NBA Notebook: Grant Williams giving Celtics what they need

Grant Williams contacted Ime Udoka when he first found out the Celtics hired him as head coach and asked what he needed. Udoka told Williams to shoot 40% from three and defend, two things Boston needed and he provided. 

Williams took advantage of Udoka's open door at Auerbach Center, meeting the new staff, working with other young players preparing for Summer League before ultimately traveling with the team to Las Vegas. He didn't play, a curious move to some after a disappointing sophomore season. Udoka soon shared the Celtics didn't look at Williams the way they did Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard and Romeo Langford, who just had two injury-riddled seasons. They trusted Williams' experience and steadiness, even among an influx of veterans.

"It just makes you excited," Williams said then of the battle for minutes ahead. "If you're not excited, then you're probably not the type of player who should be around." 

Williams stood on the sideline, chatting with Celtics player development VP Allison Feaster, watching the Las Vegas Celtics with teammates Jaylen Brown and Josh Richardson, appearing slimmer after losing 12-15 pounds. He received more clarity on his role and shed weight preparing to guard the wings rather than the interior, blaming excess girth, in part, for his second-year struggles. This year, he's played more versatile, agile and, most importantly, reliably. Williams won't make a championship team. He'd certainly help one. 

The Celtics started Williams when Robert Williams III or Al Horford sat to maintain the team's double-big startling lineup, essentially making him the team's seventh man. He called himself Baby Al in training camp and proceeded to surpass Horford's offensive efficiency through the first 20 games. Williams averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 51% from the field and 41.2% from deep. He's tied for 12th in the NBA with Joe Harris, Andrew Wiggins and Pat Connaughton with 17 corner threes. As a starter, he leaped to 11 PPG and 47.1% three-point shooting in seven games and the Celtics shoot 2.1 eFG% better with him on compared to off the floor. 

"You have more opportunity when you're with that starting lineup," Williams told Boston Sports Journal this week. "You're asked to do a little bit more, and that comes from kind of taking it as it comes. So one night it might be five points, where you just knock down those two shots and play great defense, like that Lakers game, and another night it might be 18. Not trying to force anything, understanding the game's going to roll the right way if you play it the right way." 

That's become easier for Williams, who infamously began his career 0-for-25 from deep. He remembered teammates lifting him up back then, encouraging him to keep firing. Now, if he hears any noise, it's complaining that he's not knocking them down. Playing sporadically hurt him then, along with obsessively trying to make the right play, which caused him to hesitate when hunting a better look for a teammate. Shooting aggressively led to a better percentage, reaching 100 career threes on Friday, converting at a 37.3% rate if you subtract Williams' first 25 attempts. He walked me through them at the tail end of that streak in 2019, noting all except two misses went in-and-out or missed around the front of the rim. 

Rockets head coach Stephen Silas first noticed Williams during his time working for the Hornets, during which Williams played at Providence Day School in Charlotte. At that time, ESPN considered Williams a "solid-to-good athlete who makes up for any lack of athleticism by playing a smart man's game and staying on the aggressive track." That parlayed into a successful career at the next level at Tennessee. Without certainty his physical game with the Vols would translate, he knocked down open shots and took advantage of defense's seemingly apathetic attitudes NBA defenses showed him. Nearly all of his threes qualify as open looks. Last week, LeBron James played center field and left Williams in the corner. Silas, speaking before Boston's game against the Rockets on Monday that followed, felt differently. 

"We're paying a lot of attention to Grant Williams," Silas said, before Williams scored two points with five rebounds and four assists. "He hurt us last game and we were helping too much off of him, over-helping at times, and he can really shoot. He's improved his game. He's making the corner threes, he's making the ones above the break. He's above 40% and we have to pay a lot of attention to him ... I remember he was a ninth grader and I was like 'man, that's a big ninth grader.' He's gotten better and better and better and it's good to see." 

