Philadelphia 76ers: One key statistic for every new free agent addition
Al Horford: The Giannis whisperer
When the Toronto Raptors traded for Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol at the trade deadline, one of the reasons they specifically wanted him was that Gasol had a history of doing well guarding Sixers center Joel Embiid.
Although he got some help from Embiid’s fondness for Shake Shack, the fact is Embiid only shot 39 percent from the field in the Toronto series.
Sixers general manager Elton Brand certainly noticed how the Raptors planned in advance and got a player who had success against an opponent who could be a major obstacle come playoff time.
You do not have to be Red Auerbach (ask your parents, really good GM back in the day), to figure out that there is one player above all else in the Eastern Conference who will be the most problematic for the Sixers to stop in the playoffs:
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The 6-foot-11, 242-pound forward/center led the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in the entire NBA last year. Yes, they lost to the Raptors in six games in the Eastern Conference finals, but they held a 2-0 lead and went to double overtime to almost go up 3-0 on them.
Outside of Malcolm Brogdon, the Bucks return last year’s squad virtually in tact, a rare feat in this crazy offseason.
Vegas is sold on Milwaukee being the team to beat in the East, as they are the favorites to win it with 6-5 odds (the Sixers are second at 8-5).
So acquiring a player who gives the ‘Greek Freak’ trouble was certainly on Brand’s radar.
Hmmm. … where could Brand find someone who does a good defensive job on Antetokounmpo?
Key stat: 1-for-6
That is what Giannis Antetokounmpo shot in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals when guarded by Al Horford.
Remember that the Celtics were coming off a four-game sweep against Indiana and they rolled the Bucks, 102-90, in their semifinal opener in Milwaukee.
Boston then fell apart because of, you know, the guy now in Brooklyn but Horford showed he could shut down the Freak in a big contest.
According to NBC Sports Boston, NBA.com/Stats during the regular season had Antetokounmpo shooting just 48 percent when guarded by Horford and 56.7 percent when guarded by another Celtic.
No one is going to shut down Giannis for a whole series, he is the MVP after all, but you can harrass him into an occasional bad game and make him work hard for his points.
Embiid is also an excellent defender of Antetokounmpo, and Giannis is not fond of seeing ‘The Process’ in his grill.
So, if as expected by Vegas, the Eastern finals is indeed Bucks vs. Sixers, Giannis will have to deal with being guarded by one of the most effective defenders against him in either Embiid or Horford.
If Horford stops Antetokounmpo from getting his Greek Freak on, Brand will be quite satisfied.