Ha, now you're just trolling me .... which is fine since you wished me holiday cheer
To be clear, here was my stance in pre-season and it hasn't changed:
1. I love Al Horford and I'm fine with him playing the 5 against smaller Centers. I'd like to see him play the 5
and 4 (when his knee is back to being healthy), like he did last season. I want his minutes limited playing the 5 (against the 260lb++ Centers) because I'm concerned he'll be worn down to a nub and Al won't be the same come playoff time. You've disagreed with that assessment since the pre-season and said why "the kid gloves with Al?". And that Aron Baynes was barely a rotation player (Baynes stats clearly prove that wrong).
Well, by playing Al strictly at Center, guarding 5s that are a
"load" (Brad's words) for 30mins/gm, Al has missed more games to injury this season than last season already. How many times was Al on the sidelines lying on his back last season, like he was on Tuesday? Sure enough, as predicted by myself and others on this board, 32yr old Al is getting worn down to a nub.
2. Why would Al guard Wilson Chandler? When Horford guarded and shut down Ben Simmons several times last season. Al could stand below the FT line (like MaMo did on Xmas Day) and freelance (and help our 5s guard Embiid). BUT if Al had to guard Wilson Chandler, I'm not too worried, Al would swat any of that guy's garbage (and not have to body him). Should we also be concerned with Al guarding Muscala on the 3pt line?
3. I like that article Chilidog attached (quoted below) and is exactly what I'm seeing when Al plays strictly at the 5:
Defensive data logged by Synergy Sports has Horford defending a team-high 348 total possessions this year (see A) and allowing 0.917 points per play. For the 68 defenders with at least that many possessions defended this season, Horford ranks 39th (see B) among them. That’s jarring when you consider Horford ranked sixth among all NBA players with at least 500 possessions defended last season (see C) while allowing 0.799 points per play.
(A) Al's defensive usage is up (no wonder he is struggling with his 3pt shot and injured/worn down)
(B) Horford's defensive efficiency is below average this season (because he is a better defensive 4 then 5)
(C) Horford ranked 6th last season in defensive efficiency (once again he is a better defender at the 4 then the 5)
4. I've shown you Al's off/def net ratings from this season vs. last season (Al was much better last season). I've shown you Al's off/def net rating playing with Baynes vs not playing with Baynes (He's much better playing w/Baynes). You disregard any kind of statistical comps between last season and this season, claiming "the game has changed" (complete hyperbole).
The good thing is these stats can't be ignored much longer. Once Baynes is healthy, the team will start to limit Al's pounding by big, young, strong 5s. AND when Al is fully healthy we'll also get to see him back at the 4 for ~10-12mins/gm, much to HRB's chagrin.
Happy New Year to all