Zach Lowe on the Celtics So Far

[Big333223]

The Celtics made Zach Lowe's "10 things I like" this week. Good stuff.

In two months, Horford and Irving have established a level of wink-wink mind-meld other tandems can't approach after five years together. Their give-and-go game is already one of the prettiest in the league. Forty of Irving's 100 baskets have come via assists this season; Horford has supplied the dime on 17 of them, more than double any other teammate, per NBA.com. Irving has been the passer on 25 of Horford's 44 assisted buckets.

They don't even need the ball to make magic:

VIDEO

The guard in Irving's spot there would typically fly around Horford's pick and continue into a handoff from Daniel Theis. Irving sees Dennis Schroder duck under Horford's pick, and senses a chance to moonwalk into a catch-and-shoot triple instead. Horford reads that, and flips his screen around to give Irving daylight. Splash.

Boston has scored a mammoth 1.5 points per possession on any trip featuring a handoff between Irving and Horford, per data from Second Spectrum. Among 168 duos who ran at least 50 such plays last season, only one -- Maurice Harkless handing to Damian Lillard, which happened just 57 times -- produced a higher figure.

When Horford feels his defender itching to trap Irving, he'll fake the handoff and bolt to the rim -- the NBA's version of a play-action scramble:

The guard in Irving's spot there would typically fly around Horford's pick and continue into a handoff from Daniel Theis. Irving sees Dennis Schroder duck under Horford's pick, and senses a chance to moonwalk into a catch-and-shoot triple instead. Horford reads that, and flips his screen around to give Irving daylight. Splash.

Boston has scored a mammoth 1.5 points per possession on any trip featuring a handoff between Irving and Horford, per data from Second Spectrum. Among 168 duos who ran at least 50 such plays last season, only one -- Maurice Harkless handing to Damian Lillard, which happened just 57 times -- produced a higher figure.

When Horford feels his defender itching to trap Irving, he'll fake the handoff and bolt to the rim -- the NBA's version of a play-action scramble:

VIDEO

I'm not sure Horford has played with this kind of constant aggression in his career. It's as if Irving has injected him with some swagger. Horford is driving full-speed when defenders rush to close out on his jumper, dunking on people, and zipping touch passes the moment the ball hits his fingertips. Is Al Horford -- placid, unselfish Al Horford -- showing off just a little?

Skeptics worried Boston chose glamour over grit in sending Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder out to make way for Irving and Gordon Hayward. Nope. They lead the league in points allowed per possession, and they are fourth in defensive rebounding. Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Horford, Aron Baynes, Daniel Theis and Semi Ojeleye provide plenty of grit, and Marcus Morris will assume a larger role soon.

The guards are gang rebounding fiends. Ojeleye has quick feet on defense. Theis is a banger who can shoot a little and pass. Baynes is a walking cement wall. Brown can defend almost every position, and everyone is talking to each other on switches. Jayson Tatum plays like a five-year veteran.

Brown and Tatum are shooting well enough from deep -- 44 percent combined -- that Smart can roam the interior when they all play together. The lineup of Irving, Smart, Brown, Tatum and Horford is off to a nice start, and could become Boston's go-to crunch-time group -- this season's "IT and D." Imagine when Hayward is available next season to replace one of the wings? Look out.

Later:

Horford does almost everything for Boston. He'll never average 25 per game, and if you believe only guys who can get buckets one-on-one over and over are worthy of max deals, then you will never believe Horford is worthy of one. But his all-around play and behind-the-scenes leadership are converting skeptics.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21356977/zach-lowe-10-things-like-featuring-kyrie-irving-nba

[Roy H.]

Horford has for sure been the story of the season. The dude is playing the like he found Lebron’s fountain of youth. It’s been impressive, just watching the conversion from last year (good, important player) to now (indispensable all-star).

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Horford has for sure been the story of the season. The dude is playing the like he found Lebron’s fountain of youth. It’s been impressive, just watching the conversion from last year (good, important player) to now (indispensable all-star).

Here's to hoping his bell didn't get rung too hard.

[j804]

Horford has for sure been the story of the season. The dude is playing the like he found Lebron’s fountain of youth. It’s been impressive, just watching the conversion from last year (good, important player) to now (indispensable all-star).

Here's to hoping his bell didn't get rung too hard.

He’s questionable for tonight so he’s prob feeling good. They should just rest him this game too though

[libermaniac]

Horford has for sure been the story of the season. The dude is playing the like he found Lebron’s fountain of youth. It’s been impressive, just watching the conversion from last year (good, important player) to now (indispensable all-star).

I would say during last year's playoffs his transformation was complete.  He was a stud in the playoffs as well.

[nickagneta]

I think Kyrie has helped bring out the best in Horford. IT and Horford just never had the chemistry that Kyrie and Al have had in just 12 games this year.