NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 16, 2022

Al Horford

Boston Celtics

Game 6: Postgame

Warriors 103, Celtics 90

Q. What does it feel like to get this close to the title and fall short? You wanted to improve as a play making group this year, Jayson and Jaylen specifically. To have the turnovers the way they did at this level, what do you think that says about this group, what it needs to improve on going forward?

AL HORFORD: Obviously very tough to lose and be in this position. I'm very proud of our group. I'm very proud of the growth of our group all year.

We went from a below .500 team, average team, to putting it together. I don't want to get caught up in necessarily some of the bad stuff that happened tonight. I want us to keep perspective on how much growth, to your question, Jayson and Jaylen had this year. There's a lot on their hands, a lot of responsibility. They took it in stride. They made adjustments. They improved. They grew as players.

But as you can see, there's still a lot of growth and a lot of work for all of us. The Warriors definitely were on a different level. It's something that we have to accept, and we all have to grow.

Q. Your first Finals. What did you learn about yourself in these Finals? How far even you have to go to help this team get back here?

AL HORFORD: Yeah, no, definitely it's a huge learning experience just from the amount of attention, the stage itself, everything that entails this.

Also on the court for me individually, just seeing how I can just continue to be of impact, be better for our group moving forward.

So definitely a lot of growth. And with that, just really appreciative of our fans here, our Celtics fans here. All year they've been with us. These playoffs, it was very special. Obviously we wanted to do better for them, but they showed up, they lifted us up all year with their great energy. I'm very grateful for all the Celtics fans out there.

Q. The way you guys came out in this game, in your mind beyond the turnovers, how did you let it get away there? How tough was it to try to climb the mountain the rest of the way?

AL HORFORD: Yeah, it's hard when you spot a team that many points. We started out well, then it got away from us. Offensive rebounds hurt us. Those turnovers really hurt us, as well.

I felt like we kept fighting. But even when we fought and when we got to what felt like striking distance, we would turn the ball over again. We would do something that was unsound or unsolid.

It's hard when you have the momentum like that and you make a mistake, then they come down and score on the other end. It's difficult.

For whatever reason we felt like we were in good positions, but obviously this is a good learning experience for us. I really believe that for all of us this type of game, this type of stage.

Yeah, I felt like we got better as the playoffs went on. Each series we figured out a way how to win. I've said this to you guys all year, but it's tough to win, and our guys, we kept finding ways all year to get it done.

We just couldn't get it done against this team.

Q. You've talked about coming back here as being your second chance. To get this close and have it taken away, how is that hitting you personally right now?

AL HORFORD: Well, it's difficult. Obviously for me, looking at this great opportunity in front of us, it just wasn't meant for us this year. We fought really hard.

I feel like we can hold our heads high. We gave everything that we could. For me, I'm looking forward to next year. It's a big summer for us as a team, individually, to get better, to improve on this and for us to take it to another level.

Q. You've been on teams that have gone on deep playoff runs before. What does this team in particular need to do to make sure this is just a start?

AL HORFORD: It's something that we have to hang on to. We have to make sure that we have a good summer - a good summer as far as continuing to work and put in the work and get better and get prepared for next season.

Obviously we'll take some time. But we have a great opportunity in front of us to get better this summer individually, then when we come together as a group and build from this.

I felt like we did a lot of growth, had a lot of growing all of this season, and it's clear that we still have more to go. So I'm encouraged by that part. That's going to be our challenge as a group, to be better for next season.