Browsing: ageless

Basketball

Al Horford looks ageless in Warriors’ preseason opener – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

SAN FRANCISCO – Al Horford, 39, knows heâ€s old by NBA standards. He doesnâ€t sweat it, nor do the Warriors. If his regular season looks anything like his performance on Sunday, neither should the good citizens of Dub Nation.

Horford came off the bench for 14 hyperactive minutes in a 111-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Golden Stateâ€s preseason opener at Chase Center. He scored only three points, a triple that splashed neatly through the net, but the rest of his game put skeptics on alert.

The 6-foot-9 forward/center had four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal. Moreover, he was plus-13 for his effort.

“Fun,†coach Steve Kerr said of Horfordâ€s showing. “To see the size and the shooting ability, passing ability, just the flow of the game. What an addition he is.â€

Horford earned the right to join fellow veterans Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green as spectators once the halftime buzzer sounded.

When Moses Moody picked up three fouls in the first three minutes, Horford hopped off the bench and took the floor, receiving a warm ovation from the sellout crowd. He immediately went to work.

Horford was sprinting the floor. Bouncing about the paint. Rotating with ease and timing. He slides over to trap Bronny James and comes away with a steal. When Nate Williams pump-fakes Draymond Green out of position, Horford rotates over and uses his 7-foot-1 wingspan for the block.

“Itâ€s more a sign of his basketball IQ than it is him flying around trying to impress anybody,†Kerr said. “Heâ€s just always in the right spot. He had (three) blocked shots. The two that I remember, he just rotated over perfectly, recognized the late shot clock, knew exactly where he was, what he needed to do. Heâ€s been around for a long time, heâ€s seen everything, and it comes very naturally to him.â€

For all that Kevon Looney gave this franchise, this was an 18-year veteran, with more comprehensive skills, making spectacular plays, and nobody appreciated it more than Curry, who turned a Horford dime into an easy bucket.

“Obviously has a high IQ,†Curry said. “An experienced, championship-caliber player that can fit with any lineup out there. He gives us space. He gives us presence on the defensive end. You saw the pass he made to me out of the corner on the give-and-go. Thereâ€s just an unspoken chemistry that will continue to get better.

“Heâ€s a multidimensional as a 5-man. Excited to see what that looks like for me, for Jimmy, for JK and Draymond. Any lineup, you can throw him out there at the 5 and he lifts the group.â€

Horford spent time with most of the teamâ€s rotation players, and even shared the court with fellow center Quinten Post. That probably wonâ€t be last time Kerr resorts to utilizing two big men together.

Though Horford was not in the starting lineup, he still projects as the likely starter at center. He certainly will be in the finishing lineup.

No player in franchise history has been projected as a starter at such an advanced age, so initial concern about Horfordâ€s health is valid. Any concern about his conditioning, however, should be put to rest. Not one of his teammates brought more velocity.

Horford played 60 games, with 42 starts, last season with the Celtics, as planned by coach Joe Mazzulla. He hasnâ€t played more than 70 games since appearing in 72 in 2017-18. He averaged 27.7 minutes last season, 26.8 the year before.

The Warriors will follow a similar regimen.

“We’ll do the same thing,†Kerr said. “We have to preserve all our older guys as best we can to have them ready for the playoffs. That’s the idea.

“But no question, he’s still got it. He’s incredible player. Great fit for us.â€

Itâ€s a preseason game. The opener. But there was not one clumsy moment for Horford. The pro looked like a pro with enough game to render his age irrelevant.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Source link