The Celtics drafted Williams during the aftermath of the 2019 season, looking to restock a roster prepared to lose a number of veterans, including Kyrie Irving, before they knew Kemba Walker would sign here. Grant headlined a rookie class seeking to reset the culture in the room, a good guy who talked constantly, thrived in the classroom, pumped up teammates and could also impact the game immediately due to his strength, basketball knowledge and fundamentals. That remains the case and likely won't change significantly, with Williams representing a high-floor, low-ceiling selection, rather than the star upside that year's No. 14 pick Langford seemed to bring. 

Grant's leadership ability had far more room to grow. When this season began, Marcus Smart addressed the TD Garden crowd before the team's worst home opener loss ever against Toronto with brief, obligatory remarks. About one month later, on Thanksgiving Eve, Grant leaped through the introduction line he usually serves handshakes, rock-paper-scissors and cracks jokes with as a bench player, preparing to make another spot start against the Nets. He grabbed the public address microphone and thanked the crowd, wished them a happy thanksgiving before preparing a jubilant crowd to get this dub, bouncing back to the huddle as they roared in response. 

"Grant is the best communicator on our team, in my opinion," Williams III said. "As far as just helping everybody be in their position or know the plays. He's a hell of a smart player. It's always a bonus being on the floor with him, obviously." 

Pick-and-roll dunks and blocks up near the rim quickly showcased Williams' transformed physique, along with fewer fouls after being one of the worst offenders in the league last year. My favorite play involved him saving a loose ball across the baseline and finishing in the lane spinning past Kevin Huerter. Williams' 18-point effort that night came after his lowlight of last season happened in Atlanta, allowing Trae Young to in-bound the ball off his behind before turning and scoring baseline. 

Williams went back to work Friday, bumping Keldon Johnson to clear space underneath after catching a pass too low in the post during Saturday's loss and hit what should've been the game-icing three above the break. Boston beat San Antonio by 18 points with Williams on the floor, this time coming off the bench. He blocked three shots, five rebounds, seven points and an assist. They didn't win the game. 

So Williams took to the podium, called out the team's lack of consistent passion and intensity to put teams away early. He threw aside excuses and called on the Celtics to not beat themselves, and hold each other to a high standard. Echoing Udoka's sentiment, he stressed the team will never come down to one person, or a player's ability to find their rhythm and one-on-one play. They have the talent, Williams said, so the time to realize its potential is now, not the future. 

"It has to be now. Not anytime, three years from now, next year. This is the time." 

The same can be said for Williams. He established play that could contend for a starting role. The Williamses played well together in the past, Grant brings needed floor spacing alongside Brown and Tatum, while Al Horford's recent play reflect a 35-year-old in need of fewer minutes. Starting Williams over Horford, in spots, could allow Horford to play off Dennis Schröder with the second unit, balance the two lineups and allow Grant to play where he's most comfortable. 

He fits within the team's switching scheme, able to defend inside and out, while Grant's passing, rebounding and versatile range of scoring locations across the floor give the Celtics flexibility. It's an experiment the Celtics haven't approached enough health to try consistently, but the possibility of him existing and thriving in that role is exciting for Boston, long patient to see anything consistent from its 2019 draft class. 

"Grant just improved a lot," Langford said on Friday. "Since our rookie year, we've both just been working our butts off and it is showing now with his play. We always knew, once we got the opportunity, we're going to be able to perform and show what we're capable of doing. Grant is doing that." 

Here's what else happened in the NBA this week. 

Atlanta (11-9): Winners of seven straight games and another team you may have to shoo-in over the Celtics in the final projected standings. Nets, Bucks, Bulls, Wizards, Hawks, 76ers and Heat. Does that land Boston in the play-in tournament, regardless of any strides they make? It seems so. 

