current location:HOME > Sports News > Basketball Hub > Text content

NBA Stats Notebook: Why Al Horford is the Celtics' playoff X Factor

nqajqrqw7months ago (05-22)Basketball Hub544

Professional basketball players are in a constant state of datacollection. Al Horford's been logging tricks of his trade for 16years, and it's helped him reinvent his game to suit a team in thetitle hunt.

Horford, age 36, will be the fourth-oldest starter andfifth-oldest rotation player in the 2023 NBA playoffs, behind onlyLeBron James, Chris Paul, PJ Tucker and Kyle Lowry. He hasdramatically transformed his game to suit the era and needs oftoday's league, and the Celtics have taken note.

After a March 1 win against the Cavaliers, coach Joe Mazzullaalluded to Horford's evolution, heightened by his experience andattention to detail.

“It’s massive,” Mazzulla said postgame. “He’s done a great jobthis year in recognizing coverage and screening. ...And herecognized the coverage [the Cavaliers] were in and popped and shotit. The second time they tried to switch him, he created anadvantage. He’s constantly trying to find small ways to reinventhis game.”

Horford is averaging his highest minutes per game (30.6) of thelast five seasons, but his on-ball role has diminished tocareer-lows according to practically every go-to metric (usagerate, touches, touch time, etc.). He's played five total seasonswith the Celtics across two stints; comparing his usage acrossthose years is fascinating. Here's some touch data from PBP Statshighlighting three such years: his All-Star season in 2017-18, hisfirst season back in Boston in 2021-22, and this current one.

YearTouches/gameFrontcourttouches/gameElbow touches/gamePost touches/gameSeconds per touch2017-1863.540.03.15.22.202021-2249.229.42.21.91.732022-2345.725.41.10.91.53
Share with friends:

“NBA Stats Notebook: Why Al Horford is the Celtics' playoff X Factor” ofrelated articles

Steve Kerr agrees to a two-year extension with the Warriors

Golden State Warriors head coachSteve Kerr has agreed to a two-year, $35 million contract extensionwith the team, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarows...

Buddy Hield, Sixers snap Cavaliers 9-game winning streak

The undermanned Philadelphia76ers cooled down the hottest team in the NBA with a big 123-121road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.Newc...

NBA suspends Warriors' Draymond Green indefinitely

Golden State Warriors forward DraymondGreen has been suspended indefinitely for strikingPhoenixSuns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face,it was announced t...

Bucks acquire Damian Lillard in shocking trade with Blazers, Suns

Damian Lillard has finally been traded, and he's heading to theMilwaukee Bucks. The Portland Trail Blazers sent Lillard toMilwaukee as part of a three...

NBA app launches new 'Future Starts Now' content initiative

NBA app launches new 'Future Starts Now' content initiative

Today, the NBA announced the launch of“Future Starts Now,” a new digital program on the NBA app that willshowcase the next generation of basketball st...

Statements Made: A Louisiana Hoopin' Sunday With Mal Mundy

Mal Mundy's Hoop Fest Tour hosts some of the premiershowcase and identification events throughout the year. Most areopen to all, but 42 of Louisiana's...