In a recent interview with Heavy Sports, veteran Boston Celtics center Al Horford discussed his role in containing Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid. Despite Horford’s reputation as a key player in slowing Embiid, the Florida alum emphasized that defending Embiid is a team effort and credited his Celtics teammates for understanding the game plan and providing support.
And while Horford got a break from defending the NBA’s 2022-23 Most Valuable Player as the Celtics faced the Sixers at TD Garden on Friday night with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey missing the tilt, it’s quite likely his former teammate was never far from his mind.
“For me, it’s really just trying to contain him in the best way that I can,” said Horford. “And usually, people always give me a lot of credit, but it’s a team thing.”
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“I feel like the guys around me understand the game plan,” continued the Celtics center. “They know what they need to do, and they’re always there to help and assist me.”
“He’s the kind of guy that just continues to get better. And offensively, he continues to eat. He’s really a student of the game, and I feel like he continues to find ways to be effective and efficient. It’s a big challenge, and anytime we have to play against them, we really have to be locked in.”
“I have to be really locked in and understand what I need to do because he’s the kind of guy that’s just so talented offensively, and he can really shoot it, too,” said Horford.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 2, 2023
The Celtics and the 76ers will have one more meeting in the NBA’s 2023-24 season, much later than the prior three coming within the first two months of an 82 (or perhaps 83-) game season in late February.
And — player health permitting — we will get another look at how Horford helps the Celtics slow one of the league’s most potent bigs on the offensive end of the court.
But the Dominican center will be the first to tell you afterward that he gets by with a little help with his friends.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 2, 2023
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