The Hawks scored over 110 points in each win during this streak, ranking No. 1 in offense by over six points per 100 possessions above Portland. Their defense improved to 12th over that stretch, while Trae Young averages 27.7 PPG on 52.3% FG, flanked by four 40% three-point shooters. Young tied Larry Bird for 30-point, 10-assist games on Friday (15th most ever) and Nate McMillan quietly rose to 19th all-time in regular season wins, with 699, beating the Grizzlies Friday. 

Boston (10-10): Have fallen behind by 20 points in three games and two came this week against Brooklyn and San Antonio. The Nets rolling over a hobbled Brown with no Williams III available didn't come as any surprise. A 7-for-35 Celtics start from the field against the Spurs was one of the more shocking sights around this team so far, even as fewer visuals become shocking from them. Boston allowed a 15-0 run in the final three minutes, squandering a seven-point lead, and now rank 26th in three-point percentage (32.4%). Their fourth quarter net rating ranks last (-13.5). They missed Williams III (illness) badly in both losses, and he'll miss another game on Sunday.  

"We shouldn't have to take two, three shots to get us in a rhythm or get us going," Udoka said. "Guys are trying to find a rhythm instead of playing together, and that's what it looks like, to me, in the first quarter at times. Everybody's worried about their game and getting themselves going instead of what's best for the team." 

Brooklyn (14-5): A rolling LaMarcus Aldridge joined the starters and Blake Griffin sat for the entirety of Brooklyn's battering of Boston, perhaps the best they've looked all season. Aldridge is averaging 13.9 PPG and 5.9 RPG on 57.5% shooting early in his comeback season, as Udoka remembered the scary moments in the timeout huddle when, as an assistant coach, he knew something was off with the former all-star. He wasn't giving the Nets his normal effort.

Udoka played with Aldridge in Portland and recruited him to San Antonio, where Aldridge had occasional bouts with an irregular heartbeat. He didn't fully know the Nets medical staff yet upon signing with Udoka's new team following his Spurs buyout, struggling through his minutes and feeling sluggish one game before going home and soon learning his career was over due to how his heart raced that night. Aldridge later got cleared to play this season. 

"Looking back on it, it was evident something was a little off," Udoka said. "I remembered him bumping me saying, 'I need to get going' ... he was at home by himself going through that until seven in the morning." 

Charlotte (13-8): They were 25-23 before Gordon Hayward got injured last year and have a winning record again, despite continued defensive concerns. The Hornets unload on teams offensively, averaging the second most points per game (112.9) and dishing the fourth-most assists per game (26.3). Their 8-1 record back to Nov. 10 saw them play top-five defense, while remaining in the the top-10 on offense. Meanwhile, James Borrego sat his young star point guard for a fast break blunder. 

They're good and won't go anywhere barring health. 

Chicago (13-7): Demar DeRozan is a real MVP candidate, and not because he passed Michael Jordan for most points by a Bull in their first 16 games with the team. DeRozan helped Chicago overcome early-season Coby White and Patrick Williams injuries, averaging 25.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.3 APG and 1.0 SPG while shooting 48% and connecting immediately with a new-look roster. He added 23 over Orlando in Nikola Vucevic's return to his first and only NBA home before last year's trade deadline deal, scoring 16 points as the Bulls broke a two-game losing streak in Vuc's second game back from COVID-19. 

Cleveland (9-10): Fell out of the playoff picture after losing five straight, which would've been six straight if not for a 19-point comeback over Boston. They rank 23rd in offense and defense during the losing streak, with six tough games ahead after Orlando on Saturday. Evan Mobley (elbow) will return sooner than expected, providing a needed boost to this reeling group.

Dallas (10-7): Luka Doncic returned to 41 minutes after ankle and knee injuries that cost him three games. Doncic scored 26 points, with nine rebounds and nine assists, as his conditioning toward peak form continued. Kristaps Porzingis maintained his productive run to start this season with 30 points, as the Mavs split a mini series with their everlasting Clippers foes. Bill Simmons hosted former Mavs executive Halarabos Voulgaris for an interesting look back at his tenure, relationship with Doncic and path ahead for the franchise this week. 

