Better safe than sorry: Al Horford has been cautious with injuries

Marcus Smart smacks the ball away from Harrison Barnes and then passes ahead to Isaiah Thomas, who scores a layup in transition. (0:36)BOSTON -- Boston Celtics big man Al Horford missed his eighth straight game on Wednesday night. It's been 17 days since Horford was concussed when a teammate inadvertently struck him during a practice on Halloween, and the Celtics remain uncertain when he'll return to game action.

The fact that Horford signed a monster contract this summer (four years, $113 million), combined with Boston's uneven play without him, has left many Celtics fans restless for his return. What's prudent to remember is that Horford's injury history suggests a player that exercises…