The Boston Celtics had one of the best five-man lineups all year long, and that group of players was a massive part of why the team propelled itself to within two games of the franchise’s 18th championship.
Of course, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will get the credit for being the best players in that lineup, but each player played an important role. It could be argued that Al Horford was the most important in that grouping. The defensive switch-everything scheme that Ime Udoka is now famous for as the Celtics decimated opponents for four months straight just doesn’t work without Al Horford.