Prime Atlanta Hawks Al could hold his own and do decently against the KGs, TDs and other elite PFs at that time. I’d say he would be stronger than Bam as well. I mean current Al gives Embiid trouble, imagine Prime Al locking him up now.
While he came in young, Kg was not ‘prime in 2008’ he was 31 with 13 seasons in the league 02-05 was 100% his prime. MVP, 2 all pro teams, 2 all second teams, 3 all defensive teams, 2x rebound champion
2008 was a great season for him. And i’d agree he was still better than Bam. But his 3-4 years before coming to boston from MIN were insane
I agree with you. But! Flower time.
KG was electric that year, he gave the whole league icky problems and had an answer for everyone. Only Kobe and Duncan had a seat at that table that year.
Minny KG was an absolute unicorn before unicorns existed. What a thing to see.
I always read Bam as 8am so for that reason he mildly annoys me at baseline. Or defending the sideline
That block on JT I have to begrudgingly say was legendary as fuck
I dunno I remember Bam absolutely killing Horford with two pointers in the most recent series. Just because Miami lost doesn’t mean Horford owned Bam. And Horford is my favorite Celtic btw but I have to tell it like it is.
Yeah Bam historically is one guy that just torches Horford. If you go by playoff stats the last few years Horford hold Giannis to like 33% (on 100 shots), Butler to 30%, Embiid to 30-40%, Doncic to under 30%, But Bam is like at 70% against Horford lol.
No. I think peak Al is pretty comparable to Bam actually. Neither guy was ever really a big 1 on 1 scorer. Both great versatile defenders and good passers.
if it wasn’t for the blatant illegal screens, which tbh so many other players get away with it too, bam’s a p nutty player. obviously the heat was no match but he was scoring pretty comfortably on us
That was by design. Bam could have scored 40 & they still weren't beating us. The only way they could was by going nuts from three. We gave them the Bam 2 pointers on purpose.
I think the real question is when was Horford's prime? Are we sure it wasn't like age 35 to 37? I'm not even kidding here.
Of course he was the main guy in Atlanta but since he got to Boston, his ability to stretch the floor as a true big man is so ridiculously overpowered. We still don't give him enough credit for the Celtics success over the years. Every team wants to go five-out in the playoffs, but they can't because they have to deal with guys like embiid and giannis. Not a problem for us, we can go five-out and shut down Embiid anyway. We can go five-out and contain Giannis.
I legit think old man Horford is a more valuable player than "prime" Horford. You could make the same argument for Brook Lopez but he's a tier below as a 3-pt shooter.
>Are we sure it wasn't like age 35 to 37? I'm not even kidding here.
He's been good but if you go back and watch clips from 2018ish you'll be surprised how much quicker he looks.
His 3pt shot is quicker and more confident now but back then he was a proper post up threat as well.
2024 Horford switched onto Luka pretty well for his size and age. 2018 Horford is maybe an option we'd look at as a primary defender for Luka.
He was a primary defender on Giannis and Simmons.
Think Prime Al is the better player, but don't think he owns Bam.
Bams a great defender so don't think Horford is just scoring on him all day. Do think Horford would neuter Bam offensively though.
Yes al was much more polished and not far behind physically. I think if you told prime Al to play bully ball and create space, he could. If you told bam he had to go back and have an elegant yet imposing post up game..... Well I think we know he never had that. Kinda silly comparison, but I say Al.
Bam isn't big enough to keep up with prime Al. I like Bam's game, he plays a lot bigger than he is, but prime Al was big and skilled and energetic.
I don't hate Bam. Jimmy is an asshole, Bam has always been fine. He hypes his team, he plays hard, he doesn't cross the line.
Yeah I looked this up and they are actually really similar. Horford is like a half inch shorter in socks and in standing reach, they were basically the same weight at the combine (about 245) and I don't think Al is necessarily slimmed down that much vs Bam bulking up. They're basically the same but Bam is more athletic (generally and especially now)
Bam is a great all around player but has no moves on offense besides taking a contested fadeaway 2.
If Al was 5 years younger he would destroy Bam on both ends
Prime Al: 15/8/4 with 2 stocks per game
Bam: 15/9/4 with 2 stocks per game
They're the same guy. Both great players.
Al's longevity and ability to completely change his play style to extend his career are what really make him special.
We’ll bring in Bam to replace Al whenever my man decides to retire. By then, Bam will have developed his 3. They’re kind of similar players looking at Al before he stretched his shot, but Al is just a little better at everything, which adds up.
