3 biggest X-factors that will determine playoff fate for the Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics player No. 3) Al Horford

Al Horford has been an absolute revelation for the Boston Celtics during his return campaign.

While guys like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are receiving the bulk of praise for this team’s midseason turnaround, the veteran big man has undoubtedly been one of the driving forces for this post-New Years surge and, to us, his efforts are going wildly under the radar.

If you’re not familiar with just how well he’s been performing, allow us to fill you in.

Since the start of January, the 35-year-old has easily been one of the most well-rounded players for the C’s and, with every passing day, he just finds himself getting better and better.

Particularly over the team’s last 22 outings, Horford has found himself servings as the glue guy for this scorched earth Celtics squad, doing a bit of everything in an effort to help guide the team to a win.

During this stretch, the big has put up all-around solid averages of 9.6 points, eight boards, 3.1 assists, 1.3 blocks, and just shy of a steal per game on a highly efficient 49 percent shooting from the floor and 38 percent shooting from deep.

They’ve gone 19-3 over this span, with one of these losses coming during a game where the veteran didn’t even suit up.

While he may not be putting up the 18 point and 10 rebound numbers he once was during his heyday, in year 15 he finds himself playing some of the most efficient basketball of his entire career, as he’s pulling down rebounds at his highest rate since 2013, shooting at the second-highest rate of his career from inside the arc, and is swatting shots away at a career-high clip.

Is he a scorer? A facilitator? A defender?

How about a power forward or a center?

Virtually all season long, Al Horford’s been whatever this team has needed him to be and, heading into the postseason, they need him to continue serving as that amenable contributor in the frontcourt if they wish to have a legitimate chance at seeing a deep and luxurious run.