3 role players of interest in Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Game 6

Al Horford will be a key role player of interest in crucial Game 6 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics

Al Horford’s last two games in this series truly could not have been farther apart on the spectrum. In Game 4, the big man went berserk as he scored 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting, which included a red-hot 5-of-7 from behind the arc. In Game 5, Boston’s starting forward came out and notched eight points on 4-of-7 shooting, having missed both of his 3-point tries. It will be worth keeping a close eye on which version of Horford comes to play in Game 6 with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Due to Milwaukee’s devotion to packing the paint defensively, Horford has seen his share of open looks from the outside, and he has not been bashful about it. The center has made the Bucks pay for leaving him open all series long, especially in that Game 4 eruption, but after limiting him in a hectic Game 5, it will be worthwhile to see how they guard him in Game 6. While the main focus will still be keeping the contributions of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown low, ensuring that there will not be another Game 4-esque outburst from Horford will also be pivotal.

Along with his offense, Horford’s defense has been a crucial factor in this series. The big man has spent most of his time guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the two have gone back and forth in this matchup. Horford and the Celtics will look to emphasize slowing down Antetokounmpo more than ever in this one after he dropped 40 points in Game 5, so their defensive approach will be an interesting aspect to keep an eye on. The Antetokoumpo versus Horford battle has been ongoing for the past few years, and it will be fascinating to see it unfold in Game 6.