The Boston Celtics' sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in their NBA Playoff first-round series earned them the right to face the Milwaukee Bucks in the next round. Even with Khris Middleton expected to miss the entirety of the series due to an MCL sprain, the Bucks remain a formidable foe thanks to MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo and the depth they possess on their roster. Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, knowing just how dangerous Antetokounmpo is, has a secret weapon to combat The Greek Freak. Udoka spoke about the key weapon on Thursday, as reported by Celtics writer Josue Pavon.
Ime Udoka says Al Horford will play a major part in slowing down Giannis Antetokounmpo:
"Al's almost tailormade for guarding a guy like Giannis"
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) April 28, 2022
Per Udoka, Celtics forward Al Horford will play a “major part” in Boston's attempt to slow down Antetokounmpo in the NBA Playoff series against the Bucks. Udoka even went as far to say that Horford is “tailor-made” to guard someone like Giannis.
Horford, who posted the second-lowest defensive rating in the league- per StatMuse– while averaging 1.3 blocks and just under a steal per game, is one of the more versatile defenders at the forward position.
In fact, the Celtics big man does have playoff experience defending Antetokounmpo, as he and Boston successfully executed a gameplan designed to stop last year's Finals MVP back in the 2019 playoffs.
While Antetokounmpo has made leaps and bounds as a player even from three years ago, Boston still possesses the personnel- and a secret weapon in Al Horford- to make things difficult for the Bucks star.
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