Al Horford was the ultimate wholesome member of the Boston Celtics common rotation to make his preseason debut.
It might have been rust or one thing else completely, but it surely wasn’t a stellar efficiency from the getting old heart.
Horford bought into motion in Boston’s preseason finale Tuesday evening in opposition to the Toronto Raptors and shot simply 1-for-6 from the sector, together with 0-for-4 from past the arc, to go together with two rebounds and one help in 23 minutes. He additionally completed with a putrid minus-29 score within the 119-118 loss for the Celtics at Scotiabank Enviornment.
Although it was simply preseason motion, Celtics followers most likely wished to see extra out of Horford given his significance to the crew. If there’s one space by which the Celtics have a weak point, it’s their massive man group with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined.
However Horford wasn’t fearful about his ineffectiveness within the exhibition contest. He appeared to make use of the sport for what it was: a tune-up earlier than the common season begins subsequent week.
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“I felt good,” Horford informed reporters, per NBC Sports activities Boston. “It felt good simply to be on the market, be a part of a sport, stand up and down and get a really feel again for it. So, I’m fairly pleased with being again.”
There are extra query marks surrounding Horford than some other key member of the Celtics. It’s legitimate to be involved about Horford being 38 years previous and the way a lot of an impression he could make at that age — he’s the seventh-oldest participant within the league. He’ll be counted on extra in the course of the starting of the season with Porzingis anticipated to be out till someday in December, which can trigger extra put on and tear on Horford.
The Celtics, as they’ve been the previous couple of seasons, shall be cautious with Horford’s workload, although. They received’t play him in back-to-backs and can attempt to preserve his minutes down at factors. However how a lot does Horford have left within the tank after three straight lengthy playoff runs? He didn’t precisely have too many memorable moments in Boston’s run to a title within the spring.
Celtics followers ought to hope that Horford’s preseason displaying was simply him attempting to get again right into a groove after a protracted layoff with out sport motion and never an indication of issues to come back.
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The excellent news is that Luke Kornet, who went 5-for-5 from the sector and completed with 10 factors and 6 boards, confirmed properly within the preseason as did Xavier Tillman. Neemias Queta displayed some promise, too. That trio can assist buoy Horford, at the very least till Porzingis will get again.
Horford most certainly shall be his standard self as soon as the common season commences. He’s an excessive amount of of a consummate professional to not make some form of impression on the ground.
But it surely’s clear he’s in decline and that cliff adopted by the precipitous drop can sneak up on gamers, even ones pretty much as good as Horford.
