Al Horford Addresses Boston’s Two Biggest Needs

Looking into how Al Horford helps the Boston Celtics address their two biggest needs.

The Boston Celtics were one of the most improved teams last season and while they often struggled with consistency, there were flashes of offensive greatness and a relentless defensive attack by the guards. The Celtics were tied for the 4th best defensive efficiency in the league with the 5th most points per game in the NBA. That being said, it was abundantly clear that the Celtics had one glaring need on both ends, reliable shooting and interior defense.

Offensively, the Celtics used phenomenal ball movement and an incredible pace to max out their volume of opportunities. They had aggressive players that were given enough open looks in large part because of that ball movement. The Celtics had the 6th most assists per game while playing at the third fastest pace in the league. Unfortunately, everything they did on that end was held back by poor and inconsistent shooting.

Despite offensive success in some crucial areas, the Celtics had the 7th worst shooting percentage in the league at 43.9% and were even worse as the third worst three point shooting team at 33.5%. That is where Horford will come in.

Undoubtedly the best and most trust offensive option in the front court, Horford’s ability to shoot and score may even turn Isaiah Thomas into a full time distributor, and certainly gives him the help he needs as an offensive instigator. Horford may not have been a three point shooter the majority of his career, but after what he did last season, there is no doubting that Stevens will try to get the ultimate stretch five out of him.

In his first season shooting above 1 three point attempt per game, Horford did a solid job finishing 34.4% of his shots. While 34.4% is not game changing for the Celtics, there is no doubting that he will have an opportunity to improve that. And his personal comfort with extending beyond the three point line should quickly get much better.

Even at 34.4%, that alone makes him one of the better three point shooters on the Celtics, while continuing to cause matchup problems at the 5 for their opponent. At the very least, Horford gives the Celtics the reliability they have been searching for from three and it finally gives them an option in their front court that they can run their offense around. There is no doubting that Stevens will make a concerned effort to get Horford to good opportunities he needs from three, and that alone may be enough to see him excel in that area.

Inside the three point line, Horford only gets better. Three point shooting is their biggest problem but the Celtics have shown that they will attack with players from the mid range game and Horford will give them their best option in the paint. There is still uncertainly with Horford’s ability to hit the three. There is no uncertainty in his mid range game.

Horford shot just under 50% between 16 feet and the three point line and with the impact Avery Bradley and Evan Turner had in the mid range game, it will be refreshing for the Celtics to get a front court player that can also attack their opponent from multiple different areas on the court. Throw in better than 70% at the rim and Horford has the kind of arsenal that the Celtics need in their front court. Kelly Olynyk may continue to shoot a higher percentage from three, but Horford blows him away with his ability to attack and finish all over the court.

Reliable shooting and finishing was the one missing piece to the Celtics offense last season and while Horford will not fix everything, he can truly be a game changing player for them because of his ability to be a dominant and reliable offensive force, and he does all of that while being a willing passer who has played in an offensive system with the Hawks where there is no worries about him stunting their great ball movement.

One of the most amazing things about the Celtics last season was their ability to be a top defensive team, without any rim protection and without any interior presence. With  -1.1 net rebounding rate, the Celtics know that they need improvement in that area. Horford may not be one of the elite rebounders in the league, but he immediately becomes the best on his Celtics.

With such little rebounding competition around him Horford should have no problem averaging double digit rebounds for the second time in his career. Rebounding could be the most underrated aspect of how Horford helps the Celtics on the interior. The Celtics did a great job of using their defense to generate more offense and rebounding is essential to limiting their opponents’ opportunities, while increasing their own opportunities.

Horford will also come in and immediately be the Celtics best rim protector. It will be a refreshing sight for the standout defensive guards to finally have some resistance behind them. Again, Horford is not wracking up mind blowing blocking numbers, but he can certainly impact the way offenses attack the Celtics, and no one else in their front court can say that.

Horford averaged 1.5 blocks per game last year and that alone would make him the most important defensive big on the Celtics. Throw in that is interior defense goes beyond blocking and his ability as a two way player is exactly what the Celtics have needed in their front court.

The Celtics know as good as anyone else after their playoff series last year, Horford knows how to defend the paint. There may be an adjustment period considering he is used to played with better defensive teammates in the front court. That being said, Stevens will surely find a way to make sure the guards compliment Horford in a way that will allow him to give them that impact they need in their interior defense. If nothing else, causing opponents to hesitate in the slightest going to the paint will give their guards even more opportunities to take advantage of mistakes and generate turnovers.

Al Horford may not be enough to immediately make the Celtics a contending team by himself, but he is exactly what they needed in their front court. Especially in small ball lineups, the Celtics need a five that can bring the reliability shooting the ball while not leaving a huge hole in their interior. The Celtics had success in small ball lineups with defensive liabilities playing the five, and Horford could transform their approach in any situation.

Next: Five Reasons to Love Al Horford Signing

Horford finally gives the Celtics some of that high end talent that Danny Ainge has been searching for since the beginning of the rebuild and it cannot be understated how important it is that Horford’s biggest strengths are what the Celtics need most. Horford will be the most important piece in getting the Celtics the balance they need on both ends. After proving they can be successful in certain areas, Horford should come in and give them a massive boost in those areas that they were not successful in.