Averaging 30.8 points over the last four games of the series, Joel Embiid hit a bone in Game 7 in Boston, finishing with just 15 points. The latter has a name: Al Horford.
The interior of the Celtics has been notable for hampering the 2023 MVP, forcing him to take tough shots and get lost in feints and dribbles. The Sixers pivot will finish with an ugly 5/18 to shoot and only 6 free throws attempted.
“I just tried to do my best to make life difficult for him”analyzes Al Horford for the Boston Herald. “He’s not the league’s MVP by chance, he puts so much pressure on defenses, can do so many things. I tried to save my skin and have an impact. I knew that, in this series, I was not going to weigh offensively but defensively. I had to complete this challenge for us to have a chance. »
The former Atlanta player not only shone in Game 7, largely won by the Celtics. It was throughout the series that he was a poison for the Philadelphia All-Star since our colleague Chris Forsberg calculated that Joel Embiid shot only 39% success against Al Horford, against 48% against a another defender.
Al Horford served as primary defender on nearly half of Joel Embiid’s total possessions in East semis, per NBA tracking.
The 37-year-old saved some of his finest work for the final 6 quarters of series.
How Embiid fared vs. Horford/everyone else in series: pic.twitter.com/JkzM1GQg0o
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) May 15, 2023
Robert Williams – Al Horford, insurmountable obstacle for Joel Embiid
In Game 7, the MVP stubbornly played away from the circle, facing a well-established defense where several Boston players were never far away to double up and close the doors to him.
If Joel Embiid lacked accuracy when reading the situations, the “spacing” of the Sixers was also defective, not offering him enough simple solutions.
The presence of Robert Williams III in the five major, from Game 6, has also done good inside who will be 37 years old on June 3rd. He then had support when Joel Embiid attacked, as well as a safety solution behind his back, to completely close access to the circle.
“I’m glad Joe (Mazzulla) made that adjustment because what a difference! » explained the Dominican. “I was happy that it happened. We know Rob’s impact on the pitch. When Rob’s not around, I kind of have to…I feel like a lot of things are on my shoulders, and when he’s around, I know he’s behind me, and I can be a little bit more aggressive, I can do different things. »
The effort was therefore collective but it was Al Horford who was in the front line.
“When you defend against such a player, it’s not just individual, the rest of the team has to be involved”specifies the interior, who therefore does not forget to greet his teammates. “Our players have been great at that, being responsive, helping when needed. »
| 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.
