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After yesterday’s practice, Xavier Tillman was excited with the early season opportunity to fill in for Kristaps Porzingis. He talked about how every big man on the depth chart (he, Neemias Queta, and Luke Kornet) all bring something different to the table, adding, “and you know Al (Horford), he’s probably not playing any back-to-backs. So for us, just figuring out what we can best assess.”
Last season, Horford saw his minutes drop significantly from the season prior. In the 2022/23 season, he averaged 30.5 minutes per game and featured in 63 games across the season. Last year, however, Horford played just 26.8 minutes, but played in two more games. It was a different year for Big Al as he was the odd man out of the top-6 and was the one who came off the bench after Boston acquired Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday who rounded out the starting five with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White.
During Media Day, Al Horford spoke with NBC Sports Boston on his playing time last season and how he trusted the depth and talent to preserve his body for the playoffs.
“I have an expectation of what it is like having a regular, full NBA season. The ups, the downs, the grind, [and] how you have to prepare your body in the summer to endure all that. Now with a shorter summer, [I] took some time off, I took about three weeks off, then I just started back, trying to build it back up, working on the body, getting in the weight room, doing some conditioning, and just going from there,” Horford said.
The Celtics decided not to have Horford play in back-to-back games and that is when the likes of Oshae Brissett, Queta, and Kornet got more minutes and started to carve out their minutes and roles in the team. With Porzingis sidelined until December, it’s important that Boston keeps Horford rested and not overuse him early in the season. Naturally, Al will take the starting position so his minutes may naturally increase, but it’s important to give him ample rest when needed.
The Celtics on days without both Horford and Porzingis will need to rely on Tillman Sr., Kornet, and Queta, all guys who Brad Stevens signed to new contracts. Kornet and Tillman both had surgeries this offseason but should be good to go from the jump.
Al admitted that it’s tough to not play as the competitor he always wants to be on the floor competing.
“You’re a competitor, but I think that, once I saw the amount of talent that we have in our locker room and guys are capable, I understood that things had to be different for me. And then I understood that I had to make sure that I was just staying prepared and staying consistent and whatever the team needed for me, that’s what I was going to do,” he said.
“In the past, I’ve had to play a lot more and like I said, we have so much talent now, so many guys that can do different things. I feel like Joe does such a good job and putting us in different situations, and kind of plugging people in when he needs them that we don’t have to go crazy. From a competitive standpoint, I felt it, but I understood that it was for the better of the team.”
When Al was called upon when the playoffs started, particularly with Porzingis out, Horford averaged over 30 minutes and did what he did best: stayed consistent.
“I have fun competing. I enjoy it and really try to stay ready and try to do whatever I can to help the team win. And it just hasn’t changed,” Horford said. “I think at times I’ve had bigger roles, and last year I was naked to have a different role, but when the opportunity was presented, I’m just competing out there, and I’m trying to take advantage of it.”
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