Al Horford, Jason Collins Will Start Tonight

Ken Suguira reports from practice:

After missing two games with a back injury, Hawks center Al Horford will play Saturday night against the Charlotte Bobcats at Philips Arena. Horford took part in the team’s morning shootaround and pronounced himself ready to go.

“I went out there and tested it out and I feel good for tonight,” he said.

Marvin Williams is rewarded for his obvious (and nearly sole) effort* in the embarrassing loss to the 76ers on Tuesday with a trip to the bench as Larry Drew has chosen to match Paul Silas like-for-like and will start Jason Collins at center opposite Kwame Brown:

Horford will start at forward as the Hawks will go with their “big” lineup with Jason Collins at center. Drew said that lineup was not the lineup change he had mentioned in the wake of the team’s lethargic loss to Philadelphia.

Prior to Saturday, Drew had said that any changes would have to wait until Horford returned, adding that he may “possibly” still tweak the lineup.

“Had he not gotten hurt, I still would have played it this way,” Drew said.

Either the use of Williams or the contract he was given is a tremendous mistake. Maybe both.

*Williams, for example, out-rebounded the rest of the starting lineup combined.