CeLTs core survives years
Horford’s return provides unique perspective
The kids have grown up, and in his second time around as a Celtic, Al Horford is drawing great energy from them.
“They definitely motivate me for sure. They inspire me,” the Celtics center, now a rejuvenated 35, said this week while preparing for the 13th postseason of his career. “I feel younger out there when I see Jayson (Tatum) doing some of the things that he does, Jaylen (Brown), Marcus (Smart). It fuels me. It really does. Being out there makes me want to take my game to another level.”
From the outside, which is to say from the perspective of his teammates, Horford isn’t much different from the big brother who left following the ill-fated 2018-19 season.
“To us he’s just the same Al, steady and consistent, a great leader,” said Brown, who has grown exponentially in all of those areas, too.
And that’s what makes his move back so special, says Horford. Tatum has broken into the MVP conversation, and will obviously stay there. Opponent/buddies like Draymond Green and Kevin Durant are predicting his ascendancy to the award — daring him to take it. Smart is no longer a voice in the wilderness where his candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year is concerned. Now many agree that he deserves to break the hold on the award big men have held since 1996 (and Gary Payton).
Brown, who has continually added to his so-called bag, is an elite three-level scorer. The greatest mystery is why he was never a greater consideration in the Most Improved discussion.
But back in the summer of 2019, when Horford signed with Philadelphia for more money and what he thought would be a better chance at a title, Horford chose a shortterm view over the longterm prospect these youngsters represented. Kyrie Irving was on his way out,
too. Terry Rozier, Marcus Morris. The team seemed to be breaking apart around him.
“The way that season ended, it just didn’t feel right to me how everything broke down and where I was at that time,” said Horford. “I wasn’t thinking long-term, I was thinking about it more in the moment, and usually I’m the kind of person who is more in the moment. I was thinking what’s best for me, but I wasn’t thinking in the longterm when I made that decision.
Everything has worked now because, not only did those guys grow, but Rob (Williams) came into his own, and there were other things that helped the group to get in the position we’re in today.”
And what a day it is. “I don’t know that I could have seen it come to THIS, like THIS,” Horford said of the team that begins Sunday’s series opener against Brooklyn as the second seed in the East. “I’ve just been very impressed with how they’ve handled it — the
growth. I wasn’t necessarily thinking, what’s this going to be like, but I didn’t see it coming like this. It’s a lot of credit to those guys for making this work.”
Getting it now
Tatum lost out on approximately $32 million in super max bonuses over the remaining five years of his contract by not making what would have been his second straight All-NBA team last season. Even if he does the expected and makes the All
NBA first team this spring, his max salary is now locked in under “designated rookie extension” rules.
But incentives are in the league’s bloodstream. Little wonder that Tatum talks about it. Now that he has cracked the MVP discussion as a top 5 name, he’s fulfilling an ambition that was planted when, as a high school sophomore, he met Kevin Durant during a summer basketball camp. According to Tatum’s Instagram post at the time, Durant said the 16-year-old was headed to the “Hall of Fame.”
In what had to be the most idyllic summer of his young life, Tatum worked out with another idol, Kobe Bryant, the summer following his rookie season. Bryant, looking ahead at the attention and criticism Tatum was bound to encounter as his game grew, laid down some perspective.
“Kind of just block out the hostile noise and always work on your craft, then the other things will take care of themselves,” Tatum said of Bryant’s message about striving for the highest honors.
“And he told me to not wait. Some guys think, I’ll wait until I’m 28 or 29 and in my prime (to win an MVP). Go after it even when you’re young, and if you fall short at least you gave yourself a chance. But don’t fall into the mindset of I’m going to wait for something.
“Growing up that was always a dream of mine — win a championship, win the MVP. I believe in myself and I’m sure that one day in my career it will come true.”
Tatum, in the season-long absence of Gordon Hayward and the loss of Irving prior to the playoffs, had just taken off as a rookie, leading the Celtics into the Eastern Conference Finals twice in three seasons.
“In my first year I didn’t know anything — you don’t know what you don’t know,” he said. “Everything was brand new to me and I was just taking it one day at a time. Everyone was very helpful, and everybody — Al, Ky, Morris — took me under their wing. Showed me by example, talked to me on the side, and I was always driven, always wanted it. I knew where I wanted to get to, so it was good. Seeing good examples. But at the same time I didn’t need any motivation. I was always hungry for what’s next.
“Felt like I was just living the dream, given a chance to play in different arenas, play against different players and put that jersey on every day. I was 19-, 20-years-old, more than anything just excited to have the opportunity. It was something I’d dreamed of. I was more so just happy to be out there.”
On the way all of the veterans brought in to help left for various reasons. Philadelphia made more sense to Horford, right around the same time Irving decided that Boston wasn’t his kind of city after all.
As the respective talents of Tatum, Brown and Smart grew, the veterans decided true opportunity lied elsewhere. For Horford, the better chance and paycheck was in Philadelphia. Irving made a big market splash in Brooklyn. Hayward, his injury history growing, found more money and what he thought would be a bigger role in Charlotte. Kemba Walker’s health declined the moment he arrived in Boston.
