Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Al Horford after a win against the Los Angeles Lakers 111-101, saying he's coaching a future Hall of Famer.
The Boston Celtics delivered a strong performance on Saturday night, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 111-101. A key contributor to their impressive win was Al Horford, who scored 14 points and played outstanding defense throughout the game.
Al Horford
Al Horford
Al Horford
MIN: 27.32
PTS: 8.3 (45.24%)
REB: 5.76
As: 1.9
ST: 0.64
BL: 0.86
TO: 0.72
GM: 50
After the victory, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Horford’s defensive effort, noting that being targeted by opponents only fuels his motivation.
"It motivates him. When people do it, it motivates him," Mazzulla said regarding the Lakers’ attempts to attack Horford on defense.
Mazzulla was particularly impressed by Horford’s defensive performance, even calling him a future Hall of Famer.
"I got to watch five possessions of him defend at a high level. At one point, I wasn't even coaching—I was just watching him," Mazzulla said. "And I thought, 'Man, this guy's a future Hall of Famer.'"
"I get to watch this for free. And you have to be able to have that perspective. So I think he was motivated by that, and he's just an innate competitor who inspires our team," he added.
Now in his 18th NBA season, the 38-year-old Horford continues to be a valuable asset for the Celtics. He is averaging 8.3 points and 5.8 rebounds this season, proving that he still brings plenty to the table.
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