'Group Wasn't Able To Coexist': Al Horford On The Celtics Last Season

The Boston Celtics looked very good on paper at the start of the 2018-2019 NBA campaign. However, the squad fell out of contention at the second round of the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks eliminated their Eastern Conference rivals in five games, fueling rumors that there was tension in Brad Steven's locker room.

Some reports talked about Kyrie's lack of leadership and the young core, all wanting a different direction. Recently, Al Horford shared a glimpse of what it was like as a member of the Celtics last year and said that "nobody was really on the same page."

In an interview with the Boston Herald, the 33-year-old all-around center said that the team "just had so much talent." Horford appended that if Irving "would have stayed, I don't know if it would have worked," adding that the group they had "wasn't going to be able to coexist."

He felt that the Celtics roster had "a lot of talent... all wanted to do great things." Al observed that "It was difficult to keep everybody feeling good and focused on where we wanted to get to."

His revelations hit a nerve for many Boston fans, as the team failed expectations throughout the year. The Celtics had 49–33 record, including a dismal 10-10 run in the midseason. The team did win eight straight games after placing 4th on the NBA's Eastern Conference Division before the start of the playoffs.

Eventually, Boston core left in the offseason. Kyrie went to Brooklyn, Horford to the Sixers, and Terry Rozier teamed up with Hornets. Boston did acquire new pieces, while Gordan Hayward is on a full bill of health in time for the 2019-2020 campaign.

They also added, Enes Kanter and Kemba Walker, while Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum is still with the team. It will be interesting to see how the new season unfolds for the Celtic squad; they need a fresh start.