almost as if he is doing it intentionally. like he says.

 

[Reverend]

There were three of us here watching and we all suddenly started yelling at once when he did it.

Horford is the man.

 

[djbayko]

And he did it in a very safe spot to do it. Almost as if he is doing it intentionally. like he says.

Whether he's done it as a joke or not in the past, it seems pretty clear to me that this one was a natural reaction. The ball had a chance of hitting rim. You don't want your head exposed when a three-quarters court short comes clanging off the rim indiscriminately.

 

[slamminsammya]

The ball doesnt come off the rim indiscriminately though. Its a very discerning and conscious ball. Prof. Wallace taught us that ball dont lie. "Ball". The arc of the ball is long but it tends towards justice.

 

[Reverend]

I feel bad for people who can’t enjoy the flinch.

 

[CantKeepmedown]

Yeah, I don't think last night's is like the others. The shot last night, to Al, could have looked like it was going to hit the left side of the rim and dart down into him.

 

[Reverend]

Yeah, I don't think last night's is like the others. The shot last night, to Al, could have looked like it was going to hit the left side of the rim and dart down into him.

I think you're a fucking muggle. That's what I think.

 

[CantKeepmedown]

I very much enjoy the flinch.

Confession time.......I had to look up what muggle meant

 

[Jimbodandy]

I laughed so hard at that last night, thinking of this thread.

The other Horford topic in my house is wondering which random tick he will throw while someone is attempting a free throw. He does it almost every time that he's under the net for two shots but never on both shots. Usually the first. Sometimes a pogo, sometimes flailing one arm.

Teams have started doing it to him also. It's hilarious.

 

[slamminsammya]

Yes! Ive also noticed the free throw thing. I think he saves it for after a bad call but I may be imagining that. Its a bit immature which is why I love it because he is otherwise a total professional on the court, rarely antagonizing other players.

 

[allstonite]

Speaking of free throws, JR has a habit of crossing the lane between the first and second shot and he's been leaving earlier and earlier. I know a lot of guys do it to get in the shooter's head but JR is the best/worst at it. There was one last night where he started as the shooter (I think it was Tatum) was just bringing the ball up to shoot. I can't complain really because we hit almost all of our free throws but I love these little mind games

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

The ball doesnt come off the rim indiscriminately though. Its a very discerning and conscious ball. Prof. Wallace taught us that ball dont lie. "Ball". The arc of the ball is long but it tends towards justice.

This post deserves more love

 

[sox311]

He did it tonight. That's all I can gather to post...

 

[TripleOT]

He did it tonight. That's all I can gather to post...

Yep, when LBJ bricked that first FT. I thought it was a good omen. I was wrong,

 

[HomeRunBaker]

He did it tonight. That's all I can gather to post...

It was so blatant tonight even the wife noticed. Imagine explaining to a marginal basketball fan that an athlete randomly gets petrified of a missed shot?

 

[djbayko]

This one was the most obvious I’ve seen of him doing it on purpose.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

 

[Reverend]

I've decided just now to start telling people it's not on purpose.

Keep being awesome, Al!