Denver (9-10): Somehow didn't qualify for the league's hardship exemption (cap exception) before P.J. Dozier tore his ACL this week. Shorter-term injuries to Nikola Jokic (wrist) and Bones Hyland (ankle) make Denver look in need of a despondent exception, with an uncertain ability to recover depending on the outlook for Michael Porter Jr. (back). The injury list seems to grow more crowded each week here. Jamal Murray may not even need to rush back, as injuries unfortunately cost the Nuggets another MVP-level season from their big man. 

Detroit (4-15): Isaiah Stewart responded to a two-game suspension following his rampage when LeBron James grazed and clashed his face with an elbow and nail on a free throw box-out. The ugly feud led to LeBron's first suspension, an eerily chaotic scene in Detroit's arena and finally made people realize some solid young players like Stewart exist on a largely unwatchable Pistons squad. 

Stewart drove through multiple team officials and security like Derrick Henry rushing. Lakers lined up to block James while the broadcast showed football-style camera angles. Russell Westbrook raised cartoonish fists. It was at least as hilarious as it was dangerous. The scene, and audio of the public address telling fans to remain in their seats, just rang too close for some from the old Palace. 

"This is going to be my last time addressing it," Stewart said, returning from suspension. "I watched the film. Me personally, like I said, I didn't feel like it was an accident. But this is my last time addressing it. My main focus right now is on my teammates and getting back to playing basketball. I'm not going to let that define who I am. I'm going to let what Detroit drafted me for define who I am."

Golden State (17-2): Shut down the Raptors, 76ers and Blazers while continuing to pour the points on. They're a scary bunch that's lost once all month and now ominously hosts Klay Thompson on the bench. He returned to his first practice since 2019, as the Warriors reportedly eye a Christmastime return from ACL and achilles surgeries. With Draymond Green among the league's top 5-10 defenders and Steph Curry in the thick of the MVP race, while a reliable wing in Andrew Wiggins flanks them, it feels like 2015 again in the Bay. 

"I don't want to come back and be a shell of myself," Thompson said. "I want to come back like I was the last time I was playing and I was one of the best players in the world."

Houston (2-16): Finally broke a 15-game losing streak against the Bulls. As John Wall sat on the sideline in Boston on Monday, worked out pregame and greeted teammates into timeouts, it was hard not to think what Chris Mannix said in his column, wondering why it came to this? If the Rockets aimed to tank, they've achieved that and then some. If they want to develop habits, compete and have a veteran to glue their young players together, Wall would've projected to help in that regard. Unless he's trying to recreate the Horford OKC experience. 

Indiana (9-12): LeBron James hit a decisive three, flashed an obscene gesture and kicked two fans out of the building in Indiana. More misery for the Pacers, who seem to be having their own version of COVID year 2.0 like the Celtics after succeeding in seasons prior. Chris Duarte makes them worth watching though, still averaging 13.3 PPG as a rookie. 

Clippers (11-8): Ty Lue's tinkering continued with a Serge Ibaka-Isaiah Hartenstein front court, as the Clippers welcomed the veteran Ibaka back from his G-League stint. His season-high nine points broke up a run of four losses in six games for the team, even as Doncic eyed fun revenge against his early-career rival. Marcus Morris, another Doncic antagonist, also returned to LA's lineup after a 15-game absence with the Clippers aiming for full healthy by the end of the season. 

“It’s always special. I wanted to play this game really bad,” Doncic said.

Lakers (10-11): Can't escape their inconsistency for long, dropping a bad loss in triple overtime to the reeling Kings following Buddy Hield's game-tying pull up before the buzzer in regulation, capping a 13-point Lakers collapse. They've now lost five of their last seven, during which they've ranked 18th in offense and 24th in defense. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook notched a triple-double in the last three Lakers losses. 

