Al Horford - the Celtics' Resurrected Saviour of the Season

Euclis20

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Even if he was eligible, he didn't have a chance in hell at winning the award, not with his current stat profile. This award is nearly always given to off the bench scorers, and Al scored just 8.6 ppg this year (only 6.9 when coming off the bench). It's been 23 years (Aaron McKie in 2001) since the 6MOY winner averaged fewer than 13 ppg, and it's been 29 years since the winner averaged fewer than 10 ppg (Anthony Mason in 1995 was barely under, at 9.9 ppg). Bill Walton is the only 6MOY winner in history to average fewer ppg than Horford did this year (and he still averaged more points off the bench than Al did this year).

Al's strength off the bench is his defense and his ability to fit in seamlessly with the starters, no matter who he was replacing in the starting lineup. Those just aren't attributes that have ever been favored in the voting for this award.
 
bigq

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JCizzle said:
Even if we win it all, convincing him to come back has to be one of the top priorities for the J’s? With KP likely to miss time again, having Al as a fall back option at his price is invaluable. Maybe he can teach Tillman to hit threes.
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Horford’s current contract goes through the 24-25 season. At $10M per year his salary is a bargain.
 
NomarsFool

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We are running it back for banner 19! Al is coming back. My concern is whether he wants to see #20.
 
lovegtm

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I would bet that, if he wanted to retire after this season, he'd work out a deal where he let the team use him as salary in a trade first.

I also don't think he'll retire.
 
benhogan

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Euclis20 said:
Even if he was eligible, he didn't have a chance in hell at winning the award, not with his current stat profile. This award is nearly always given to off the bench scorers, and Al scored just 8.6 ppg this year (only 6.9 when coming off the bench). It's been 23 years (Aaron McKie in 2001) since the 6MOY winner averaged fewer than 13 ppg, and it's been 29 years since the winner averaged fewer than 10 ppg (Anthony Mason in 1995 was barely under, at 9.9 ppg). Bill Walton is the only 6MOY winner in history to average fewer ppg than Horford did this year (and he still averaged more points off the bench than Al did this year).

Al's strength off the bench is his defense and his ability to fit in seamlessly with the starters, no matter who he was replacing in the starting lineup. Those just aren't attributes that have ever been favored in the voting for this award.
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Yea, I wouldn't expect him to win. BUT I bet Horford would get a sentimental vote or two if he qualified
 
Eddie Jurak

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lovegtm said:
I would bet that, if he wanted to retire after this season, he'd work out a deal where he let the team use him as salary in a trade first.

I also don't think he'll retire.
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Assuming he's back for one more year, the Celtics should put him on the "take whatever time you need for offseason training and if that means you aren't active until December or January, so be it" plan.
 
benhogan

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lovegtm said:
I would bet that, if he wanted to retire after this season, he'd work out a deal where he let the team use him as salary in a trade first.

I also don't think he'll retire.
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Horford/Brad/Zarren are smart/commercial, they'll craft something clever in regards to Al.

With his size, fitness, intelligence & a 40% 3pt shooter he's got a couple of years left on the odometer if they continue to shrink rap his regular season games. He's got his dad & kid at every game, I hope it's not his swan song.

Even at his very worst, I have to believe Horford has a vet min/15th man/Haslem role for as long as he wants in Boston.
 
NomarsFool

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I’m sure playing in the NBA is a grind, but I also think one would want as many opportunities for titles as one could get. I think the calculus on when to retire would be very different for Al if he was playing for the Charlotte Hornets.
 
bankshot1

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With the way his team mates talk about Al, the huge respect for him as a man and the leadership he provides in many ways I assume if he wants to seque to a Haslem type role as quasi-Asst coach its his.
 
Eddie Jurak

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I wonder which way his kids will cut in the decision. One of his sons was at a lot of games this year. It must be cool to go to games when your Dad is Al Horford. There was a play earlier in the year where Horford blocked a ball out of bounds that was caught by his son sitting in the front row on the end line. Al retireived the ball from his son, gave him a fist bump, and the game went on. Those kind of memories are unique and maybe would have him wanting to stick around so his kids can remember his days as an NBA player.
 
