In the fourth quarter, the key moment hit the three points, the defensive end broke the “Roll Call tactics” cap Jordan Poole breakthrough, and the extra time hit the key three points to expand the advantage.
It is hard to imagine that this is the performance of a 36-year-old veteran in the high-end game of Celtics and Warriors. When Jason Tatum and Jay Brown’s attack on the double flower exploration combination was ineffective, Ale-Hoford stood out and scored 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks to remind the world that who is not a flower exploration show?
Also from the 2007 draft, Horford is still an indispensable jigsaw puzzle for the Celtics, and the insiders of the same session with him have either retired or played the residual heat in overseas leagues. In fact, three years ago, Horford also experienced the unemployment crisis, but Horford has reshaped the value and gained a foothold again, and also renewed the contract with the Celtics in advance this season.
Horford’s resume in the first 12 years of his career was the same as his football style, cautiously, without peaks or valleys. Houford is dedicated and has a happy family.
In the 2019-20 season, Horford experienced ups and downs of life because of a choice. During the off-season in 2019, Horford, who had just performed well in Celtics in the previous season, decided to jump out of the contract and win a big contract in the free market. Horford eventually joined 76 people, and the contract lasted for 4 years and was worth 0.109 billion dollars.
Horford is full of expectations for becoming an insider partner with Joel enbyd. He believes that this step will enable him to achieve a double harvest of money and hope to win the championship. However, the development of the situation is completely out of the track of Horford’s imagination.
In theory, Horford is an all-round inside line, which can help enbide open the space with external projection, can handle the ball at a low position, and can protect the basket with height and experience on the defensive end. But in the chaos of 76 people, theory and reality are completely out of touch.
Ben Simmons had no projection ability and had to hold a lot of balls. He held the ball to block and remove the ball without any threat. Enbide did not Aishun. Hoford became a simple fixed-point battery. On the defensive end, Bryant Brown, then the 76-person coach, ignored the characteristics of Horford and asked him to shrink the inside line. However, the more aggressive delay and even relieve a garrison was Horford’s style.
As a result, Horford’s ability was sealed and could not exert all his strength. When Horford and enbide were present at the same time, they scored only 10.9 points per hundred rounds, the real hit rate was 49 percent, and 76 people lost 0.2 points per hundred rounds. And when Horford himself played the center on the spot, the net victory of 76 people in 100 rounds was 5.9 points.
The American media used The word “Athletic” (inappropriate role allocation) to complain for Horford, pointing at The 76-person coaching team, believing that The 76-person coaching team used Horford. Horford himself complained to the Sky: “I came here to win, but what I can do on the offensive side is very limited. I have been constantly reforming myself, try to find ways to perform efficiently.”
In the first round of the playoffs, 76 people were swept out by the Celtics. Horford averaged 7 points and 7.3 rebounds in the old club, and his value fell to freezing point. During the offseason, Horford was sold to thunder. Horford felt confused about the road ahead. The survival space of the center in the small ball era was originally compressed. He was also a 34-year-old veteran with a long-term big contract and the worst playoff performance in his career. If there is no turning point, Horford will fall at the speed of light. He may become a tramp and be frequently traded and may be bought out.
Horford did not accept his fate. He always believed that even though it was difficult at the moment, this experience might bear fruit in the future. Horford scored 14.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in Thunder games, with a three-point hit rate of 36%, silently waiting for the chance to reshape his career. As thunder starting center, Horford played a good performance in 28 games. Thunder hid Horford in the latter half of the journey to seek the right to choose a high rank in order to put it down. Horford lost the opportunity to perform, but on the other hand, this rare rest time allowed him to accumulate physical fitness and raise injuries.
During the off-season in 2021, the Celtics took the first round of signing and sent kenba Walker to Thunder, in exchange for Horford. That was the first deal after Brad Stevens became the president of Celtics. After the deal, he said for Horford that Horford did not perform well in 76 people because of poor compatibility. He believed in Horford’s ability. But at the same time, we don’t need Stevens to admit that the Celtics made this deal to save money. Everyone can see that they saved 9.4 million dollars in tax.
Industry insiders represented by ESPN data analysis expert Kevin Pelton are not optimistic about Horford’s prospects. He gave the transaction a “C +” rating, the reason is that the experience of Horford’s 76-man era has proved that he is not suitable for playing number four, especially on the defensive end. In the small ball era, it is difficult for him to follow the number four swinging from position three.
The Celtics had a completely different perspective. In Horford’s 76-person Season, Wu ducurno was a 76-person teaching assistant. He understood more than anyone why Horford encountered Waterloo in 76 people. In the 2021-22 season, Wu ducurno, the Celtics coach, adjusted the role of Horford. He asked Horford’s offensive end not only to open space, but also to make full use of the height advantage to play dislocation. On the defensive end, Wu ducurno asked Horford to expand the defensive area and directly relieve a garrison if necessary.
Horford was reborn. When he and Robert Williams were present at the same time, they did play number four, but they helped Celtics build the strongest defense line of the alliance. When they were present at the same time, Celtics lost only 99.9 points in 100 rounds. Horford’s all-around skill at the offensive end became the catalyst of the Celtics offensive system. In the last 35 games of the second half of the regular season, the Celtics scored 120.2 points in the first place in the league in the same period.
In the playoffs last season, Horford was the hidden hero of the Celtics who advanced all the way to the finals. In the eastern semi-final with the Bucks, when he was against adtokunbo, the latter hit 37 percent. In the Eastern finals, the latter hit 27 percent when Horford defended Butler.
At the last moment of the Eastern finals, Butler killed three points to interfere with Horford. He defended Butler’s three-point killing and threw the ball high into the sky. As the ball flew away, Horford played 141 playoff games but could not enter the finals.
This season, 36-year-old Horford is still the mainstay of the Celtics. When Lowe’s injury stopped, he held up the inside line alone, with a three-point shooting rate of 44.2% far exceeding that of last season by 33.6%. Horford is still the patron saint of the celtics’s basket. The game is against the opponent’s 4.6 shots within 5 feet of the basket, and the opponent’s hit rate is suppressed at 53.1%. The team is the best, and lowe is 57.1%. With Horford’s age and mobility ability, it is normal for the opponent to play “Roll Call tactics” against him, but Horford relieve a garrison defender suppressed the opponent’s hit rate at 38.3.
Now, at the beginning of the season, the Celtics gave Horford an early renewal contract of $20 million for 2 years, which was undoubtedly a wonderful move.
Today, after the first world war between Celtics and Warriors, Horford stood in the field with his son, who was wearing a hat. This hat was officially released when Celtics entered the Finals. The embroidered text in front of the hat was “2022 NBA final”, and the Celtics team logo was next to it.
Horford is looking forward to wearing the champion hat with embroidered text “2022-23 NBA Champtions” in June 2023.
“Even in the difficult period of 76 people and Thunder, I am constantly working hard to get better and waiting for my time to come. I know that the moment that belongs to me will come sooner or later.”