Boston Celtics big man Al Horford can recall the energy, the noise, the monster wave that rode his team out of the playoffs.
"It was a beatdown from the beginning," Horford said Sunday afternoon, remembering the experience of his lone Game 7 in TD Garden.
Horford would be fired up anyway for the chance to play a deciding game in front of his home crowd, like he will get Monday night against the Washington Wizards, but that whipping from 2008 only leaves him more excited. As an Atlanta Hawks rookie back then, he and his team tested the Celtics more than anyone anticipated. He still sounds proud of that feat, but the competitive first six games failed to prepare Horford for the onslaught at the end.
Like in that series, the Celtics and Wizards have split the first six games without anybody winning on the road. Horford believes home court advantage could be a significant benefit in Game 7, too.
"It just gives you more energy," he said. "It feels like it puts you over the top and just fuels the players. We're at the point of the year that we've played a lot of games, everybody's battling through bumps and bruises, and this is the time we really need to rally together. And we've been doing it, but anything helps. That's why I keep stressing that I'm very happy that we're here at home for Game 7."
The Celtics had a great chance to close out the Wizards in Game 6, but coughed up a five-point lead over the final 1:25. The hectic final stretch concluded with John Wall drilling a go-ahead 3-pointer, Washington committing an intelligent foul to give, and Isaiah Thomas missing a desperate heave at the buzzer.
"It's the biggest game probably of our lives," said Jae Crowder.
Horford hopes it goes like the last Game 7 he played in Boston. He lost that day, but the home team surged all the way into the next round.