Before tonight, it’s an understatement Al Horford had known for five games a real crisis of confidence in attack: 5.8 points on average, only 36% to shoot (including 22% from 3-pointers). He who, during the regular season, nevertheless turned to nearly 10 points on average and 48% to shoot (including 45% at 3-points).
Inevitably, before Game 3 in Philadelphia, the Dominican was invited to react to this offensive breakdown: “ I’m still getting good shooting positions and I’ll keep taking them [les tirs, ndlr]. Even during the season [régulière], I had ups and downs. That’s how it’s part of the game when you’re a sniper. »
Except that when Al Horford called himself ” sniper “, a journalist began to laugh and the interior of the Celtics then asked him if he thought he was not one and if his numbers on the matter did not speak in his favor. An exchange that may have motivated the veteran for the meeting…
Essential for the Celtics offense
And during this famous Game 3 against the Sixers, a team with which he incidentally played for a year, “Big Al” responded with style, since he finished with 17 points (and 7 rebounds) in 31 minutes, with especially an excellent 5/7 from 3-pointers! One of these award-winning successes was decisive in putting Boston at +7 just under 3 minutes 30 from the end of the match.
Fundamental to the success of the Celtics in Philadelphia, which allowed them to lead 2-1 in this conference semi-final, Al Horford therefore proved, alone like a grown-up, that he could always make a difference with his quality of shooting. To the delight of his teammates…
” Shame on whoever laughed at him earlier [dans la journée]… Al is definitely a sniper, he always has been and he has proven it again. He is so important to us, to what we are trying to achieve collectively… How he’s evolved his game from his early days to where he is now a shooter and someone who makes an attack so special… What really helps us is when he’s able to stretch the game. [La défense] must care [de Jaylen Brown et moi], but if she wants to help when we attack the basket, we also have shooters around and Al can take, but especially succeed, these big shots. So I give him all the confidence in the world when he’s on the field, he has the ball in his hands and he shoots », incensed him For example Jayson Tatumalso valuable in “money time”.
” I laughed first “, confessed on his side Marcus Smart, regarding this famous video where the journalist laughed at Al Horford’s statement. ” Then I thought to myself, ‘Thank you’, because this will awaken the sniper in him. It was written that he was going to pull off something, a perfect match, after someone didn’t consider him a sniper. It’s almost as if everyone knows it. Al doesn’t talk much, but when he does, you better take his word for it. »
Shots that hurt
If the soon-to-be 37-year-old interior has also spared no effort in defense, to hinder the neo-MVP, Joel Embiid as much as possible, it is his offensive contribution that has therefore tipped this Game 3 in favor from Boston.
” He is always in the right place at the right time, he always does the right thing. It’s been like this for a very long time “, adds Marcus Smart, under the spell of his Dominican veteran. Especially when he planted a decisive 3-pointer in the last minutes. ” It was huge because when that shot landed in, you could see on their faces that it had hurt them, their body language showed it. It’s not the first time he’s won us matches like this and that’s what happens when you’re a sniper. »
As for Joe Mazzullathe Celtics coach, he “ adore “when Al Horford” shoot with confidence and don’t hesitate “on the offensive level:” We need him to be aggressive and confident. It is an important part of our team, of our locker room. I think he gets good shooting positions and doesn’t hesitate, which is pretty good. »
| Al Horford | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2007-08 | ATL | 81 | 31 | 49.9 | 0.0 | 73.1 | 3.1 | 6.6 | 9.7 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 10.1 |
| 2008-09 | ATL | 67 | 34 | 52.5 | 0.0 | 72.7 | 2.2 | 7.2 | 9.3 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 11.5 |
| 2009-10 | ATL | 81 | 35 | 55.1 | 100.0 | 78.9 | 2.9 | 7.0 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 14.2 |
| 2010-11 | ATL | 77 | 35 | 55.7 | 50.0 | 79.8 | 2.4 | 7.0 | 9.3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 15.3 |
| 2011-12 | ATL | 11 | 32 | 55.3 | 0.0 | 73.3 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 12.4 |
| 2012-13 | ATL | 74 | 37 | 54.3 | 50.0 | 64.4 | 2.6 | 7.6 | 10.2 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 17.4 |
| 2013-14 | ATL | 29 | 33 | 56.7 | 36.4 | 68.2 | 2.3 | 6.1 | 8.4 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 18.6 |
| 2014-15 | ATL | 76 | 31 | 53.8 | 30.6 | 75.9 | 1.7 | 5.4 | 7.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 15.2 |
| 2015-16 | ATL | 82 | 32 | 50.5 | 34.4 | 79.8 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.3 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 15.2 |
| 2016-17 | BOS | 68 | 32 | 47.3 | 35.5 | 80.0 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 14.0 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 72 | 32 | 48.9 | 42.9 | 78.3 | 1.4 | 5.9 | 7.4 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 12.9 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 68 | 29 | 53.5 | 36.0 | 82.1 | 1.8 | 5.0 | 6.7 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 13.6 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 67 | 30 | 45.0 | 35.0 | 76.3 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 11.9 |
| 2020-21 | OKAY | 28 | 28 | 45.0 | 36.8 | 81.8 | 1.0 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 14.2 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 69 | 29 | 46.7 | 33.6 | 84.2 | 1.6 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 10.2 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 63 | 31 | 47.6 | 44.6 | 71.4 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 9.8 |
| Total | 1013 | 32 | 51.3 | 37.4 | 75.9 | 2.0 | 6.1 | 8.1 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 13.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
