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Boston Celtics: How Can Al Horford Contain Kristaps Porzingis?

By Joshua Bateman

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 21: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics boxes out Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks on December 21, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 21: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics boxes out Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks on December 21, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Al Horford could have one of his toughest games trying to contain Kristaps Porzingis

Any time Kyrie Irving is out with an injury, Al Horford becomes the definitive most important player on the team. He becomes the most important player on both ends of the court, and that is on top of having to deal with the unicorn Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis is one of the most impossible matchups in the NBA, and Horford needs to be able to handle that while being the primary option on offense, and shouldering the burden of playing more small ball to try and get more shooting with Irving out.

There is no doubt that Horford will get help, and length will be the key to giving him that help. Both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum should make a difference, but their length only gets them so far on Porzingis.

The key for Horford is that he has the versatility to disrupt Porzingis anywhere he goes. The reality is that Porzingis is so long that he can just shoot over whatever kind of defense you are throwing at him. There may not be any position where Porzingis is incapable of getting a shot off, but there is a big different between a clean and contested look with him.

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All the Celtics can ask of Horford is to make sure he is not getting the clean looks. Daniel Theis might help, but Horford is the only option the Celtics can trust to at least disrupt Porzingis no matter where he is trying to score. Porzingis is good, but he should not be good enough to destroy this game if Horford is making it as difficult as possible for Porzingis.

Horford has proven that he has the versatility to stay with these guys. His track record is not perfect, but he has done a great job on Porzingis in the past, and has done a better job than anyone else in the NBA at slowing down versatile bigs this season.

One of the bigger obstacles could end up being the way the Celtics choose to play. Irving’s injury means they will need as much shooting as possible on the court. More shooting means less Aron Baynes, and that puts more defensive strain on Horford. Keep in mind than Enes Kanter has been causing problems this year, making the most difficult part of this game Horford’s ability to maintain small ball lineups.

Horford is going to have a whole bunch of added responsibilities because of Irving’s absence, it is just unfortunate to have that happen on a night when he needs to focus all his energy on making sure Porzingis does not destroy this game.

The Knicks are a team the Celtics have to beat if they are going to hold onto that number one seed in the East, but this matchup is going to be a different story. The size of the Knicks will already be a threat to disrupt how they want to play, and taking Irving away makes it a real possibility that Porzingis could get too hot to overcome.

Next: Horford Needs to do a lot more of everything against the Knicks

Horford is not going to completely shut down Porzingis, but the standard of how much he needs to be slowed down got a lot higher with Irving sidelined. The Celtics always need Horford to be at his best to be successful, but a bad game from him tonight could lead to one of the worst outings of the year.

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