Can Al Horford's veteran leadership help guide Celtics' turnaround?

https://sports.yahoo.com/al-horfords-veteran-leadership-help-182723871.html



Can Al Horford's veteran leadership help guide Celtics' turnaround?


Darren Hartwell
Thu, July 1, 2021, 11:27 AM·3 min read



Al Horford is three seasons removed from his last All-Star appearance and turned 35 last month. He played just 28 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.

But the veteran big man still can play a key role in the Boston Celtics' turnaround this season.

Horford is back in a C's uniform following a June 18 trade from the Thunder involving Kemba Walker. His first stint in Boston lasted three seasons from 2016 to 2019 -- during which he saw the rapid growth of top draft picks Jaylen Brown (2016) and Jayson Tatum (2017).


Both Brown and Tatum credited Horford for leading by example on those Celtics teams. Ahead of Horford's first game back in Boston in Dec. 2019 after signing with the Philadelphia 76ers the previous offseason, Brown said Horford should be "celebrated" by C's fans.

"For me, he was a great leader, a great person to carry us every step of the way," Brown said at the time. "So I know I’ll clap for him when they call his name."

Tatum put his feelings for Horford more succinctly at the Celtics' 2019 media day:

"Al Horford was one of my favorite teammates. I miss him."

A lot has changed in two and a half years: Brown and Tatum now are bona-fide All-Stars and foundational pieces for a Celtics team with a new head coach in Ime Udoka and a new president of basketball operations in Brad Stevens.

But Horford's value as a leader will be as important as ever. Just ask one of the people who knows him best.

Anna Horford thinks brother Al can bring leadership back to Celtics


"It's been said in previous interviews by Jayson and Jaylen how much of a leader Al was, and how much they learned from him -- not just basketball-related stuff but life in general," Horford's sister, Anna Horford, said in a recent interview with NBC10's Kwani Lunis.

"So, I think what he brings is ... wisdom and experience. I think he's really going to help these young guys. I think he's going to be a great mentor, I think they're really excited about that. And I'm thinking that's probably why Brad pushed so hard to bring him back."

In his introductory press conference, Udoka stressed the importance of developing Boston's recent first-round picks, from Robert Williams to Romeo Langford to Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard. Horford, who played with Williams during his rookie season, seems eager to help on that front.

"I'm going to be in his ear and we're going to be figuring things out together. I'm excited for him," Horford said recently of Williams. "He knows and understands -- is starting to understand everything like taking care of his body and making sure he's putting in the work. I'm really excited for what's ahead for Rob."

The Celtics have plenty of talent in Brown and Tatum but struggled with chemistry issues and inconsistency last season. Horford's steady presence should help on both fronts -- and give C's fans reason to be excited about what's ahead as well.


Bob
MY NOTE:  This article is from 7/1, but I don't remember seeing it anywhere else on this board (watch, someone will now find this article that was posted by me).  Back to the article, do I think Al's veteran leadership will make a difference?  Sure, but there was nothing wrong with Kemba either.  Kemba's "lack of veteran leadership" in the locker room wasn't the problem, it was a combination of physical and his playing style.  So, how much does Big Al still have in the tank?  He just turned 35 in June, but only played a total of 782 minutes last season in OKC.  By comparison, Aaron Nesmith played 669 minutes and, if you remember, he couldn't get on the floor for most of the year.  It wasn't until the last month or two of the season where he got any serious floor time.  Pritchard played 1268 minutes.  What Al has lost on the calendar he was given back with such a light season on his body.  Furthermore, and more importantly as far as I am concerned, his role is more of what we need than what Kemba gave us.  We need an offensive facilitator/floor general.  Kemba was an on-the-ball shooter who didn't really run the offense much.  Al is a significantly better passer than Kemba, in my opinion.  What this translates into is the Js running without the ball because they know Al will get it to them while, with Kemba, they stood around the arc and waited to see what he was going to do (like a mini-Kyrie routine).  They know Al isn't going to be putting on any razzle-dazzle moves, so they need to help him by moving.  Nothing against Kemba, a good dude whose body failed him, but I think Al's skillsets will help the Js and everybody else to play better team basketball.  And that's leadership.


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Hi,
The short answer is YES.
From what I heard, his positive role in locker room is undeniable. As for his playing abilities, I hope he still has something left in the tank.
Also, his distributing skills and long range shooting will be much appreciated.

AK

Last season was a short one for Al, but here's his stats for it:


/36mpg
games....................fg%.........3ptfg%........points............assists.........turnovers
28--------------------45.0-------36.8---------18.3------------4.3-----------1.3


Per Game, 28 games played
minutes.........points...........assists..........turnovers
27.9-----------14.2-----------3.4-----------1.0



Now, here's Kemba's for last year:


/36mpg
games....................fg%.........3ptfg%........points............assists.........turnovers
43--------------------42.0--------36.0--------21.3------------5.6-----------2.3


Per Game, 43 games played
minutes.........points...........assists..........turnovers
31.8-----------19.3----------4.9------------2.0


Bob


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This doesn't directly has to do with Al Horford, but it's worth posting (it just doesn't need it's own thread) and it does somewhat fall under his mentorship role on the Celtics and as it was in OKC.  Let's remember, Moses Brown was undrafted.  Not just a 2nd round longshot, undrafted, and he went to a good school with a good basketball program (UCLA).  As anybody who knows anything at all about NYC High School basketball will tell you Archbishop Malloy HS, Brown's alma mater, is a basketball dynamo, producing several NBA players (e.g. Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson, Brian Winters) and was coached by Lou Carnessecca for years before he went to coach St. Johns.  Everybody knows Lou from his longtime coaching career at St. Johns, but he was hired out of Archbishop Malloy to that job. Chaminade Prep School in St. Louis has gained some fame by producing NBA players like Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum and David Lee. Archbishop Malloy is NY's equivalent to Chaminade.

The Miami Pro League has younger players, some HS players who want to compete against older players, and some NBA pros who want to get some game time rhythm in during the offseason.


Chris Grenham @chrisgrenham
about 7 minutes ago
Moses Brown made an appearance at the @MiamiProLeague_’s opening night on Tuesday. He scored 24 points on 10/13 FG in two and a half quarters.


Bob


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Being we have to limit Big Al’s minutes and RWill’s injury history, Moses Brown could be our starting center, it is his for the taking. If not a permanent starter, he could easily start for a stretch. Rumble young man rumble, he had a 19 rebound half against RWill and can only get better/stronger both ends. Great acquisition, glad he’s staying in game shape, sure he’s working this summer.