Everything looking up for Horford, Brown
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Al Horford first started looking up at the Garden’s championship banners as an Atlanta rookie.
He first experienced the tartness of the Garden crowd that year, too, culminating in a particularly emotional first-round loss to the Celtics in the 2008 playoffs.
“Rough. Rough crowd. A lot of respect for them though, they are very, very tough,” he said before last night’s open scrimmage in front of season ticket-holders at the Garden.
And as Horford discovered during player introductions, now that he’s one of their own, they can be very, very warm. As expected, Horford received the loudest greeting.
“For me, for really any player that comes here, you have to make sure you come in and play the right way, play with a lot of energy and compete,” he said. “We’re trying to be the best team that we can here. It’s an honor to be able to call this home and play on this floor. I’m definitely excited.”
Jaylen Brown, on the other hand, spent his first night in the building. His eyes, too, drifted up toward the championship laundry.
“I did, I looked up, saw all the banners, no pressure but it’s a lot of history up there,” said Brown. “I feel happy to carry on the legacy.
“Surreal, it’s exciting,” he said. “First time seeing the lights, seeing the court, seeing everyone together.”