Passing More Important than Shooting for Boston Celtics Bigs

Al Horford is redefining what it takes to be a big on the Boston Celtics

When the Boston Celtics acquired Al Horford in free agency, they were expecting a player that would be able to have a great impact on both ends. Horford was supposed to be the interior presence that would complete their defense, and he was supposed to finally bring that shooting that they desperately tried to get out of Jared Sullinger.

As it stands now, Horford has been a success in both respects. He has proven to be arguably their most important defender, while giving them great floor spacing. These two things already make Horford a remarkable addition for the Celtics, and that is without the most important aspect of his game.

Horford has not just separated himself as one of the truly elite passing bigs in the NBA, but he is making a case for one of the best seasons of all time for a passing big. Horford has changed Boston’s offense in ways that many may not have thought was possible, and he has made it abundantly clear that passing is the most indispensable part of his game.

Ball movement has always been the most important aspect of any offense orchestrated by Brad Stevens, and Horford has completely expanded what they are capable of doing with their passing this season. Horford is establishing a new standard for bigs in Stevens’ offense, and we are now at a point where we can say that passing is even more important than shooting for Celtics bigs.

More from Hardwood Houdini

Of course, it is a lot easier to say that considering he is such a great passer while being a capable shooter. That being said, taking a look at the man playing next to him, Amir Johnson, makes it even more clear that passing is how bigs can have the biggest impact on this offense.

Johnson has surprisingly been effective when he gets a chance to follow through with the longest shot release of all time, but his growth in this offense is more about his ability to pass than to shoot. Johnson does not put up the numbers that Horford does, but having two bigs that are both capable and willing passers is what has allowed Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley to all have career years.

The Celtics knew that they needed to improve as a shooting team, and they had to do it with a lot of the same personnel. The key to unlocking this offensive potential has been the passing ability of the bigs on this team. It not only allows them to better maintain ball movement, but it gives the shooters more opportunities to take shots in space.

Defenses need to completely change their approach when they have to account for Horford’s passing out of the post, and that kind of compensation has opened everything up.

The Celtics can live with Horford entering a shooting slump, and they can live with Johnson never hitting another three as long as he plays in Boston. What they cannot handle is losing their passing, because that impacts every other facet of their game.

The guards are still the most important players to this offense, but Stevens has found out how to truly unlock Horford and Johnson’s potential, and it is all tied to passing. Stevens has found a way to use the talent of his players, in order to better suit the team around him. This increased passing from Horford and Johnson is the adjustment this team needed to improve without adding many great shooters.

Stevens knows how valuable his guards will always be as ball handlers, but he also realizes that they are more effective as scorers if they can play off the ball. Having bigs that they can trust to handle the ball and that they can trust to make the pass that will allow the offense to stay in rhythm, allows Stevens to play his best shooters off the ball more often.

Next: What to Watch for Celtics - Cavs

The Celtics have improved their offense in every way this season, and the passing of their bigs has been the biggest difference from last season to this one. The Celtics have always looked for great versatility in their players, and particularly their bigs. Versatility will remain a top priority, but it is becoming clear that the ability to pass has become an essential aspect of that versatility, and is something they will look for as they try to improve their nonexistent front court depth.

Home/Celtics News