Boston Celtics: Al Horford vital to team’s playoff success
Al Horford is one of the stars of this Boston Celtics team, but how vital is he to the team’s playoff success?
The answer to that question? Extremely vital. Al Horford isn’t just an okay big man that the Boston Celtics threw a max contract at.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of Celtics fans that think he’s being overpaid and don’t see exactly why he’s so important.
Take a look at highlights from the 2018 NBA Playoffs and you’ll be hard pressed to find a great Celtics moment that doesn’t include Al Horford. Not only was he a defensive anchor for an inexperienced team, but he was extremely offensively aggressive. Horford caught more lobs and dunked more in the playoffs than he probably had all season.
The big man made the right pass at the right time like he often does, but he also blocked Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid multiple times throughout the series. He made his presence felt last playoffs and it would be a surprise if he didn’t return to that form this time around.
His 15.7 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game didn’t come close to telling the whole story throughout that playoff run. No Gordon Hayward and no Kyrie Irving was a difficult task for Brad Stevens club, but Horford was absolutely perfect with that team and he was a big reason those young guys were minutes away from an NBA Finals appearance.
The East is harder this year and there’s no denying that.
However, having Horford wearing green and being in that starting lineup should make every C’s fan feel better about their chances. Yes, maybe regular season Al isn’t flashy and dominant like so many people want him to be. But does that matter when he turns it up in the postseason? When he’s playing stellar defense on Embiid and Giannis?
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The Boston Celtics will go into the playoffs with Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving itching to make a deep run that they were denied last year.
But make no mistake about it. This team will go as far as Al Horford and his dominance will take them.