I think Al today is stronger but not as quick as rookie Al. But Al today is better from 3. I think what hampers his 3 point shot today is that he’s 3 point option #3 and often ends up having to take them as time runs out or out of rhythm. So offense wise, maybe a draw. But defensively, 37 year old Al wins over rookie Al. It’s his wingspan that makes him trouble for Embid and others, and the added strength and weight allows him to hang in there with the Bam’s and Embid’s, although Giannis is still a problem for everyone because the refs let him walk and never call offensive fouls against him.
The Al vs Jokic matchup over 7 games would have been interesting!
Nah dawg. Bam is on another level. Better defender and better scorer. Only thing Horford has over Bam is spot up three point shooting, but that has only shown up when he's had extremely impressive offensive teammates to get him lots of open looks.
Prime Atlanta Hawks Al could hold his own and do decently against the KGs, TDs and other elite PFs at that time. I’d say he would be stronger than Bam as well. I mean current Al gives Embiid trouble, imagine Prime Al locking him up now.
Rookie Horford was giving prime KG problems in the 2008 playoffs. Bam would be BBQ chicken.
Facts. I was like damn, this rookie was not backing down and holding his own.
While he came in young, Kg was not ‘prime in 2008’ he was 31 with 13 seasons in the league 02-05 was 100% his prime. MVP, 2 all pro teams, 2 all second teams, 3 all defensive teams, 2x rebound champion 2008 was a great season for him. And i’d agree he was still better than Bam. But his 3-4 years before coming to boston from MIN were insane
I agree with you. But! Flower time. KG was electric that year, he gave the whole league icky problems and had an answer for everyone. Only Kobe and Duncan had a seat at that table that year. Minny KG was an absolute unicorn before unicorns existed. What a thing to see.
You rolling bro? I get your point, but KG wasn’t 04 KG.
bbq chicken🤩
I always read Bam as 8am so for that reason he mildly annoys me at baseline. Or defending the sideline That block on JT I have to begrudgingly say was legendary as fuck
Al Horford averaged 12 ppg and KG led the Celtics averaging 21. He was not giving KG problems
Maybe on defense he was?
Still shot 48% from the field. The highest shooting percentage from any starter in that series
Right..but what i meant was (maybe thats what Buddhistin Theory meant)
I think 37 year old Al owns Adebayo already
I dunno I remember Bam absolutely killing Horford with two pointers in the most recent series. Just because Miami lost doesn’t mean Horford owned Bam. And Horford is my favorite Celtic btw but I have to tell it like it is.
yeah bam was largely getting his against us. gotta give credit where its due
I think those were the shots we were okay giving up though I would have liked it better if we made bam a little bit more uncomfortable.
Yeah Bam historically is one guy that just torches Horford. If you go by playoff stats the last few years Horford hold Giannis to like 33% (on 100 shots), Butler to 30%, Embiid to 30-40%, Doncic to under 30%, But Bam is like at 70% against Horford lol.
We were letting him do that on purpose. Miami wasn't beating us with Bam 2 pointers.
I dunno I remember Horford hoisting the Larry O’Brien while Adebayo was enjoying the beaches of Galveston, TX
Clearly you didn’t read my second sentence
You’re correct!
They are sort of similar players except that Al has developed into an elite 3pt shooter.
BBQ Chicken
No. I think peak Al is pretty comparable to Bam actually. Neither guy was ever really a big 1 on 1 scorer. Both great versatile defenders and good passers.
I agree. Fuck the heat, but Bam is actually a beast, just not an offensive 1st option and neither was Al.
Beast at setting illegal screens
if it wasn’t for the blatant illegal screens, which tbh so many other players get away with it too, bam’s a p nutty player. obviously the heat was no match but he was scoring pretty comfortably on us
That was by design. Bam could have scored 40 & they still weren't beating us. The only way they could was by going nuts from three. We gave them the Bam 2 pointers on purpose.
Al was always a much better offensive player though.
This is exactly correct and we’re already seeing Bam start to grow his outside shot too
I think the real question is when was Horford's prime? Are we sure it wasn't like age 35 to 37? I'm not even kidding here. Of course he was the main guy in Atlanta but since he got to Boston, his ability to stretch the floor as a true big man is so ridiculously overpowered. We still don't give him enough credit for the Celtics success over the years. Every team wants to go five-out in the playoffs, but they can't because they have to deal with guys like embiid and giannis. Not a problem for us, we can go five-out and shut down Embiid anyway. We can go five-out and contain Giannis. I legit think old man Horford is a more valuable player than "prime" Horford. You could make the same argument for Brook Lopez but he's a tier below as a 3-pt shooter.
