Help is on the way for the Celtics this week as a pair of showdowns loom for Boston in Philadelphia.
Robert Williams is expected to be back in uniform on Wednesday night against the Sixers after he took part in his first practice today following testing positive for COVID-19 two weeks ago. Williams missed three games due to the positive test and quarantine period but he said he is feeling ‘great’ now after suffering from flu-like symptoms initially.
“I found out late one night, landing,” Williams said of testing positive. “And it just went from there as far as the quarantining and stuff and staying away from the team, which was a difficult time for me, I’m not going to lie. It’s all I know. So it took a toll on me. But, like I said, I’m just happy to be back.”
Jayson Tatum and Carsen Edwards sat out of practice and remain sidelined for the team’s next game in Philadelphia as they continue to go through NBA health and safety protocols. While both players are reportedly doing well, Williams did suffer from some concerning symptoms before being cleared to return.
“I woke up in sweats,” he explained. “One night, I'm going through not being able to sleep, every five seconds I'm pulling the cover off me and putting it back on me. It was kind of tough, like I said, I'm here, I can't complain.”
Williams’ young daughter and her mother also tested positive with the virus but all have recovered in the past week without issue, a relief for the big man as he returns to the court.
“They’re all doing good, but I was more worried about them than I was myself,” he explained.
Williams did go through a league-mandated cardiac test after he cleared quarantine to help ensure his body was ready to return to the rigors over an NBA game after suffering from the virus. He was able to get in some work in the past few days amid his recovery but it’s likely the C’s will have a short leash on him.
“At first it was just strictly they didn’t want me to do anything,” Williams said of his condition. “Nothing really. Just keep drinking fluids, keep trying to eat. And as the days progressed, I got strength back, when I felt like I could move around and do stuff I did a couple of stretches at home, just trying to stay on top of my conditioning, staying strong a little bit. But for the most part it was just downtime.”
Williams’ teammates have remained supportive of him, Tatum and Edwards during the lengthy time away from the court.
“Even the players that didn’t test positive,” Williams explained, “We were all checking in on each other every day within the group text message, just telling people to stay safe, stay healthy, check in on people’s family members. It’s a lot of team effort put into that which I thank my teammates for checking in on me too obviously because it was a tough time.”
Williams returning to the floor on Wednesday night will give the Celtics 14 active players for the first time in three weeks since COVID-19 cases started impacting the team directly. Jayson Tatum and Carsen Edwards will not travel to Philadelphia with the team for Tuesday’s game but Brad Stevens did not rule them out for Friday’s matchup if they clear protocols.
Kemba Walker reacts well after first stint of the season
The All-Star point guard was held to 20 minutes in his first appearance of the season on Sunday afternoon. While showing plenty of rust with his shot (3-of-13 FG), Brad Stevens said he was back on the floor on Tuesday practicing in full. The knee ‘responded great’ according to head coach.
Walker’s minutes limit will likely last at least a couple more weeks as the team ramps up his endurance and strength for in-game situations. However, Brad Stevens is not worried about fitting him into Boston’s offensive puzzle upon his return to full health.
“As far as Kemba, we’ve all got to make the game easier for Kemba,” Stevens said. “It’s not -- Kemba is not the kind of a guy that comes through the path, we gotta all come to him. I think we got some really good players, some guys that are going to get plenty of opportunities but, as far as like Kemba using possessions and those type of things, we need him to. Like if we’re going to be a good team and we want to compete with the teams that are the best in the league. Like we don’t have a shot if Kemba Walker -- if we don’t let him be him. And I think that’s really important. That’s the great thing about Kemba, when he comes back, he’s going to be everything that he’s always been and he’s a great encourager of everyone else to continue doing what they’re doing.”
Joel Embiid expected to return for Celtics game
The All-Star center sat out the weekend for the Sixers with a sore foot but the team announced on Tuesday that he did practice today and is expected to be back in uniform on Wednesday night. Philadelphia will still be down starting guard Seth Curry (positive COVID-19 test) but the remainder of the team should be back healthy for the matchup between the two East heavyweights.