And throughout this string of departures, Tatum grew through the noise — everything from his demeanor to his efficiency and willingness to move the ball were targeted — and didn’t spend much time grieving the departure of old teammates.
“I enjoyed being around all those guys on a personal level, and I’m still good friends with all of them, but it’s always understood that there’s a business side to all of this and guys are going to have to make the right decisions for themselves,” he said.
“Just that this is the business of basketball. Second,
third year, first time being a part of changes like this, it was an adjustment. Teammates going to different teams, but it was just a matter of realizing that it’s part of being in the NBA. Some are teammates for awhile, some are teammates for a shorter time. Guys come and go. You just have to learn to move on.”
A tempered core
So the kids turned the NBA on its ear this season after a slow 23-24 start, finishing as the hottest team in the league with a 28-7 record from Jan. 21 on, after a loss to Portland dropped them under .500 for the last time this season.
Horford was back to help
lead, but now the kids were providing leadership of their own. Tatum and Brown bought into Ime Udoka’s demand that they attack double-teams and blitzes by moving the ball. Smart goosed the process in early November — some thought inappropriately — when he called out both teammates for not passing the ball more.
“The comments I made were definitely taken out of context,” Smart says now. “If you go back and listen to me, I said when teams play us, this is what the scouting report is against us and against Jaylen and Jayson. That we have to exploit that and get better at reading these teams and making them pay for that.
“It definitely was necessary for the simple fact that teams are sending doubleteams at those guys, and being able to make the right play is only going to make them better, and open the floor for those guys, especially later down the stretch in games.”
Smart was in the midst of his own emergence, not only as an elite stopper, but also, finally, after the Irving and Walker eras, as the Celtics’ chief point guard.
Like Tatum, he didn’t lose sight of the Celtics’ ability to reach a goal once all of those veteran teammates started to leave.
“For me it was from the standpoint of, they’re gone and it’s an opportunity for me or somebody else to step
up and show what we have,” he said. “In this league it’s all about timing and opportunity. Some opportunities come quicker than others, some longer. You just have to wait for yours.
“For me it wasn’t so much,’oh man, they’re leaving, the light at the end of the tunnel is dimmer.’ For me it was ‘oh man, OK, I’m proud of those guys.’ They made whatever decisions they had to make that was right for them, and now it’s an opportunity for me to show what I have, and showcase that.”
Not a finished product
Their collective youth considered, Tatum, Brown, Smart and Rob Williams aren’t close to their peak as a unit. Their development considered, maybe the departure of players like Hayward and Walker were necessary for their growth.
“I don’t really think in those terms,” said Brad Stevens. “Those guys were all really super-talented players and high draft picks — three, three and six. Part of the growth of an organization and team is their continued growth. Regardless of who was next to them, being around really good players and people who could push them and they could learn from were good things for their growth. I think Al in particular is the great connector. Him being back with those guys — him and Rob, their passing is so special that they can connect with those guys and allow them to be the best version of themselves.
“I don’t know if Jaylen and Jayson would remember this, but one of the things (Horford) talked about a few years ago was for them to maximize their careers and truly be amongst the elite, becoming two of the better leaders in the league was going to be really important. You can’t expect guys in their early twenties to do that. But throughout this year you can tell that that’s continuing to grow. They’re really good at it, and Marcus has always been a vocal leader with a great compassion and competitiveness. He can be special in that regard.”
Horford’s “patience” this season, according to Stevens, has been instrumental. This time he’s shown a different kind of leadership.
“People never talk about this in leadership, but Al’s patience has allowed them all to grow quickly in their own voice, and leading from their own personalities,” said the Celtics president. “And that’s a critical component. When you have guys as accomplished as Al, you can expect it to happen overnight, but he doesn’t view it that way. He’s a very patient, measured, obviously smart person. But he’s really impacted it.
“He has measurably taken a step back so those guys can have this moment. That’s a special leadership trait that few probably feel.”
What Horford sees now, though, is a chance he first envisioned upon signing with the Celtics in the summer of 2016.
“That was the question. Could they reach this point that we’re at now?” said Horford. “Could these three guys be that? I believe that Danny Ainge believed it. He definitely believed it. Besides what anybody else said, all the speculation during the first time I was here, he firmly believed in those guys, and Brad Stevens believed it. I feel he doubled down on it, and for me it’s just been impressive to see them come this far.”
He admits that this second chance with the same group, now matured, is an NBA rarity.
“I’m very grateful,” said Horford. “When Brad gave me the call and let me know this was going to happen, I was just very grateful for this opportunity. I came to Boston to do special things, to win a championship, and it was unfinished business. I posted that on Instagram.
“But I really meant it, and it’s something I don’t take for granted. This is a real opportunity. Not often do you get a second chance to redeem and be a part of something — to have a real chance. I feel really good about our group. We’ve had ups and downs, and different types of adversity, and now we’re at a point where we’ve overcome a lot of those obstacles.”