Inside The Celtics

Al Horford Discusses Series-Long Battle with Joel Embiid: 'I Had to Put My Imprint in the Series'

The MVP finished with 15 points on 5/18 shooting and four turnovers in the Sixers' Game 7 loss to Celtics.

Bobby Krivitsky

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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One of the keys to the Celtics advancing past the Sixers and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth time in the last seven years and third in the last four is Al Horford's defense against Joel Embiid.

The former saved his best work for Boston's 112-88 Game 7 win. The league MVP finished with 15 points on 5/18 shooting and committed four turnovers.

The Celtics' elder statesman held Embiid to 3-of-16 as his primary defender on Sunday, per Kirk Goldsberry of ESPN.

As captured by Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston, when you zoom out, Horford's impact against Philadelphia's star center for the series is even more impressive.

After the series finale, Horford discussed taking on the challenge of guarding the modern-day version of Hakeem Olajuwon.

"Try to make everything as difficult as I could. He's the MVP of the league for a reason. And how much pressure he can put on your defense, and so many things that he can do. So, I was just out there trying to fight for my life and trying to make an impact. And I understood that in this series, it wasn't gonna be so much my offense, it was more defensively, but I had to take that challenge and defend him for us to have a chance."

Horford, who blocked Embiid three times in Game 7, added about their series-long battle, "It was very difficult, but it was one of those things that I had to figure it out. I had to put my imprint in the series. I had to figure it out."

Between the 36-year-old center running out of chances to capture his first NBA championship and the frustrating experience he had in Philadelphia, where he got miscast as a scapegoat for their underachieving, besting Embiid and playing a pivotal role in sending the Sixers into the offseason had to feel especially sweet.

Further Reading

Celtics React to Jayson Tatum's Historical Game 7 Performance: 'There's Nothing They Could Do'

Jayson Tatum Discusses His Relationship with Celtics Fans: 'I Love Being Here'

Jaylen Brown Salutes TD Garden Crowd After Game 7: 'It Was Amazing'

Jayson Tatum Discusses Historic Game 7 Performance: 'That's When I Play My Best'

Here's What Stood Out in Game 7 Win vs. Sixers: Celtics Save Their Best Performance for When They Needed it Most

Celtics Praise Joe Mazzulla for Game 6 Adjustments That Helped Save Their Season

Celtics Discuss Jayson Tatum Rising to the Occasion, Forcing a Game 7

Here's What Stood Out in Game 6 Win vs. Sixers: Jayson Tatum's 16 Fourth Quarter Points Saves Celtics' Season

Jaylen Brown Discusses Whether Making an All-NBA Team Provides Clarity About His Future

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Earn All-NBA Honors; Here's What That Means for Them and the Celtics

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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