Al Horford, the latest acquisition of the Golden State Warriors, is already receiving significant acclaim from basketball experts, and not just in the Bay Area.
Michael Malone, who previously coached the Denver Nuggets and now serves as an analyst for ESPN, believes that Horford’s addition could be precisely what the Warriors required to rejuvenate their championship-level offense.
“They’ve brought in a skilled three-point shooting big man,” Malone remarked during ESPN’s NBA Countdown. “He’s a champion with high character and a strong work ethic. This kind of spacing hasn’t been seen for a long time.”
At 39 years of age, Horford continues to be one of the league’s most trusted stretch bigs.
“The number of open looks he’ll get will spread out their offense, making them even tougher to defend,” Malone added.
Malone’s enthusiasm isn’t limited to Horford’s shooting capability. The Warriors executed only ten pick-and-roll plays featuring Stephen Curry and a center last season, and now they have a veteran big man perfectly suited for that strategy.
“Historically, Steve Kerr hasn’t leaned heavily on pick-and-rolls,” Malone pointed out. “They simply didn’t have the right players before, but now they’ve added one of the most prolific pick-and-pop big men in the last decade. I believe this could be a perfect fit. You can bet Steph Curry is thrilled about this development.”
After Horford’s preseason debut, Curry indeed expressed his enthusiasm.
“He’s obviously a high-IQ, seasoned player with a championship background who meshes well with any lineup,” Curry said. “He provides us with spacing and makes an impact on the defensive side as well. The way he set me up with that give-and-go pass for a corner shot is indicative of our growing chemistry, which will only improve. His versatility as a center will benefit not just me, but also Jimmy, JK, and Draymond. You can deploy him at the five in any lineup, and he elevates the entire group.”
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