With 22 points and 16 rebounds in the last game and 30 points and eight rebounds on 11-of-14 in the game, Horford relied on his excellent performance to help the Celtics to equalize tenaciously. Six years ago, Horford played for the Celtics, leading the team to an Eastern Conference role. Now, the Celtics have completed the blood exchange, the core of the team from Thomas, to Irving to the current Tatum and Brown, the same is still Horford's championship heart.
Ball blindness identifier
Horford was once called a ball blind detector by fans because although the data is not particularly brilliant, it is an indispensable offensive and defensive core of the team. On the offensive end, Horford has a stable mid-range and three-point shooting, can also take the ball in the low position to chisel the single, and can be more able to respond to the free throw line, dividing the bottom corner of the three-point or empty basket. On the defensive end, Horford is the team's defensive core, sitting in the basket when the next husband is inseparable, can also change the defense to rely on the arm span to interfere with the opponent's long-range shot. Don't look at Horford's regular season status and statistics are mediocre, in the playoffs, Horford's various statistics and shooting rates have improved tremendously.
Anti-alphabet armor
So far in the series, Alphabet Brother has shot 30.6% from 15-of-49 against Horford's defense. The shine on the offensive end is not Horford's most important role for the Celtics, the defensive alphabet brother is. In addition to the letter brother in the last game shooting rate of more than 50%, the other three games are around 40%. Horford prevented the alphabet brother from being temperless, his stable lower set and strong strength, so that the strength and speed advantages of the alphabet brother could not be played, on the one hand, forcing the alphabet brother to shoot away from the basket, on the other hand, giving the alphabet brother enough muscles to fight under the basket. If Alphabet Brother is a two-time MVP, Horford is the DPOY (Best Defensive Player) of two MVP.
Weakened version of Jokic
In a way, the technical characteristics of Horford and Jokic are very similar, both of them are big nuclear inner line, both can organize the attack on the outside line, can press the basket on the inside line, and can use the free throw line as an offensive transfer point. Jokic has already been named the Most Valuable Player of the Season, so there's nothing wrong with saying that Horford is a weakened version of Jokic. What's more, as a veteran, Horford has more experience in the game and has a more calm concentration at key moments.
Celtic's Most Valuable Player
In a way, Horford is the Celtics' most valuable player. First, Tatum's scoring stability is not good, and no matter what team and tactics he faces next, Tatum must be focused on defense. At this time, the Celtics must rely on Horford's stable scoring, on the one hand, to stop the bleeding, on the other hand, to alleviate the defensive pressure faced by Tatum. Second, the Celtics are mostly young players, Tatum, Smart, Grant Williams, And Jaylen Brown, although they played a lot in the playoffs, but the pressure on the game at that time was not great.
And Horford, from the Eagle King led the team to the first defeat in the East, to the Celtics to the East Finals, and then experienced 76ers and Thunder, the game experience is very rich. Playoffs hit key moments, and his experience will bring unexpected surprises to the Celtics.