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Al Horford and the Boston Celtics just punched their second ticket to the NBA Finals over the last three seasons after completing a four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Of course, the Celtics are hoping for a better result this time around.
Back in 2022, Boston advanced to the finals and met the Golden State Warriors, who were aiming to win their fourth championship since 2015. The C's actually took a 2-1 lead in the series, only to watch Stephen Curry and the Warriors reel off three straight wins for a six-game victory.
Horford noted big differences between the 2024 Celtics and the 2022 iteration, saying that their paths to the finals were obviously very different.
Al Horford talks about the difference between this team, and winning the ECF Finals in 2022 pic.twitter.com/YHKPtMeQlp
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 28, 2024
Essentially, Horford thinks that all of the rest the Celtics have gotten throughout the playoffs this year will end up being a significant factor.
In 2022, Boston faced the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat in a gauntlet on its way to the finals. The C's swept the Nets, but it was a hard-fought series. They then played two grueling seven-game sets against the Bucks and Heat, so by time they played Golden State, they were exhausted.
This spring, however, the Celtics have gone 12-2 in their three series and will now get to rest until June 6.
Horford added that this group is more mature than the 2022 squad.
Al Horford is still doing amazing things for the Celtics
A few years ago, when Horford departed Boston to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers and suffered through a miserable 2019-20 campaign, the big man looked finished. He then played half of a season with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020-21 before being benched because the Thunder were tanking.
But that ensuing offseason, the Thunder traded Horford back to the Celtics, and since then, he has seen a major resurgence.
Horford will turn 38 years old on June 3, but from watching him play, you would never know it. He averaged 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and one steal over 34.7 minutes per game against the Pacers, shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 39.3 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
He dropped 23 points while making seven three-pointers in Game 3, and back in Round 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Horford rattled off 22 points, 15 boards, five assists and three blocks in the Celtics' Game 5 closeout victory.
Horford was also incredibly efficient during the regular season, logging 8.6 points, 6.4 boards and one block across 26.8 minutes a night on 51.1/41.9/86.7 shooting splits. He registered a career-high true-shooting percentage of 65 percent and posted .172 win shares per 48 minutes.
The veteran was Kristaps Porzingis' backup for most of the season, but ever since Porzingis injured his calf in Game 2 of Boston's first-round series win over the Heat, Horford has been thrust into a full-time starting role and has flourished.
Amazingly enough, Horford has been even better this year than he was last season, which is a testament to just how resilient the five-time All-Star is.
Now, Horford will get another chance at his first ring.
The Celtics will face either the Dallas Mavericks or Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Finals. More than likely, it will be the Mavericks, who are currently up 3-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
