South Bound & Down
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SEC Basketball: 4 former players to watch for during 2022 NBA Finals

By Patrick Previty

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics looks on in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on March 16, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics looks on in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on March 16, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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SEC Basketball
Boston Celtics forward Al Horford (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Al Horford – Boston Celtics

Former Gators star Al Horford will appear in the NBA Finals for the first time in his 15 year career. He looks to capture his first championship since he was at Florida in 2006 and 2007.

Horford will provide defensive craftiness and veteran leadership to the Celtics in the Finals.

Last summer many criticized the Celtics for giving up a first round pick for Horford but now it looks like that move fit the team well.

Before this last year, Horford had played for Boston from 2016 to 2019 where he lost in a pair of Conference Finals against the Cavaliers, and in the Conference Semi’s to the Bucks.

He also lost to the Cavs in the 2015 Conference Finals when he was a member of the Atlanta Hawks.

But this season, Horford has finally broke through. And he has energized the Boston Celtics with his return.

In the playoffs, Horford is averaging 11.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.

He has been the defensive anchor and will be the best defensive big man the Warriors have played in the playoffs thus far.

And if he can continue hitting his outside shots (43.2% from three in the playoffs) then he’ll be able to provide spacing for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to go to work.

Against the Warriors this year, Horford played 32 minutes, scored 6 points, and had 5 rebounds.

In that game he didn’t record a block.

Horford will surely look to put his stamp on the defensive end this time around.

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