Al Horford Really Said Boston Can't Compete Anymore. Okay, Al.

Let me be real with you. Al Horford leaving? Fine. He's 38. He wants a bag. I get it. Nobody's gonna begrudge the man for chasing a paycheck at this stage of his career. That's basketball. That's business. Do your thing.

But then he goes on and starts running his mouth about how the Celtics can't compete for a championship anymore? Now you got my attention, Al. And not in a good way.

You took the money and ran. Cool. But don't then turn around and act like you're some prophet telling us the dynasty is dead. You were PART of this thing. You were in the locker room when they raised that banner. You got a ring because of what Boston built. The coaching, the system, the culture — you benefited from all of it. And now you're on the outside talking down the program?

Yeah, Jayson Tatum's injury is real. Nobody's pretending it isn't. That's devastating. But let's not act like the Celtics were some paper tiger before that. These guys were defending champions. They didn't stumble into that. They EARNED it. Tatum goes down and suddenly the whole thing falls apart in your eyes? That's not analysis. That's just looking for an excuse.

Celtics fans gave Al Horford years of genuine love. Real loyalty. The kind of loyalty East Boston guys know something about. When he came back the second time, people welcomed him home like he never left. And this is how he wants to leave it? Talking noise on his way out the door?

It stings, honestly. I'm not gonna sit here and pretend it doesn't. Al was a real piece of what they built. But the Celtics don't need Al Horford to validate them. They were champions before this and they'll figure it out.

The program is fine. Horford made his choice. So did the front office.

Now let's move forward.