Robb: Al Horford Has Been A Game-Changer For The Celtics Since His Return
By Brian Robb, CBS Boston
The wait for Al Horford to return to the floor lasted longer than most expected after the 6-foot-10 big man suffered a concussion in practice on Oct. 31. The Celtics went 4-5 without the All-Star in the fold as he took his time to recover from the scary head injury and return at full strength. The lengthy absence may have cost the Celtics a few games in the standings, but more than three weeks later, it's become clear that the cautious route was the smart one for the 30-year-old and the green.
The former Hawk hit the ground running in his first game back Saturday night, delivering a game-winning putback and game-saving block against the Detroit Pistons. The production has only got better since then as well with Horford shining as the team's best all-around player during a three-game winning streak with road wins over Detroit, Minnesota and Brooklyn.
The nine-year veteran is averaging 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game since returning to the court, living up to the lofty expectations bestowed upon him after signing a four-year, $113 million deal with the C's in July. More importantly, the Celtics are regaining their swagger and defensive identity back with Horford anchoring the middle.
"For us to win three games in a row on the road, and one of the games being a back-to-back, is big for us," Avery Bradley told reporters Wednesday night in Brooklyn. "I think it does a lot for our team, our confidence level and, not only that, this might be our [third] game playing together as a team. So I'm happy with how we're growing together every single game."
Overall, the Celtics are 5-1 on the year when Horford takes the court and are outscoring opponents by 47 points whenever he is on the floor. His impact is most measurable on the offensive end of the floor, where he has a team-high 126 offensive rating through the first month of the season. His recent scoring efficiency (50 percent shooting from downtown in last three games) has help to space the floor better for Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, helping Boston morph into a top-10 NBA offense.
Horford's numbers are almost just as impressive on the defensive end of the floor, where he ties Jae Crowder for the team's best defensive rating. He leads the team in blocks with 2.5 rejections per game and the Celtics are a top-five team in defensive efficiency (per NBA.com) in the six games that he has suited up for.
Those numbers will be put to the test in the coming weeks, with nine of Boston's next 15 games coming on the road. However, Horford's calming presence and versatility on both sides of the floor should position the Celtics to continue their ascension towards the second seed in the East, the very spot they've had their eye on ever since landing the big man this summer.
Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.