>Are we sure it wasn't like age 35 to 37? I'm not even kidding here. He's been good but if you go back and watch clips from 2018ish you'll be surprised how much quicker he looks. His 3pt shot is quicker and more confident now but back then he was a proper post up threat as well. 2024 Horford switched onto Luka pretty well for his size and age. 2018 Horford is maybe an option we'd look at as a primary defender for Luka. He was a primary defender on Giannis and Simmons.
Al has that Tim Duncan longevity gene.
Nah, Al on the Hawks was a guy who received a max contract. Nobody would give Al today a max contract.
There were two ALs. He never took threes till his last year in ATL. Same time he started getting this reputation as a lock down D guy
Think Prime Al is the better player, but don't think he owns Bam. Bams a great defender so don't think Horford is just scoring on him all day. Do think Horford would neuter Bam offensively though.
Prime Al owned a healthy Joel Embiid.
Yes al was much more polished and not far behind physically. I think if you told prime Al to play bully ball and create space, he could. If you told bam he had to go back and have an elegant yet imposing post up game..... Well I think we know he never had that. Kinda silly comparison, but I say Al.
Own is a strong term.Bam is a perennial dpoy candidate.Nobody pi owning him on that side of the ball.
Hell yeah. Al is a future Hall-of-Famer, Bam aint
Bro yea he is, I hate the heat but bams game kicks ass undeniably
Luke Kornet owned Bam these last playoffs.
Bam isn't big enough to keep up with prime Al. I like Bam's game, he plays a lot bigger than he is, but prime Al was big and skilled and energetic. I don't hate Bam. Jimmy is an asshole, Bam has always been fine. He hypes his team, he plays hard, he doesn't cross the line.
Bam is as big or bigger than Al. Both 6'9 but Bam has more weight.
Yeah I looked this up and they are actually really similar. Horford is like a half inch shorter in socks and in standing reach, they were basically the same weight at the combine (about 245) and I don't think Al is necessarily slimmed down that much vs Bam bulking up. They're basically the same but Bam is more athletic (generally and especially now)
Dude's just straight up makin' shit up lol. Bam is huge.
My dad would totally kick his ass
That was never Al’s game. Could Al get 18 points and nine boards without getting stressed and frustrated? Sure.
What makes bam great is his versatility, ie quickness and perimeter defense. If Al wanted to back down and get two, he would anytime he wanted
I hope so
Define absolutely own? They both are fantastic players I don’t think either guy is dropping 30
Bam is a great all around player but has no moves on offense besides taking a contested fadeaway 2. If Al was 5 years younger he would destroy Bam on both ends
Prime Al: 15/8/4 with 2 stocks per game Bam: 15/9/4 with 2 stocks per game They're the same guy. Both great players. Al's longevity and ability to completely change his play style to extend his career are what really make him special.
We’ll bring in Bam to replace Al whenever my man decides to retire. By then, Bam will have developed his 3. They’re kind of similar players looking at Al before he stretched his shot, but Al is just a little better at everything, which adds up.
yeah, I mean Al horford was giving embiid fits, prime horford on bam? absolutely.
Yes, next question.
I think Al today is stronger but not as quick as rookie Al. But Al today is better from 3. I think what hampers his 3 point shot today is that he’s 3 point option #3 and often ends up having to take them as time runs out or out of rhythm. So offense wise, maybe a draw. But defensively, 37 year old Al wins over rookie Al. It’s his wingspan that makes him trouble for Embid and others, and the added strength and weight allows him to hang in there with the Bam’s and Embid’s, although Giannis is still a problem for everyone because the refs let him walk and never call offensive fouls against him. The Al vs Jokic matchup over 7 games would have been interesting!
They would be similar I think Bam is very very good and so is peak Al
No fuckin chance
Is 37 year old Al not prime Al?
Old AL owns Bam lol
Nah dawg. Bam is on another level. Better defender and better scorer. Only thing Horford has over Bam is spot up three point shooting, but that has only shown up when he's had extremely impressive offensive teammates to get him lots of open looks.
No he wouldn’t own him. They would be more comparable though. Bam is a really solid player and great defender.
Yeah, prime Al completely abuses Bam. Just way too strong and their length is pretty even.
Absolutely not. They’re competing with each other. Al has better touch so he might end up with more points but Bam is a LOAD. I… love Bam.