What's the chance horford was picked last?
I mean there are a lot of great players, but I think NBA players (especially smart ones) and coaches appreciate what Al can do. It's mostly just fans and some media players who do not.
agreed. Fans who focus on box scores for sure
Especially a guard or ball handler choosing who to play with. Just from even my level of play, can't speak to how valuable a good screener is (or a ball handler when you are a screener), who knows what to do and shares the ball, and is a threat to score at different areas. You want to play with a guy like that.
I mean, it is the All Star game and other guys out there are pretty great at that too. None are perhaps as versatile and he is the best passing big man in the league IMO.
Al's most impactful talents this season have been on the other end of the court, though, and probably not something that will get displayed in the AS game.
Al is second in the NBA in defended shots per game at 16.3 DFGA/gm (behind only Cousins' 16.8 /gm). And he's tied for 3rd in defensive FG% differential at -6.1% (minimum, 8 DFGA per game, minimum 20 games) behind only Embiid (-7.8%) and our own Jaylen Brown (-7.0%).
In other words, Al is defending shots both extremely well and at very high volume. (Jaylen is doing an amazing job of shot contention as well, but on a lower volume of 9.6 DFGA/gm).
Al is easily the number one reason the Celtics have the top defense in the league this season and it will be a crime if he doesn't get recognized at the end of the year with All-Defensive and DPOY consideration..
EDIT: Fixed the messed-up quote boundaries.