The Warriors are off to a 4-1 start on the season, even with their new center, Al Horford, playing in only three of those games. The former Boston Celtics big man signed a two-year deal with the Warriors late in the offseason, officially entering what is his 19th season in the league at 39.
Horford is still a productive player at his age, but, as the Celtics know, the Warriors have to manage his playing time if they want him to be at his best when the playoffs roll around. So far, Golden State has eased Horford into things. Warriors fans might've been frustrated about Horford missing two consecutive games for rest, but that comes with the territory of signing him at this stage in his career.
He won't play in both games of a back-to-back again, so Golden State opted to rest him against Memphis on Monday, before he returned to the lineup on Tuesday against the Clippers. Horford hasn't even been in the starting lineup yet.
He had only two points in the Warriors' win over LA, but in his most recent game before that (five days before), he had 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep to go with three rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal in 29 minutes during Golden State's overtime win over Denver. You don't get that version of Horford without managing his minutes.
Warriors have to manage Al Horford's minutes
Horford is a seamless fit in Golden State, so it's not like the Warriors need him to play big minutes early on to build chemistry with his new teammates. One of the best things about the Horford signing is that Golden State didn't have to worry about that.
He's the oldest player on the Warriors' roster, with Steph Curry (37), Jimmy Butler (36), and Draymond Green (35) trailing behind him. Horford isn't the only older player that Steve Kerr has to be careful about not running into the ground before the postseason rolls around. He's one of many, but so far, things are clicking for them.
Golden State didn't sign Horford, expecting him to play in all 82 regular-season games. Not even close. Horford is the stretch five the Warriors have been searching for—the ideal big to pair with Curry. To make sure he is still intact come April, when he can really prove his value to Golden State, Horford will need to recharge more than the average player. He's almost 40, after all.