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Colloquially, he is called Playoff Al.
For Boston Celtics big man Al Horford, it’s a level up that happens most springs. However, the playoffs also saw him make a cameo appearance during his regular season with Al.
These visits are no reminder that Horford is there when it counts most. It’s usually one of Father Time’s solid weapons.
Like last year’s Bucks series as part of Boston’s Finals. The Celtics’ season was on life support in Game 4 against the Bucks, but Horford overpowered Giannis Antetokounmpo to pull off a come-from-behind victory over Boston. led to
Celtics and Raptors points: Roll player wins short-handed C
We’ve had two glimpses of playoff Al in the last three days. First, in the Finals rematch against the Warriors, Horford channeled his early energy into 20 and his 10 performances, including three blocks and his one jump-in-the-time machine, pump fake and drive dunk. provided.
Horford didn’t hit a shot Saturday night in Toronto. He missed eight of ten attempted field goals, including several bunnies around the basket. But with the Celtics playing short-handed, Jayson Tatum was rested and Robert Williams III, Marcus Smart and Derrick White left early due to injuries.
Here’s a quick recap of everything Horford did in the final 8.6 seconds of the One Possession game in Toronto.
1) defended Pascal Siakam’s drive, blocked a layup attempt and forced a jump ball.
2) Scored a chip on a jump ball with Siakam, then scrambled to force a second jump ball with Scotty Barnes.
3) Winning a chip on Barnes’ jump ball, Barnes was 36 inches tall at the draft combine, giving possession to Boston.
4) Stripped Siakam in midcourt with 0.6 seconds remaining. Final scores: Boston 106, Toronto 104.
Horford sprinted down the court after the strip and headed straight up the runway to the locker room. Why was he in such a hurry?
He later tweeted that he was going to ride the lift after the game.
Looking at the numbers alone, Horford has had an unremarkable year. His rebounding and assist percentages are career lows. His usage is half what it was in his All-Star days. Not only is his Player Efficiency Rating below league average, but his career output falls short of him by nearly five points.
Joe Mazzura said on Saturday that Horford’s “box score doesn’t tell the story”. In fact, he thanked Horford for “saving my ass” in the final moments, who has accepted the role of the floorstretcher and his 4.8 points per game. Achieved his career-best 43.2% in success rate. For much of the season, Horford was the league’s best shooter from the right corner.
When the team operated without Williams III early in the season, Horford held back the backline. Now, Williams III is back and the team is embracing his lineup, which is twice as big as he was a juggernaut a year ago. The Celtics are playing some of their best defense, allowing Williams III to fly around with help while Horford does his typical dirty work around the basket.
On a personal note, Horford works as a defender. Yes, he has moments where opponents punish him for his quickness, but more often than not he’s tough for a variety of duties.Going into Saturday’s game, Horford found his opponents more He managed to keep it 6.3% lower. This was the team’s best result. Additionally, NBA tracking data showed that opponents shot him 11.6% below expectations within 6 feet.
Horford was so good earlier in the year that the Celtics gave him a two-year, $20 million extension. There are days when he shows his age or simply blends a little into the box-score landscape, and even complains about how effective he is when he’s older.
Mazzulla is quick to point out all the invisibles, especially the leadership of the silent locker room. Horford’s presence alone allows Williams III to thrive, but the team’s young star has a clear respect for everything Horford has to offer.
One reason is that they know Horford is ready when it matters. And these small glimpses over the last few days are just a reminder of how his playoff Al can affect victory in the biggest moments.
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