After falling quick final postseason within the NBA Finals, one factor turned evidently clear to the Boston Celtics: Robert Williams is essential to the ceiling of this crew. Williams was integral to the crew’s top-ranked protection, and it’s no shock that the crew’s defensive stats started to slowly tick upwards following his return this season.
Two surgical procedures later, and it nonetheless stays the identical: the Celtics are merely a greater crew with Williams out on the ground. Boston’s teaching and medical employees wanted to place their heads collectively on the right way to get essentially the most out of his minutes, whereas additionally avoiding reinjury or pushing him past his limits. Finally, having Rob come off the bench in the meanwhile is a improbable transfer, and one that would pay dividends in the long term for all events.
Operating a double large lineup is efficient and the stats again it up, however with Al Horford getting older and Robert Williams coping with accidents, it’s not a practical or sustainable possibility. Whereas it may be used towards particular opponents to match their dimension (see Cleveland Cavaliers), the Celtics are higher off staggering Horford and Williams and beginning Derrick White in Rob’s place.
Horford’s minutes have been managed nicely by Boston too, because the veteran has not performed on the second leg of back-to-backs, much like what the Celtics did for Kemba Walker together with his persistent knee points. Thus far, the strategy has been extraordinarily efficient in protecting Horford contemporary, and for Robert Williams coming off the bench, it’s the most effective of each worlds. It permits Williams to cut back his workload by way of minutes, in addition to wreak havoc towards opposing second models.
Thursday night time was a reminder of how impactful Robert Williams may be when his well being is managed, dropping 7 factors on 3-3 taking pictures together with 7 rebounds, an help, 4 blocks, and a steal in nearly 19 minutes of ground time. His highlights from Boston’s 140-99 blowout included a block on Giannis Antetokounmpo. It might be higher for each Williams and the Celtics to proceed using him in his present function, or at the very least till he will get by way of the offseason into subsequent season.
Derrick White has achieved greater than sufficient to earn a beginning function on this crew as presently constructed, and has been an ironman for the Celtics, not lacking a single sport in the course of the season. His emergence in Yr Two has made it simpler and possible to vary again to a single large lineup, and the mix of Horford plus Sensible-White-Brown-Tatum maximizes the Celtics’ defensive capabilities whereas additionally protecting one in all their finest offensive models on the ground.
Coach Mazzulla says Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard will play tonight. Rob Williams and Al Horford are each out. Blake Griffin will begin.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 31, 2023
Resting Robert Williams in video games like Friday night time towards the Jazz simply make sense if the long-term objective is to win an NBA championship. Boston has gone out and purchased gamers like Luke Kornet, Blake Griffin, and Mike Muscala to flesh out depth on the 4 and 5 spots for this actual function.
Jaylen Brown has mentioned it. Jayson Tatum has expressed it, too. Al Horford as nicely. This crew is aware of how necessary Robert Williams is and the distinction he makes when he’s on the ground. If one of the simplest ways to realize that is to maintain him in a bench function, then that’s that. With out Williams near full energy, successful an NBA championship is all of the tougher on the remainder of the roster.