"I feel like I played a horrible game individually," James said. "I hold myself to a higher standard than that. I know I got to be better for this team, especially with everything we're going through."

Memphis (9-10): Nearly lost Ja Morant long-term in a scary scene during a blowout loss to the Hawks. Morant stumbled through his left knee in a non-contact event during the first quarter. Taylor Jenkins saw the Grizzlies reel after he exited, before some relief emerged later, as the team called it a knee sprain. The MVP candidate and driving force behind nearly any success Memphis has found this year averaged 25.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 7.1 APG before Friday. 

Miami (12-7): The offense lagged this week through losses to the Wizards and the Wolves. Their half court concerns remain, though they've managed over 111 points per 100 possessions (8th) in that area this season. Tyler Herro returned to 44% three-point shooting and 22.3 PPG after his night off, filling in for Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson's early-season consistency. He's my most-improved player right now. 

Milwaukee (12-8): Just a silly stat line from Giannis Antetokounmpo as Milwaukee ripped off six straight wins. 28.2 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.3 SPG and 2.2 BPG on 59.8% shooting. He also leads the league in win shares. MVP. 

Minnesota (9-10): The 10 seed seems more than manageable with the Spurs, Pelicans, Kings, Thunder and Rockets the only teams competing for that spot. One fired their coach (SAC), one appears out of the race already (HOU), Zion's return looms in NOLA, but their slow start combined with the Spurs' recent losing ways could put the west's final spot out of reach quickly. That is, if the Wolves keep playing elite defense as they did on a five-game win streak. That paused momentarily Friday, allowing 133 points in a loss to Charlotte. 

Can anybody answer why Jarred Vanderbilt almost went into camp unsigned? He's posting a +8.7 net rating, good for second on the team. We also need to talk about Anthony Edwards, butting heads with former T-Wolve Jimmy Butler, throwing down the dunk of the week and averaging 22.6 PPG on 49% shooting during the win streak. 

“He ain’t finna fight nobody out there,” Edwards said of Butler. “All that walking up on each other, that stuff's for the birds, man. I ain’t about to fight. I don’t get into all that. That s*** be fake.”

New Orleans (5-16): Hallelujah. Zion Williamson has been cleared for basketball activities. He's only slightly closer to returning, but it makes it more than likely he'll be play this season, which didn't always seem certain after an offseason foot fracture. 

New York (10-9): The Suns became the latest offense to scorch the Knicks in a blowout at Madison Square Garden. More recently, offense has plagued New York, with Evan Fournier going ice cold in the loss, and the Knicks ranking 25th in offensive rating since Nov. 8. Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose absences loom in the back-to-back against the league's offensive standard in recent weeks, the Hawks, with powerhouse offenses like the Nets and Bulls following. It won't be long before the team's bench overtakes the starters. 

“Maximum effort and maximum concentration. You have to put the two of those things together and that’s what gives you intensity,’’ Thibodeau said. “There’s no magic formula for this, no shortcuts. That’s what intensity is. The guys that could do it day after day, those are the most intense guys." 

Oklahoma City (6-13): They've lost five straight and 7-of-8 as they slide toward their expected standing at the bottom of the league. Josh Giddey points their future projection upward though, notching 100 rebounds and 100 assists within 20 career games, a feat matched by only LeBron James and LaMelo Ball. Giddey notched his sixth straight double-figure scoring game this week, while averaging over eight rebounds and four assists per game over that stretch on 45.6% shooting.

Orlando (4-16): Markelle Fultz (knee) joined G-League Lakeland after being cleared for contact. Jonathan Isaac (knee) remains further away, but their progress signals brighter days for the Magic's youth development and ability to win some games next to the roster's best playmaking talents. They'll certainly take both returns slowly. It'll make the Magic far more watchable. 

