Boston Celtics: 5 Reasons Why Al Horford Can Transform The Celtics
By Adam McGee
The consensus is that the Boston Celtics will be better with Al Horford, but how exactly is he going to make the difference?
With the regular season’s return now only a matter of days away, much of the talk around the NBA is centered on the impact that one of the summer’s most surprising deals could have on the landscape of the league.
Of course, it’s true that the Golden State Warriors will be an even more terrifying prospect with Kevin Durant in tandem, but improving upon what was already an all-time great team won’t be quite so easy. Naturally, the most obvious improvement would come in regaining the Larry O’Brien trophy, but 73 wins is a mark so close to perfection that it may not be passed again.
That leaves an opening for an offseason deal that seems likely to have the biggest impact on an increase in a team’s win total, and the natural fit for that billing is Al Horford and the Boston Celtics.
To beat a great team requires the highest level of performance on that particular night, and in that respect, facing the Warriors this season will be similar to what it was last year: Bring your best or get blown out.
For the 2016-17 Celtics, it’s all about making the jump from good to great. From finishing in the 40-win range to winning in the 50s or 60s.
Making that kind of leap is no easy feat, but with a strong core of returning talent, one of the league’s very best coaches and a centerpiece like Al Horford, it’s very much in play.
Related Story: Boston Celtics: 2016-17 Season Outlook
Horford’s track record and pedigree from his time as a Hawk would seem to suggest that he’s the perfect man to push the Celtics from being a cute and plucky up-and-comer to one of the East’s biggest powerhouses again.
How exactly can Horford help to transform the Celtics and push them back up towards the dizzying heights of former glories? Let’s take a closer look to find out.