Boston Celtics player report card 2016-17: Al Horford
By Tre Wiggins
Al Horford was acquired in free agency a year ago by the Boston Celtics as someone who would hopefully lure in Kevin Durant. When Durant ultimately took his talents to Oakland, Horford became the big signing.
Boston Celtics center Al Horford showed that he was worth every penny of his 4 year, $113.3 million deal. He proved to the league that he is one of the most versatile players on the offensive side of the ball.
Horford was a key part of Boston’s success this past season. He showed leadership during the regular season and the postseason alike.
Statistically, Al Horford had a very well-rounded season. He averaged 14 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, and 5 assists per game.
Horford’s shot and made a career high 80 percent of his free throws. He shot 35.5 percent from beyond the arc, and made 47.3 percent of his total shots, which are very solid shooting numbers.
Defensively, Al Horford had an alright season when it comes to his numbers. He blocked 1.3 shots per game, including some huge momentum-changing blocks when they were needed. Horford is not known as a player with quick hands, as he only averaged less than a steal per game.
The good
Al Horford’s main strength this season was that he showed that he has multiple strengths. He passes very well for a big man. Al usually finds the best shot on the floor, whether it is his own or a teammate’s. There were multiple moments where Horford has zipped the ball across the court when he could have easily taken the shot on his own, and that type of awareness and unselfishness is what will help this young Boston team win championships.
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Al Horford has made himself a leader on this team, and if he can instill in his teammates this unselfish play (very similar to Ubuntu, if anyone knows this old Doc Rivers teaching), Boston can go a long way.
Another strength Horford showed is that his three-pointer is more consistent than it’s ever been. He can be trusted to make that shot, which allows for more flexibility in the offense. Overall, he had a very consistent shot, making it at a good rate from any efficient distance, which is very helpful for a team
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And the bad
Al Horford, while he does go up to try to contest shots, is not a paint protector, and that hurts the Celtics. He also does not grab enough rebounds to be an elite big man. Horford is more of a big 4 than a 5. If he wants to help Boston as much as possible on the defensive side of the ball, than learning how to get a piece of the ball consistently needs to be priority number one.
Al Horford only averaged 2 attempted free throws per game. He can shoot them consistently, so he needs to be more aggressive and just go up with the ball. If Horford is going to shoot free throws, then it is considered a good possession, because chances are you still get points out of it.
Horford’s rebounding numbers are not as high as what they should be. He needs to be able to box out and establish position a little more often to help improve his game.
Season Grade: A
Al Horford did everything he could on both sides of the ball for the Celtics. It was a big adjustment from playing in the Hawks’ system, but he made the transition smoothly.
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It almost seemed as if Horford found the perfect place for his preferred play style. There is no question that Al belongs in a Celtics jersey.
All of Al Horford’s stats were provided by nba.com