“I’m getting closer and closer to getting back on the court,” Fultz said. “Of course my excitement is just very high, but I also want to be smart and just listen to my body, listen to our medical staff and the doctors. We’ve been doing really well though. I’m very excited where I’m at and where I’m going.”

Philadelphia (10-9): Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris could potentially return from a nine-game COVID-19 absence and two-game hip ailment, respectively, on Saturday against Minnesota. The 2-7 stretch sunk Philly's standing in the east for now. It also allowed Tyrese Maxey to showcase his breakout talent one year after being drafted. He averaged 23.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 4.6 APG on 48.8% shooting without Embiid. The Sixers visit Boston on Wednesday. 

Phoenix (16-3): 15 straight wins. That NBA Finals run was no fluke. Devin Booker emerged as one of the most dynamic scoring-creating guards in the league. Deandre Ayton's gravity on both ends of the floor remains massive and Chris Paul's impact this deep into his career speaks for itself. Mikal Bridges' potential rise as a fourth star here raises top-tier aspirations for this group though, as he's shooting 54% from the field and 44% from three over the Suns' last 10 games. More often than not, their wins look like Friday's in New York, with seven players scoring double-figures. 

"A lot of guys say they want to play on this stage, (Booker) really does," Monty Williams said. "He likes to kill. That's who he is."

Portland (10-10): Still a top-tier offense, but lost shootouts to the Kings and Warriors. Damian Lillard largely shook off his early-season rust, while Nassir Little emerged with a few double-figure scoring games off the bench. It's a competitive roster with tons of firepower down to CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Norman Powell and Robert Covington. Is it any different though? A 25th-ranked defensive rating says no, for now.

Sacramento (8-12): Finally fired Luke Walton after a 68-93 run through three seasons with a roster featuring talented young scorers like De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton that hasn't approached the playoffs and at times played historically bad defense. Interim coach Alvin Gentry led wins over the Blazers and Lakers, and will be able to retain his status going forward if he meets certain organizational benchmarks. The specter of interference by Vivek Ranadivé and ownership can overshadow any leader on the bench though. Kevin Arnovitz broke down that factor in Sacramento's future here. 

San Antonio (5-13): Dropped six straight before an inspiring win over Boston on Friday. Dejounte Murray is a ton of fun to watch, averaging 19 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 8.1 APG, and can get mid-range shots off with ease and barrel downhill to the rim. The rest of the roster hasn't shown much to be excited about, and that seems to raise the possibility this season could be Gregg Popovich's last. We talked about the Spurs' future on Dome Theory this week. 

Toronto (9-11): Lost offensive engine Gary Trent Jr. to calf tightness during a bad loss at the Pacers that capped a 2-4 road trip. An eighth-ranked offense has surprisingly buoyed a sinking defense in recent weeks. They force nearly 20 turnovers per game and ride those extra possessions, with their top-ranked offensive rebound attack, to a competitive scoring unit. Pascal Siakam has now shot 47%, averaging over 17 PPG in nine games since his return. OG Anunoby missed his fifth straight game with a hip pointer. They host Boston on Sunday. 

Utah (12-7): Puzzlingly lost to Memphis and New Orleans while playing Oklahoma City close this past week. Their net rating ranks No. 2 (+9.8) in the league, but their defense has fallen to eighth through a significant portion of the schedule. That's worth watching for a franchise that usually drives its success from that end of the floor. Mike Conley is shooting 49% from the field and 43% from three after last year finished with a difficult hamstring injury. Royce O'Neale stands among the league's top defenders so far. 

Washington (12-7): Lost four of their last six before this week's forthcoming Texas trip. Their margins haven't been great, with their last four wins coming by two possessions or fewer. Their defense remains sturdy, within the top four. An offense ranking below Boston's in scoring efficiency and three-point shooting doesn't bode well. They've also leaned heavily on Montrezl Harrell. It's an encouraging start and they've beaten the league's best to get there, but they're definitely drawing the most skeptical eyes among the league's hot starters.