When the Warriors signed Al Horford, it was in hopes to compete for a title this season. They spoke about having a floor-spacing big man who showed last playoffs he can still be a contributor. But instead, Golden State has struggled to break through. Horford, 39, has also had a tough start to the season while dealing with injuries.
But Horford put together his best game of the year in the win over the Bucks on Wednesday. He finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in his 19 minutes. Horford also shot 3-for-6 from the field and 2-for-4 on 3-pointers. That’s more like the vintage Horford who Celtics fans saw for years in Boston.
Horford missed time this season due to nerve irritation, so he’s played in 18 games this season. He’s averaging 6.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Just like with the Celtics over the past few seasons, he isn’t playing in back-to-backs.
It’s no surprise it’s taking some time for Horford to adjust to his new team. The Warriors haven’t been able to break through as they’re 20-18 on the season. Horford signed with Golden State in hopes of competing for a title with guys like Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.
Ironically, the Celtics are looking like a potential threat to come out of the East. They’re currently 23-13, good for third in the conference. The C’s could also use a reliable backup big man, similar to what Horford provided over the past few years. So it’s a tough blow both ways. But the Celtics weren’t expected to be this good this season with no Jayson Tatum even though they’ve exceeded expectations so far.