Set to face LeBron a 5th time in the playoffs, Al Horford dissects the challenge with BSJ

WALTHAM -- Few players have had a tougher track record in the postseason than Al Horford against the Cleveland Cavaliers over the past decade.

The All-Star is a collective 1-15 against LeBron James and Co. in four postseason matchups between his time in Atlanta and Boston. In the midst of the best postseason of his career (17.0 ppg, 57 percent FGs) this season, Horford will get his fifth crack at Cleveland during the Eastern Conference Finals starting Sunday. Despite missing two All-Star teammates for this run, Horford will get arguably his best chance to take down the Cavs this time around thanks to a unique blend of talented youth and versatility flanking him across the roster.

BostonSportsJournal.com caught up with Horford on Friday to discuss the challenges of James in the postseason, the Kevin Love matchup and much more.

BSJ: Much of the attention in this matchup is understandably on LeBron James, but you and Kevin Love have had your fair share of battles over the past few years. He had a big series against you guys last year. Heading into this season, do you take that matchup personally going into it?  

Horford: I don't really look at it that way.

The way that we're playing defense and even last year, it's not like I'm solely guarding him. I feel like we're mixing it up with the coverages. He's a great player but I always look at things from the team point of view. We have to make sure that as a team, we do a great job. He's a great player, he's going to do what he does, but as a group, we have to make sure that we're locked in and what we're trying to stop and accomplish.

BSJ: How much does facing a couple of players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ben Simmons help prepare you for going up against James? 

Horford: I think that those first two matchups have prepared us well for this. He's playing at a totally different level, but it's definitely been good practice for our group to go up against those guys. I feel like it'll be helpful and will pay off in this series.

BSJ: Do you feel like this is the best defensive group you've played on in your career, despite the injuries you guys have had to deal with?

Horford: I'm not sure. I generally don't like to compare my teams. I think this team is its own. We've done a really good job of understanding what coach wants from us, buying into everything. It's definitely one of the better ones I've been around. I don't know yet whether it's the best.

BSJ: How does the strategy change defensively with a player like LeBron? Do you have to try to pick your poison with him in terms of taking away the lane versus forcing him into jumpers? 

Horford: We know what type of player he is. For us, we just need to come out and really control the things that we can. Trying to stay between him and the basket, contesting all his shots. He's a really good 3-point shooter. People don't give him enough credit for that. It's one of those things where a lot of times, people are not even contesting those 3s. We have to make sure that we make him earns everything he gets. He is going to get a lot of things. He's a great player. it's just controlling the things that we can and that's all that we can do.

BSJ: The Pacers seem to have had some good success slowing James and the Cavs down at times in Round 1. Do you watch those matchups during the postseason to learn from things they tried to do that worked?   

Horford: No question. I think that they did a really good job of just giving him different looks. A bunch of different guys defended him. We kind of have similar personnel where we have a lot of guys that will probably be on him at different times. I believe it's one of the strengths of our group.

BSJ: This is your fifth time facing James in the postseason but the first time he won't be surrounded by a couple of All-Stars. How does the burden change defensively when there is reduced firepower around him? 

Horford: It's a different challenge. LeBron is a great player and has found a way to play differently without Kyrie. We're happy we don't have to deal with him anymore because he was such a problem (with the Cavs). They figured out a way to make it work for them. Now, the challenge is just different. That's all it is.