Concerning numbers indicate why Al Horford isn’t the only answer for Golden State Warriors’ problems

Al Horford’s minus-20 rating against Bucks highlights adaptation struggles

However, through six games, those lofty expectations have proven difficult to achieve.

While the sample size remains small and Horford has appeared in only four of six games due to physical conditioning, his production appears concerning, particularly during the Milwaukee game.

Against the Bucks, Horford scored just three points with two rebounds while shooting 16.7% from the field.

He finished with a team-worst minus-20 rating, getting outplayed by Milwaukee’s frontcourt players Bobby Portis (12 points) and Myles Turner (17 points).

Horford appeared to lack the lateral movement necessary for perimeter defense, as the Bucks connected on six of 11 three-pointers he contested.

The defensive struggles contradicted expectations about his ability to switch and defend multiple positions.

Al Horford’s negative plus-minus trend suggests Warriors might need another center

The Milwaukee game wasn’t isolated. Against the LA Lakers in the opener, Horford posted a minus-10 rating, with only rookie Will Richard finishing worse.

Against the Los Angeles Clippers, he recorded minus-12, second-worst only to Gary Payton II’s minus-17.

While plus-minus alone doesn’t provide complete performance context, the consistent negative ratings indicate difficulties elevating the Warriors’ second unit.

His overall statistics show concerning regression, shooting 33.3% from three-point range compared to better accuracy last season, while his rebounding dropped to 3.5 per game.

Adaptation represents a reasonable explanation for early struggles, but the numbers also suggest the Warriors may need additional frontcourt help beyond Horford to solve their center problems.

With a loaded backcourt including slow-starting guards like Payton and Buddy Hield, the Warriors might consider reducing guard depth to add frontcourt reinforcements alongside Horford.

The franchise remains positioned as legitimate contenders, and improved frontcourt depth would significantly enhance their championship probability.