After 15-year wait, Al Horford becomes key player in NBA finals

Al Horford spent nine years with the Atlanta Hawks. He participated in good teams, but the most he managed was to reach an Eastern Conference Finals in 2015, with a 4-0 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He changed airs, hoping that history would be different at the Boston Celtics, and again failed in an attempt to overcome the conference decision barrier.

After three seasons wearing green, the Dominican had frustrating stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, back with the Boston Celtics, although somewhat removed from the physical imposition that made him a five-time NBA All-Star Game, he is an important part of a team two games away from the title.

The pivot turned 36 last Friday (3). The day before, in his 15th season in the North American basketball league and his 13th run into the playoffs, he was in a best-of-seven game for the first time. After so much waiting, he insisted that the night was memorable.

The Celtics were on the ropes in San Francisco, dominated by the Golden State Warriors in the opening three quarters. Its young stars, Jayson Tatum, 24, and Jaylen Brown, 25, performed poorly. Then, the experienced Horford commanded a withering reaction and the turn, 120 to 108. He scored 26 points, 11 of them in the last period.

“The truth is, just go out there and play basketball,” said the forward, who made 9 of 12 shots from the field he attempted. “Of course, I’ve waited my whole life for the chance to play in the final, but I was comfortable. And I wanted to convey that tranquility to my teammates, above all. I wanted them to be light, because it was just another game.”

They weren’t, especially some of the younger ones. Tatum, in the first game, converted 3 of 17 attempts. In the second, also in San Francisco, Brown put 5 balls in the net in 17 chances. The Warriors showed superiority and triumphed by 108 to 77, tying the decisive confrontation.

With a three-day break until the third game of the series in Boston, Horford spoke extensively with Tatum, Brown and also Marcus Smart, 28. The Dominican has never been the talkative type, but he has realized that he has a respected voice, and while he can still Contributing impactfully on the court is useful in other ways as well.

“I felt that I was holding back a little. Professor Daigneault [Mark, técnico do Oklahoma], before I left, said, ‘Hey, make sure you speak your mind, because you speak, guys listen; you don’t realize the impact it can have’. So this time, I said to myself: I’m really going to stay involved with the guys,” she stated.

Even with Al’s docile nature, talking can cause friction. In December, when they were still skating, the Celts had a comeback defeat to the frail and severely depleted Minnesota Timberwolves. “We have to look at ourselves in the mirror, individually and as a team,” said Horford. “Oh, look in the mirror? No comment,” snarled Brown.

Then Boston geared up. After a 25-25 start to the season, Ime Udoka’s men won 26 of the remaining 32 games in the qualifying round and advanced to the decision, beating the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat. By the end of the Game 1 triumph against the Warriors, Brown wasn’t as upset with Horford.

“Phenomenal! That’s what we want, that’s what we need, that leadership of a veteran to carry us. He came and, in his first game in the finals, it was incredible. He carried us to victory”, vibrated the guard. “Al is our old man, man. He works. Nobody deserves to be here more than he does,” Smart added.

In Game 3, Horford had another productive night, with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and a contribution in the defensive lane – where the Warriors were smothered – that cannot be measured in numbers. This time, the youngsters also did well, and Boston went 2-1 in the decision, winning 116-100.

The Dominican had to play 141 games in the “playoffs” to finally play in the decision, on the big stage, a record in the history of the NBA. “The wait has made this moment sweeter. I feel grateful to be living it, and I feel like it’s my time. It’s exciting to be a part of it all,” he declared.

The big goal, of course, is not simply to participate in the finals. The cup is two wins away – and it can get even closer this Friday (10), at 22:00 (Brasília time), with Band, ESPN 2 and Star+ broadcasting –, which made the number 42 remember the moment of his arrival at the Celtics, a meeting attended by team owner Wyc Grousbek.

“I remember it vividly. Wyc was wearing the 2008 champion ring. And, you know, that thing is huge! He kept talking, gesturing with his hand, and I just looked at it, my eyes were there. It really hit me, all those diamonds. That’s what I’m looking for: to be in a position to get one of these for myself.”