The Mort Report

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I looked for the video but couldn't find it, there was an interview he did either in training camp or at the start of the season where he talked about how long he wanted to play. Basically as long as he can contribute on the court he will continue to play, but as soon as he can't he won't hang on.
 
benhogan

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I'd love to see Brad/Wyc/Joe do a surprise Press Conference this week, where they announce

Alfred Joel Horford is the Celtic's 16th Captain

Having Captain Al lead the team out of the tunnel G1 in Boston would be electric.
 
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Eddie Jurak

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benhogan said:
I'd love to see Brad/Wyc/Joe do a surprise Press Conference this week, where they announce

Alfred Joel Horford is the Celtic's 16th Captain

Having Captain Al lead the team out of the tunnel G1 in Boston would be electric.
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I don't think this would be in any way positive for the team. It wouldn't hurt them, necessarily, because Brown and Tatum aren't assholes, but I don't see how it would help.
 
benhogan

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Eddie Jurak said:
I don't think this would be in any way positive for the team. It wouldn't hurt them, necessarily, because Brown and Tatum aren't assholes, but I don't see how it would help.
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It would have to be a Dr. Charles production but its 100% not happening.

Glass half empty: some of Al's teammates are jealous, it becomes a distraction, Jrue & Derrick shove Al, they both check out early, and book Cancun

Glass half full: teammates see Al as a locker room leader, they love/respect him and it becomes a positive talking point (instead of the nervous pilgrims & NBA Media that will conjure up all kinds of silly, negative things that could go wrong in the Finals over the next week like "All this rest isn't good, they are going to forget how to play basketball!")

PLUS the FANs would love it over the next week.
 
Montana Fan

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bankshot1 said:
With the way his team mates talk about Al, the huge respect for him as a man and the leadership he provides in many ways I assume if he wants to seque to a Haslem type role as quasi-Asst coach its his.
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I agree that he will be around for a while but IMO it will be in more of a Wakefield type role and contract. Give me my $10 million a year and let’s see how I can help the team win for the next X number of years. I don’t expect any public conversation on contract details.
 
J

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Al is going to go out in his professional career the same way he ended his collegiate career: with back to back titles. Then he's going to consult on big man development for the next 30 years and bring us many more trophies.
 
HomeRunBaker

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Hearing that Horford just put his MA house on the market this week. Any confirmations on this?
 
The Mort Report

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HomeRunBaker said:
Hearing that Horford just put his MA house on the market this week. Any confirmations on this?
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It appears to be true, there is a bunch of stuff about it out there. I personally don't read too much into it, and if I were to I think it's a good thing. Putting it up now means in theory it should sell this summer, so he can move in the offseason and not have to pull his kids from school. Probably just relocating in state. If it were anything else why even deal with the sale while they're in the finals? If he were retiring there would be no rush, and let's be honest, there is no way Al wants to be traded. Now if ESPN gets wind of this....
 
Euclis20

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He's gonna have his troubles in this series, but I am 100% convinced that Horford will [continue to] hold up better on an island vs Luka than DPOY Gobert could. That block on Luka's stepback was incredible, no one ever blocks that shot. It reminded me of Pierce blocking Kobe's turnaround fadeway in the 08 finals, a surreal moment against an all-time offensive player (1:41)

View: https://youtu.be/vUB0KFTCntg?si=S3UQstUfyHQNqBpe&t=101
 
BillMuellerFanClub

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Anyone else find it kind of poetic that KP came off the bench tonight and Al getting the start? I realize it may not have happened had KP been healthy the entire playoffs, but it's kind of awesome that both Al and KP get rewarded for their sacrifices.
 
K

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Hall of Fame lock, now, right?

Best player from the Dominican and a NCAA and NBA champ.

So very happy for him!
 
Manzivino

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kfoss99 said:
Hall of Fame lock, now, right?

Best player from the Dominican and a NCAA and NBA champ.

So very happy for him!
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And he wasn’t along for the ride either, they absolutely needed every minute he gave them this postseason run. Not a more deserving champion in the league.
 
nattysez

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So happy for Al. I had seats near his dad for Game 2. That dude is INTO THE GAME. He was on his feet constantly, yelling, gesticulating. Probably the most active fan in his section. I'm so happy for him that Al finally got to the mountaintop.
 
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