Al Horford hasn’t had a smooth transition to his new team after leaving the Celtics for the Sixers this summer, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Many expected Philadelphia to rise to the top of the East after adding the five-time All-Star, but Horford is still searching for his role in the offense alongside Joel Embiid.
Horford is averaging 12.6 PPG, his lowest scoring total in eight seasons, and his 46.0% field goal percentage and 6.6 rebounds are the lowest figures of his career. However, he averages 18.6 PPG in the six games Embiid has missed, suggesting his reduced numbers are tied to opportunity.
“I’m out (there) for the team and doing what I can to help us,” Horford said. “But offensively, I’m very limited with the things that I can do. So I can’t control that stuff. So all I have to do is make sure I’m there for the team, trying to do everything I can to help us win.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Josh Richardson discussed the need for more “accountability” after today’s blowout loss in Indiana, Pompey tweets. The Sixers trailed by more than 30 points in the second half. “I don’t think that there’s enough accountability in our locker room right now, honestly,” he said. “I think that we got some new guys, who don’t want to step on toes, including myself. I feel like we kind of go play, and don’t compete as much. There’s been games that we have and it’s been great. But when it’s not going good, we got to hold each other accountable. I think that’s where a lot of our problems start.” (Twitter link)
- Former Celtics guard Terry Rozier notices the difference between this year’s 23-8 team and last year’s underachieving squad, relays Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. Rozier admits there may have been more talent last season, but the players seem to be enjoying the game more now. “Talent, it can’t always get you to where you want to go,” he said. “You’ve got to have the guys that want to be good, want to play hard, want to learn — stuff like that. Obviously you can have all the talent in the world; if you don’t put it together and everybody don’t buy in, it’s not going to work out. And I think that’s what we got caught up in last year.”
- Former Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov was named Russian businessman of the year by Forbes Russia after netting a profit that may have reached $2 billion when he sold the team and Barclays Center, relays Net Income of NetsDaily.
Among the greatest players in NBA history, there are many 5s but few 4s.
And the top 4s like Duncan & McHale play like a 5 with on-court help from another 5.
I’m not even sure what a top power forward looks like beyond being helpful.
Yet being a 4 is so popular with players, like with Horford, who is NOT doing better as a mostly power forward.
Did you forgot the best 4s ever, Barkley, Malone, Garnett, Nowitzki, C-Webb, AD…
The 4 has evolved over the past 20 years, IMO more than other positions. In 90s and early 2000s PFs we’re relied on much more to play the post, but since then with guys like Kevin Love and Dirk leading the charge they have become floor spacers on offense and rebounders/post stoppers on D.
I think Horford’s lack of stats this year is a mix of age regression, having a dominate post scorer in Embiid, and a transition to a new system. If you look at his play by play he’s still playing 61% of his minutes at the 5 this year despite starting at PF. Meaning that most of his time on the court is without Embiid.
If you want Embiid to average 27 a game someone has to lose points. Al is doing his job.
I don’t know why Horford left Boston. He was a leader, huge part of the offense, and beloved by the city.Should’ve stuck around