2019 NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers preview

Key Matchup: Al Horford vs. Myles Turner

A back-and-forth between two of the best guards of the East in Kyrie Irving and Victor Oladipo would’ve been a sight to behold, but for now, we’ll have to settle for a battle between the two starting centers of these playoff contenders.

His numbers may not suggest the value of a true NBA superstar, but Al Horford is incredibly valuable to what the Celtics do on a nightly basis. He spaces the court out to the 3-point line and can initiate the offense as a point-center.

Defensively, he’s versatile enough to guard all five positions and has proven capable of slowing down bulkier opponents and protect the rim. There’s a reason Boston is a +5.9 per 100 possessions with Horford on the court. It’s because of his impact that’s felt across the board.

In his fourth NBA season, Myles Turner appears to have found his niche with one of the more unique skill-sets as a near seven-footer. He’s shooting a career-high 38.8 percent from beyond the arc while subsequently leading the league in blocks per game at 2.7.

He’s long and athletic with a defensive win share mark inside the top 30 among players to appear in 50 or more games, spearheading a defensive attack that ranks third in defensive rating.

These two bigs do a lot that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheet on both ends of the court, Turner as a floor-spacing rim-protector and Horford as a versatile defender and playmaker. They likely won’t be asked to close out tight games with their scoring, but the two bigs will have their fingerprints all over the entirety of the 48 minutes.