LeBron James' departure from the Eastern Conference has not sat all that well with Boston Celtics center Al Horford, who was anxious to run it back this year with his team in full force. The Celtics fell a game shy of a ticket to the NBA Finals, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games, despite holding home court advantage.
James singlehandedly carried his team to the Finals after Kyrie Irving departed for Bean Town, but neither him or Gordon Hayward were there to give the Celtics that star power boost to finally dethrone them.
“Last year was the first year that I could kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel, because before it’s been a struggle,” said Horford of James, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “His teams have had their way against the teams that I’ve been a part of. That’s why I was a little disappointed that he went West, because this year it’s the year that we have as good a chance as I’ve ever had.”
LeBron's reign of terror and his chokehold on the Eastern Conference has finally ceased since he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, leaving that chapter as unfinished business for Horford, who was hoping to fight fire with fire now that his star teammates are fully healthy.
Horford's last four playoff stints have ended with James celebrating and the Florida product going home early, as he's lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers the last two years in the Eastern Conference Finals and did so as well with the Atlanta Hawks in 2015, as well as the semifinals in 2016 — a torment of sorts for a player as competitive as Horford.
The two could have the chance to meet again in the regular season, but it's unlikely their inter-conference matchups will hold any weight until they meet in the NBA Finals, reviving a long-dormant franchise rivalry.
Follow Us
Subscribe