Al Horford had a big night against the Chicago Bulls. He finished the game with 23 points and eight rebounds. However, his performance from the perimeter was most amazing. He went 5-for-10 from deep, with four of those coming from the right corner.
Horford performed similarly in terms of screening, creating, and defense. He did, however, appear more aggressive on the offensive end and frequently found himself in space.
Horford in the weakside corner gives the Celtics a consistent release valve.
We know he can hit corner threes at a high rate and drive baseline to attack closeouts. Furthermore, with Horford in the corner, the Celtics are permitting more inverted perimeter actions, which are intended to constantly generate mismatches for the ball-handler or pass receiver.
I’ll leave you with the above video of Horford getting Nikola Vucevic to bite on a fake before attacking the rim off the dribble.
Vintage. This is the only way to describe Luke Kornet’s performance on Saturday. He was a monster on the glass, grabbing five offensive rebounds and 13 total. He seemed to thrive when playing as the starting center in a double-big lineup, and he once again shown why he is one of the finest third-string centers in the game.
Kornet appears to have come to terms with his bulk on the floor. He’s playing with more force, and he’s much more aggressive while pressing the glass on both sides of the floor.
When you combine his rebounding with his ever-improving perimeter play as a creator, it’s reassuring to know he’s the Celtics’ backup big man. Kornet performed well against Chicago as a screener, DHO originator, and short-roll passer.
