Inside The Celtics

In Game 6, Hawks Tried to Rattle Al Horford; It Backfired: 'You Talk Trash to Me, Probably Not Good for You'

Al Horford registered 10 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals in the Celtics' series-clinching win.

Bobby Krivitsky

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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While most often praised for being a steadying presence for the defending Eastern Conference champions, Al Horford also tends to provide huge lifts when his team needs it.

His dunk on Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 4 in Milwaukee last year and returning the favor for the two-time league MVP's habit of throwing elbows on his way to and while finishing at the rim is a prime example.

From his two national championships as a Florida Gator to his 60-win Hawks and three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals since joining the Celtics, including coming within two wins of an NBA title last year, his ability to consistently meet the moment is essential to why his teams succeed at such a high level.

Thursday, in Boston's 128-120 series-clinching win in Atlanta, Horford was at his best in the final frame, helping his teammates do the same.

The Celtics' elder statesman snagged seven of his 12 rebounds in the fourth quarter, including a put-back on a missed layup by Jaylen Brown. He also had a steal and a block.

But Horford's most important contribution came when the Hawks sent two defenders at Jayson Tatum, who dished to Marcus Smart; the latter's getting to the basket forced Clint Capela to rotate to protect the rim, and Smart kicked the ball out to Horford, who buried a three that gave the visitors a 116-113 edge with 3:35 left.

That shot followed a pull-up three by Brown at the start of Boston staging an 18-7 run to end the game and the series.

You'll notice that after knocking it down, Horford turns to Atlanta's bench, responding to the chirping he had already silenced. After the win, he addressed that exchange.

"There was somebody there, I'm not gonna call him out, but he was -- I appreciate it because he got me going. He said some stuff there that I wasn't very pleased with, and I took it to heart, and I was able to get that shot, so I appreciate him for talking trash to me. Some people you can talk trash to. You talk trash to me, (it's) probably not good for you." 

Further Reading

Here's What We Know About the Celtics-Sixers Second-Round Schedule

Celtics Discuss Difference-Maker in Game 6 vs. Hawks: 'In the Playoffs, You've Got Basketball, You've Got Execution, And Then You've Got This Like Fight That's Kind of Going On'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 6 Win vs. Hawks: Boston Delivers Late Haymaker, are on to a Date with the Sixers

Jayson Tatum Shares His Perspective on Bucks' First-Round Exit

Film Room: Roots of Celtics' Game 5 Fourth Quarter Collapse

Celtics Share Their Perspective on Game 5 Collapse: 'You Give a Team Life, You Leave It Up to Chance'

Celtics Praise Robert Williams for Impact in What They Deemed a Must-Win Game 4: 'Can't Even Give Words to What Rob Does on Our Team'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 4 Win vs. Hawks: Jaylen Brown's 22 Second-Half Points Propels Boston to 3-1 Series Lead

Published
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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