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Boston Celtics big man Al Horford is pleased his team is starting to play with more focus now that the NBA playoffs are just around the corner.
After their win over the Miami Heat, Horford admitted that the Celtics' recent resurgence has a different feel to it, something which is encouraging for him.
Al Horford says the current stretch the Celtics are on feels different: “I just think that this time of the year and everything that’s at stake, and the playoffs nearing, I think our group is playing much better focus. That’s encouraging."
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) April 4, 2019
The Celtics have had an up-and-down season. Many experts believe they could easily win 60 games or so in the 2018-19 NBA season. After all, they have a young and exciting core and have also been building on their playoff experience in recent years.
Boston lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the last two Eastern Conference Finals. Anything short of an 18th NBA title at the conclusion of 2018-19 is going to be a disappointment for Boston fans.
At this juncture of the NBA season, it's important for the Beantown team to intensify their focus. They are neck-and-neck with the Indiana Pacers for the East's fourth playoff seed.
Both teams have identical 47-32 (.595) win-loss records. However, the Celtics own the tie-breaker. Should the current playoff seedings prevail, Boston will host Indiana in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series.
Al Horford previously said that it's “very important” for Boston to earn homecourt advantage during the first round of the postseason.
The 32-year-old Horford, a 12-year NBA veteran, has been averaging 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists for the Celtics in 65 games in the 2018-19 NBA campaign.