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Al Horford here to speed up Celtics’ title pursuit

New Celtics forward Al Horford recorded a promotional video Monday during the team’s media day.Jim Davis/Globe Staff/Globe Staff

WALTHAM — Al Horford’s memories from his first game in TD Garden as a rookie with the Hawks in 2007 remain vivid. He has always appreciated the game’s history, and in Boston he knew that if you wanted history, you just had to peer at the ceiling.

“I couldn’t stop looking at the banners up top,” Horford said on Monday. “Maybe some guys feel differently, but I couldn’t stop looking at them. It’s powerful. It leaves an impression on you.”

Horford did not sign a massive four-year, $113 million contract simply because of this franchise’s aura or its ghosts. These big decisions are far more complicated than that.

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But his choice to leave Atlanta, where he had spent his first nine pro seasons, was due in part to his wish to be a part of the Celtics’ next memorable chapter. He appreciates what it means to win here.

“This,” Horford said, “is a special place.”

Of course, for a 20-win team with a rich tradition, old championship banners can feel like little more than relics. But these Celtics are not a 20-win team.

In the Celtics, Horford saw a team that was in position to rekindle realistic championship dreams, and by coming here, he instantly accelerated the process.

No, his presence is not likely to lead to a title this season, but it is the primary reason that the Celtics are expected to improve upon last season’s win total of 48. His signing was the most impactful of the summer, this side of Kevin Durant.

The Hawks’ first-round playoff win over the Celtics, in a roundabout way, helped deliver Horford to Boston. The forward was impressed by how hard the Celtics played, and he was intrigued by the possibilities that could come from playing for coach Brad Stevens.

He also said that the Celtics’ fans that had been merciless toward him for much of his career suddenly seemed to soften, because they knew it was possible that he could soon join them. And, sure enough, he did.

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“As the time kept going on and I met with the Celtics it just became real to me,” Horford said. “Looking at my career at this point, I’m going into my 10th year and want to be able to be a part of something special and win a championship, and with the type of guys that we have here, we have that possibility, and that’s something I wanted to be a part of.”

In addition to being an obvious prize — what team wouldn’t want a four-time All-Star? — Horford also seems well-suited for this system and this group, both for his skill and for his character.

“He’s a good fit for how we play on offense,” Stevens said. “He’s a good fit for how we play on defense. He’s a professional. He has a routine. He works hard at his craft. And he’s a guy that guys can follow by example.”

“I love his experience, his character and his versatility,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. “Very talented player, but as much as anything, he’s just been very consistent over his career, shooting the ball, playing multiple positions, and I think he’s a guy that fits in with our system where we have the big guys handling the ball a lot.”

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The opportunity to handle the ball and make important passes was important to Horford, too. He is a big man, but he likes to be involved in all facets of his team’s offense.

He saw how the NBA was transitioning to more of a skilled game that emphasizes speed and long-range shooting, even from taller players. So at the urging of Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, he worked to add a 3-point shot to his arsenal prior to last season.

After attempting just 65 shots from behind the arc over his first eight years, he took 256 3-pointers last year, making a very respectable 34.4 percent of them. Horford said he doesn’t know if he will take fewer 3-pointers this year, but he made it clear he is quite comfortable hoisting these shots.

Most importantly, his development as an outside shooter showed his willingness to evolve, and that will be beneficial to the Celtics in more ways than one.

“He really kept up with the game,” Stevens said. “He made sure that he changed as the game changed and ultimately really did a great job of making that transition look pretty easy.”

Horford is hopeful that this transition to just his second professional team looks pretty easy, too. He does not want to be viewed as a cure-all, but he understands the surge of optimism, particularly given the pieces that already are in place.

“I took a chance on coming here,” Horford said, “because I believe in the type of guys we have here in the organization, and the potential there is.”

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Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.