HORFORD, CELTS BACK TO WORK
Celtics big man Al Horford laughs with teammates during yesterday’s first training camp practice at the Auerbach Center. Horford welcomes his role as a center and veteran leader. Bulpett,
‘Well, the way that the game keeps changing, playing the 5 works to my advantage.’
It is, therefore, no surprise at that that young Mr. Tatum improved over the summer. (Hey, at 20, he’s still too young for some distractions.) So Tatum worked — and it apparently worked.
“Oh, he’s way better,” Horford said. “Yeah, absolutely. He’s the one guy that ... we played here all September, pickup games, and he’s just noticeably more comfortable and just playing much better.”
Horford is more comfortable in his role, as well. He, Irving and Hayward are the veteran stars, but they don’t have the leadership business to themselves.
“The three of us haven’t even talked about that,” he said. “Coach (Brad Stevens) sat us down as a team and talked to us. He kind of laid it out for the group.
— AL HORFORD On playing center with the Celts
“I think one of the strengths of our group is that we have a lot of leaders. Even as a rookie, I was trying to help the team in speaking out times that probably I wasn’t supposed to. I think now I’m doing the same thing, making sure that if I see something or anything I can do to help the guys, I’m speaking up. Especially on the defensive end. That’s my main focus, defense. I’m always on Tatum, talking to him about defense, and Jaylen, all of the guys. That’s my focus, my emphasis. But the thing that’s different about this team is that we have several guys that can do that, and that’s rare.”
For the Celtics to reach their very reasonable goal — playing basketball next June — sacrifice and bending to the needs of the team will be required. Horford is prepared to do his part. He’s never been all that excited about playing center and getting banged on by some bigger people, but he’s all in on it now, making it even more likely that the Celtics will start the same five they did in Cleveland on opening night last October — Horford, Hayward, Tatum, Irving and Brown.
“Well, the way that the game keeps changing, playing the 5 works to my advantage,” Horford said. “And with the lineup that we have and all the guys that we have, I feel like we’re most explosive if I play more 5.
“I wasn’t (enamored with being the center) before, but with this kind of team, it’s what we need. So I think that I’m going to play mostly at the 5, and then I’ll play some 4 when (Aron) Baynes or (Daniel) Theis come in, but I’m OK with it.”
And if he’s up against some beastly big man, he can always request the presence of Baynes, right? Horford laughed and replied, “’Aron, come here.’ Or I’ll just drag (the opposing big guy) out and make him guard me on the perimeter.”
The Celtics do have options. Horford is sure of them this year.