Fansided

Al Horford would take the Celtics against anyone in the Eastern Conference

By Jasmyn Wimbish

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 12: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics between plays in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on January 12, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Harry Aaron/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 12: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics between plays in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on January 12, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /
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It might have taken awhile, but the Boston Celtics are starting to show why they were the favorites in the East to start the season.

After getting off to a rough start, the Boston Celtics are quickly climbing the Eastern Conference standings at the perfect time.

The saying “it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish” couldn’t be more fitting for the Celtics this season. Fresh off a Game 7 loss in the Eastern Conference Finals with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward both watching from the sidelines, the Celtics were a no-brainer to get back there this season with their two stars back to full health.

Except that’s not how things started out for Boston. Integrating both Irving and Hayward into an offense led by a trio of young players was harder than many anticipated, but Boston has been on a hot streak as of late, winning five games in a row, and Celtics forward Al Horford expects that to continue.

“This year there are a lot of expectations with Kyrie and Gordon back, it’s just taken time for us to get to that level that we want to be playing,” Horford told FanSided’s Mark Carman. “I think we’ll continue to get better, I feel like we’ve been getting better month to month since the season started and we’re hoping that continues to be the case.”

Even though Boston has been living up to the preseason hype as of late, the top of the Eastern Conference isn’t getting any easier after the Philadelphia 76ers made a trade centered around Los Angeles Clippers forward Tobias Harris.

It was a trade that shocked many people around the league, including Horford, and although Philadelphia received some much-needed scoring in Harris, Horford isn’t too concerned about having to play them, or anyone in the postseason.

“If people want to say that they’re the favorite that’s fine,” Horford said. “I think the way that I look at it, when I look at our team I want to make sure that we’re playing at a high level come playoff time and I’ll take my chances with anyone [in the East].”

Of course Horford can say that because last season the Celtics beat the 76ers in five games in the second round of the playoffs. However, that was without newly-acquired Harris and early-season acquisition Jimmy Butler on the roster. If these two teams do happen to meet in the playoffs this year, it will likely be a closer matchup.

As far as focusing on anything past this season, Horford, who as part of the Built with Chocolate Milk campaign is sharing how drinking chocolate milk is the perfect way to recover after a game or workout, isn’t interested in thinking about potential free agency moves or trades the Celtics can make in the future.

“When you start looking so far ahead you don’t embrace the journey you’re going through,” Horford said. “As long as we continue to play defense at a high level, and on offense we’ve been clicking for the last month, I think that will put us in position to be where we want to be at the end of the year.”

That place is likely in The Finals, a place the Celtics haven’t been since 2010.

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