Al Horford's transition into a primary bench role was defined by a jarring offensive slump and wildly fluctuating effectiveness. On 10/23 vs DEN, the veteran tallied a highly efficient 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, yet still posted a -2.5 Impact score because his minutes were plagued by sluggish defensive rotations that bled easy baskets on the other end. His perimeter touch completely vanished entirely during a brutal 11/06 vs SAC appearance. Horford bricked all seven of his three-point attempts in that contest, suffocating his team's offensive spacing and earning a dismal -7.3 Impact. He finally discovered the fountain of youth on 12/25 vs DAL. Erupting for 14 points in a mere 11 minutes of action, he drilled four triples to generate a massive +12.5 Impact. When his jumper falls, the veteran big man remains a lethal weapon, but his aging legs simply cannot salvage his value on nights when the shot abandons him.

Al Horford's mid-winter stretch was defined by a sudden role change, shifting from a reliable bench anchor into a highly effective spot starter when his team needed stability. Early in January, his value fluctuated due to erratic offensive execution. During the 01/06 vs LAC matchup, he posted a dismal -5.1 Impact score because a dreadful 1-for-8 shooting night completely erased his overall effectiveness on the floor. However, his move to the starting lineup later in the month unlocked his elite facilitation. Look at his performance on 01/28 vs UTA, where he generated a +4.8 Impact score despite scoring just 9 points. He achieved this high mark by operating as a flawless offensive hub, dishing out 8 assists and hitting 4 of his 5 shots to create massive non-scoring value. Yet, playing heavier minutes occasionally exposed his aging legs on the glass. On 02/03 vs PHI, Horford scored a respectable 10 points but registered a brutal -5.0 Impact score because he failed to grab a single rebound in 20 minutes of action.