Post by FLCeltsFan on Aug 12, 2016 22:27:29 GMT -5
Lee Lauderdale does a great series on our blog every off season and I always look forward to them For those who don't visit the blog, I'll post his first one here. If you want to read the whole thing, just click on BLOG above just below the banner. If you'd like to reply to Lee go ahead and go to the blog and reply there.
The dozen or more readers who have stumbled across my Summer Quandaries in past years will recognize the above paragraphs as my usual teaser before starting this anti-doldrums effort. As an attempt to add value for those faithful, and because the good stuff lasted longer than usual—delaying the start of my contribution, I will offer a small insight that seems to have eluded most of the “Oh My God, We Got Horford” columns.
To my way of thinking the best thing about Al Horford in Celtics' green is not his skill as a shooter; as a passer; as an individual or team defender, not his effectiveness as a screener who is equally a threat to roll or pop, not his good locker room personality or veteran presence, and not his flexibility to play inside or out. Not that all these goodies aren't true, and valuable, they are; but the real crème de resistance is the fact that he is the consummate glue guy and the perfect complement to both his teammates and the team as a whole.
The last player in green who I remember offering so much to his team was Larry Legend. Like Bird, Horford is a willing, skillful, and prescient passer. He's not afraid to take the big shot, and he is devilishly adept at making the defender wrong (stepping out on the reeealy big guys and posting up the smaller ones. Pair him with outside shooters and he patrols the paint and sets solid screens for drivers and slashers. Play a post-up player alongside him and he excels at the mid-range and is good enough from the 3-pt line to punish a team sagging off him, and his passes are timely and accurate whether inside or out.
It is his head for the game that really sets him apart. On defense he has all the little half-steps and adjustments to make openings seem closed, open shooters unavailable, and help readily available. On offense those same smarts let his take the half-steps to free a teammate, place his defender in no-man's land, and set a devastating pick or offer an open target for a driving teammate. He is like the ultimate Swiss Army knife, but the deluxe basketball version.
I think the guys are going to love playing with him, and hopefully will learn a great deal from how he plays the game and deports himself. If you have ever been lucky enough to play with even half as multi-skilled, insightful, and unselfish player, then you will know how the game just seems so much easier with them on the court. He leads the best way of all, by example.
I'll grant that Durant is the better shooter, and perhaps player, but I maintain that there was no better addition for the Boston Celtics. Golden State may have gotten the “better” player, but I believe that Horford makes Boston a better team than adding Durant alone would have.
The dozen or more readers who have stumbled across my Summer Quandaries in past years will recognize the above paragraphs as my usual teaser before starting this anti-doldrums effort. As an attempt to add value for those faithful, and because the good stuff lasted longer than usual—delaying the start of my contribution, I will offer a small insight that seems to have eluded most of the “Oh My God, We Got Horford” columns.
To my way of thinking the best thing about Al Horford in Celtics' green is not his skill as a shooter; as a passer; as an individual or team defender, not his effectiveness as a screener who is equally a threat to roll or pop, not his good locker room personality or veteran presence, and not his flexibility to play inside or out. Not that all these goodies aren't true, and valuable, they are; but the real crème de resistance is the fact that he is the consummate glue guy and the perfect complement to both his teammates and the team as a whole.
The last player in green who I remember offering so much to his team was Larry Legend. Like Bird, Horford is a willing, skillful, and prescient passer. He's not afraid to take the big shot, and he is devilishly adept at making the defender wrong (stepping out on the reeealy big guys and posting up the smaller ones. Pair him with outside shooters and he patrols the paint and sets solid screens for drivers and slashers. Play a post-up player alongside him and he excels at the mid-range and is good enough from the 3-pt line to punish a team sagging off him, and his passes are timely and accurate whether inside or out.
It is his head for the game that really sets him apart. On defense he has all the little half-steps and adjustments to make openings seem closed, open shooters unavailable, and help readily available. On offense those same smarts let his take the half-steps to free a teammate, place his defender in no-man's land, and set a devastating pick or offer an open target for a driving teammate. He is like the ultimate Swiss Army knife, but the deluxe basketball version.
I think the guys are going to love playing with him, and hopefully will learn a great deal from how he plays the game and deports himself. If you have ever been lucky enough to play with even half as multi-skilled, insightful, and unselfish player, then you will know how the game just seems so much easier with them on the court. He leads the best way of all, by example.
I'll grant that Durant is the better shooter, and perhaps player, but I maintain that there was no better addition for the Boston Celtics. Golden State may have gotten the “better” player, but I believe that Horford makes Boston a better team than adding Durant alone would have.
