The Boston Celtics have some of the league’s better big men on their roster, and that is no small part of the reason they ended the 2021-22 campaign two wins shy of an NBA title.
And now that we are in the dog days of summer, the trend to rank and assess the rosters of all 30 teams around the league for the 2022-23 season grows. When it comes to the top 25 centers in the Association for the season soon to arrive in the estimation of a panel of writers and editors from our sister site HoopsHype, the Celtics are judged to have two such big men on their roster.
Today, let’s take a look at the lower ranked of the pair, this one coming in at No. 13 overall.
Once a Celtic always a Celtic: Where to find former Boston players signing new deals https://t.co/dGveVskaxp
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 28, 2022
Al Horford - No. 13 center for the 2022-23 season
“After an unimpressive stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, Al Horford went back to the Boston Celtics and immediately returned to form as one of the more uniquely impactful two-way big men in the league,” writes HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina.
“Horford’s raw numbers weren’t huge, as the Dominican center averaged 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks nightly, but his impact was enormous, as the Celtics were 3.3 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor, a number that grew to 5.1 points per 100 possessions in the playoffs. It’s not difficult to see why, either, as Horford was versatile on both ends, able to score down low, on face-up opportunities, space the floor and create for others on offense, as well as protect the paint and use his still-quick feet to not get destroyed by opposing ball-handlers when asked to switch.”
“With the Celtics reaching the finals last season and coming within two games of a championship, expectations will be high again in 2022-23, and we expect Horford to do his part next year in helping Boston remain a contender,” adds H/H.
And the suggestion is to augment his passing chops, already among the best in the league for centers. https://t.co/GMogxN1n8g
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 28, 2022
We, here at the Celtics Wire, very much agree on the importance of Horford to the team’s contention hopes. The former Florida standout has been an integral part of the play that propelled the Celtics as far as they went in the 2022 NBA playoffs.
Rest will be key for his freshness in the postseason, so expect the Dominican big man to take plenty of back-to-backs off to ensure his availability after such a long run in the postseason.
Just when you thought they were gone, they return as a potentially helpful tool to finish Boston’s roster for 2022-23. https://t.co/1kUvhEX7Sm
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 28, 2022
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