This column is published in reverse order, from 50th to 11th two articles per day, and from 10th to 1st daily. This issue is the 25th biggest star: Philadelphia 76ers center Al Horford.
* Ranking rules: mainly reflect the influence of individual games (not only considering the basic data of the panel of a few minutes, but more reference to the true plus-minus of ESPN's ace data), appropriately combined with the possible ability changes in the new season (such as team focus on development, young players who may have a significant increase in drama next season, and may make progress), and injury situations (such as Durant and Thompson just suffered major injuries, and the ranking was appropriately lowered).
Last season's main stats, the frequency was every 36 minutes, and the octave chart was higher than X percent of players in the same position, where the lower the turnover rate, the better
As one of the league's most tactically capable center in high positions, Horford has not lost the slightest drop in standards last season except for his slightly affected attendance (less than 2,000 minutes), with ORPM ranking 6th among center forwards. He likes to develop complex cover coordination at the top of the arc and outside teammates, especially good at high open catch shots and subsequent pass processing, which is an artifact for large center forwards with insufficient foot range. Horford's assist rate is second only to Jokic, Jia Xiao and Vucevic in the same position, and he can complete a large number of passes while trying to avoid making mistakes, and in recent years, the assist-loss ratio has always been good.
Compared to the previous year, Horford failed to extend the sharply abnormal three-point accuracy (42.9%), and last season's 36.0% shooting rate was closer to the career average. However, he delivered an anti-heaven shooting rate (53.0%, 1st in the center) in the middle distance, and the true shooting rate hit a career high.
The next thing is the disadvantage, although Horford is soft in the near frame and the shooting rate within 10 feet of his career is definitely the league's best, but the style of the ball is not known for aggression. He also went out to look for jump shot opportunities after covering, and the frequency of baskets and offensive rebounds ranked in the bottom 10 of the center, and the frequency of making free throws (1.7 per 36 minutes) was almost the worst in the same position.
We all know that the 76ers have a strange style of play, and are one of the least fond of blocking and dismantling in the league, the proportion of blocking and dismantling the ball is only higher than that of the Warriors, and the proportion of blocking and dismantling the ball is simply the lowest in the league. Horford will also have a presence of Embiid who has taken away huge balls, and it is almost inevitable that there will be an offensive single function as the number four. At this time, how much effect the consistently beautiful offensive influence can still play is indeed a question of doubt.
While we always say that Horford is a premium space point in the center position, given his long shake before the shot, poor anti-jamming ability and three-point certainty of returning to Earth, the level of receiving shots in the big forward is probably only average.
The Celtics' defensive decline last season was more due to the reduction in playing time due to Baynes' injury and the team's longer small lineup. Horford's time as a center has soared from 57 percent the year before to 91 percent last season, and the decline in defense has little to do with him.
Although he is not the top defender in the center, he can also rely on a combination of qualified defensive aggression and frame protection level, delivering excellent influence (DRPM center top 20), good awareness and rarely fouling. Horford is also particularly good at defending low positions, strength is better than the size of the body looks, in recent years has been Embiid's bitter master, during the playoffs also has a home defense restriction alphabet brother's brilliant performance.
The 76ers may suffer in the playoffs due to certain pairings (such as Horford being forced to go after a quality fourth-place shooter), but now that a more senior co-defender is behind Horford, the two's interior combination has no problem coping with the regular season.
Doing player rankings is an annual tradition of Sports Illustrated, and the author has translated their evaluation of each player as a supplement and reference:
When you're facing Alphabet Brother, Embiid or Thick Eyebrows, you need to have a player on your team who understands the basic principles of defense. You need a veteran who can visualize scouting reports on the field and maintain team strategy. All in all you need Horford. In games where key alignments are present, Horford is one of the league's most useful defenders. Many of the big men scored more than Horford (13.6 points per game), but rarely contributed more to the win than he did.
Everything about Horford is complementary. In the locker room, Horford is a leader whose deeds speak louder than words, putting the team on track without anyone knowing it. His teammates loved him. The coach would sing his praises. A player who has done so much for the team, but has only done so little for himself, is easily loved by everyone. As long as he plays, Horford is the team's offensive eyes and defensive mouthpiece. Playing directly around Horford couldn't be better: keep Horford in high positions, run in circles with an empty cutter on the court, and when there's a problem with the defensive end, you can enjoy the moment when Horford creates easy scoring opportunities. When the situation becomes a mess, the same organizational skills are the best way for the team to get out of the predicament. For experienced veterans, reading scenes isn't all a challenge. You have to read fast enough to make sure the team's offense is always on track — and that's what Horford has been doing all his career.
Combat experience is also one of the things that makes him attractive. Of course, for a 33-year-old player with a career total of more than 30,000 minutes, he must be scarred. The best game mode is that Horford plays at his own pace. At this stage of his career, Horford is more of a perimeter playing and is selective about playing low. His move from Celtic to 76ers was more like a statement that he'd had enough of a full-time center. So now Horford's game panel output may be more cautiously optimistic, leaving all the power to important moments. Make reasonable plans and ignore the pompous stuff – that's what Horford is now.