Horford joins Stars
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
LOS ANGELES — Al Horford is averaging 13.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists after last night’s 108-107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and while the latter two statistics lead the Celtics, the more significant numbers to him being named an Eastern Conference AllStar are 34-14.
That’s the Celts record entering tonight’s game against the Clippers, and that success translated to the individual honor.
“Totally deserved,” Celts coach Brad Stevens said. “It’s good to see a guy that may not have the, quote, stats that other people have recognized for all that he brings to the table night in and night out on both ends of the court. He’s a huge, huge reason why we’re where we are, and he has a huge influence on everybody in the locker room.”
Horford, who had 13 points and 12 boards last night, was hit in the head in the final of minute of the fourth quarter. Stevens took him out to be safe, but said he was “feeling okay.”
Horford is making his fifth All-Star appearance and first with the Celtics. He will be joining teammate Kyrie Irving, who was selected as a starter. The sides for the game will be picked by captains LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Steph Curry of Golden State and announced tomorrow night.
“Very, very grateful,” Horford said before tipoff. “Very special for me. It’s a great honor.”
As for being chosen by the coaches’ vote, he said, “It means a lot, and I’m just very happy to be able to represent the Celtics, our coaching staff, the training staff, and all the players have really put me in this position. We’ve obviously been successful as a team, and I think that me being here, it reflects our team success. I think it makes me feel good, because I feel like I’ve always taken a lot of pride in playing the right way and putting the team first always. And the coaches have seen that and have rewarded me over the years.”
Earlier, Horford was asked about making the team and said, “It would be a great honor, but I’m concerned about the bigger picture for us. But definitely it’s a great honor.”
Hayward on trip
Gordon Hayward is still rehabbing a fractured left ankle, but he took another step in his comeback by making the trip for the LA games against the Lakers and Clippers.
“One of the things that we wanted to do with him was change his environment, just to move a little bit,” Stevens said. “So he’s going to be here for these two games and then he will stay here in Southern California for a week to 10 days with a couple of our staff, and then rejoin us in Boston. I’d say that the traveling (on a regular basis) looks like it could be early March as he can maybe do all of his rehab without an AlterG machine (weight supported treadmill) and those types of things.
“He’s still got a long way to go . . . but he’s a really good spot shooter.”
The last comment was in reference to Hayward’s basketball activity pretty much being limited to standing in one place and shooting. His wife recently posted an Instagram video of him hitting a number of 3-pointers.
Speaking further on why he wanted Hayward on this trip, Stevens said, “I just think people that have been through this long process . . . one of the things about us is we’re jumping on a plane every four or five days and he’s used to that. And he has been in the same routine doing the same thing for three or four months without that, so we just wanted to have him here for a couple of games while we’re out west and then for a few days after that leave him out here.”
His teammates are glad to have him.
“We’re happy any time that we get a chance for Gordon to be around us,” Horford said. “For him, it’s obviously his process for getting back to where he needs to be, so obviously we’re respectful of that. But any chance that he gets around us, it’s good to have him. It’s good to share with him. And he’s still a part of this. That’s the cool thing about it.”
Rivalry breathes
Even though the faces on the floor have changed, it still was Celtics-Lakers, and that means an historic NBA rivalry.
“I think that they’re aware certainly,” Stevens said of his players. “Obviously, none of us in this room with the exception of some support staff and one of my assistants (Jamie Young) experienced The Finals from a few years back. But certainly, you know, we have TVs. I grew up in Indiana, and the Sunday games were the Celtics would play the early game and the Lakers would play the late. And then on those two days a year you’d get to watch them play each other were special.”