BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Robert Williams looks to be on track to return during tonight’s Game 3 between the Celtics and Nets in Brooklyn. The team went through morning shootaround today in New York with Williams on the floor, and the reviews were very positive.
“The same,” said Ime Udoka when asked how Williams looked compared to before the injury.
“He looks great,” said Grant Williams with a broad smile, unsure if he was cleared to be any more specific as Celtics PR watched along during his media availability.
“From what I’ve seen — I haven’t seen too much — but from what I’ve seen he’s looked great,” Marcus Smart said, while adding a needed dose of reality. “But with injuries, it’s all up to the guy’s body. We could sit here and say everything looks fine, you’re good, the 4-week, the 6-week, or whatever week the doctors give you hits and you may not still be feeling good. So ultimately it comes down to Rob and how he feels and everything he’s doing.”
All indications are that Williams will play in this game tonight. How they use him might still be up for debate.
“We've gone over a few scenarios and we'll cross that bridge when it comes and decide what we're going to do if he's available,” Udoka said. “And being that he's not going to play his normal minutes. We might bring him off the bench and keep everything else the same, but it's something we'll take a look at and see where it's best to place his minutes and put him in certain situations regarding lineups and rotations that we have in the game.”
If we want to play online sleuths, the Celtics tweeted a picture of the Celtics watching game film at shootaround (I assume it was game film. It could have been cartoons for all I know) and Williams had his jersey flipped over to the starter green side.
Stay locked in. pic.twitter.com/cVu6Tm9Geu
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 23, 2022
Either way, the Celtics will welcome him back. However many minutes he plays, he’s going to have an impact. Here are just a few ways he’ll change the game.
1. Fear factor
“Obviously, we have a ton of really good individual defenders, but he's a huge part of that,” Udoka said. “His presence out there, you can see the difference from teams when they're attacking the basket and just looking around for him.”
The Nets are not a team that attacks the rim much as it is. They averaged 24.9 attempts per game in the restricted area during the regular season. That number dropped to 22 a game in regular-season matchups against the Celtics and right now it’s down to 15.5 over the first two games of this series.
Now add Williams to the mix and the term “restricted area” will take on a whole new meaning.
2. Human eraser
“I think everybody sees it,” Smart said. “Anybody who’s ever played with a guy of his caliber who protects the rim like he does, it makes your job on the perimeter a lot easier because you can take a little bit more gamble. You can be a lot more physical and not worry about getting beat, because you have somebody to protect you.”
That extra little edge could embolden Celtics defenders to gamble a little bit more for steals and maybe get a few more run-outs for layups. With Williams patrolling the back line, a missed steal could be less damaging since no one on the Nets will feel like challenging him at the rim.
If someone is feeling themselves and wants to give it a go, then Brooklyn runs the risk of a blocked shot becoming the catalyst for a Boston break.
3. Opening things up for Jayson Tatum
This play to Daniel Theis happened because of all the attention paid to Tatum
Look at how high Andre Drummond is trying to poke the ball away. With Rob rolling down the middle, Drummond would be very afraid of the lob and he’d back off.
This worked out very well for the Celtics anyway because Tatum is seeing the floor very well, but also plays like this with Williams on the floor drawing a ton of attention would just give Tatum much better looks to get him going.
This whole series has been about other guys stepping up if stars have been shut down. Having Williams out there occupying the minds of defenders could be one of the ways Tatum gets loose for a 40 point night.
4. The demoralizing spectacular plays
I say this with no disrespect to Theis, but there's a little something different having Williams finishing some of these plays than it is Theis.
For example…
If they want to run this defensive configuration out there with Williams on the floor, then get a backup rim ready because Boston will wear this one out with lob after lob. Theis really should have recognized that and made the break for it himself.
It all worked out in the end since Theis got the layup, but after a play like this, the Nets can say to themselves, “hey Seth Curry, make sure you’re helping the helper and getting a touch on his man to avoid that dump-off.” They can go over adjustments and feel some level of confidence of getting it right.
Toss a lob over the top of everyone and Brooklyn can’t really say much to anyone on the floor. “Hey Seth, go be taller” or “hey Drummond, be quicker and jump higher” doesn’t quite cut it.
I’ve felt that Game 3 could be the one the Nets take in my “Boston in 5” prediction. However the return of Robert Williams makes me rethink that a little bit. If he truly can give Boston 20-25 minutes in this game, he might be a little too much for the Nets to handle.