Robert Williams, Season 5: Warping the Space-Time Continuum

HomeRunBaker

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Indeed. 4 straight wins against anyone means they aren't a pushover, and all 4 were against playoff contenders (ATL, TOR x 2, LAC).
Talked about them preseason in the gambling thread. This isn’t only a good stretch or a turnaround as they have a some talent…..especially Franzie Wags. Their slow start was due to being decimated with injuries to start the year. They place about a dozen games without any of their legit guards being available.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Rob by quarter yesterday:
  • Q1: 4:07, 2 points on 1-1 shooting (finishing lob), 2 (defensive) rebounds, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -6
  • Q2: 4:27, 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 shot attempts, 1 steal, 1 block, -5
  • Q3: 4:13, 7 points on 3-3 shooting, 2 offensive rebounds, +6
  • Q4: 4:47, 0 points, 0 shot attempts, 1 (defensive) rebound, 1 assist, -2
He looked clueless at first half, then his play elevated the team in the third, then he looked gassed in the 4th (Orlando repeatedly outbattled him on the glass at both ends). Hopefully, taken as a whole, this was a good sign - no indication he was playing injured or lacked mobility or anything.
 

joe dokes

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Rob by quarter yesterday:
  • Q1: 4:07, 2 points on 1-1 shooting (finishing lob), 2 (defensive) rebounds, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -6
  • Q2: 4:27, 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 shot attempts, 1 steal, 1 block, -5
  • Q3: 4:13, 7 points on 3-3 shooting, 2 offensive rebounds, +6
  • Q4: 4:47, 0 points, 0 shot attempts, 1 (defensive) rebound, 1 assist, -2
He looked clueless at first half, then his play elevated the team in the third, then he looked gassed in the 4th (Orlando repeatedly outbattled him on the glass at both ends). Hopefully, taken as a whole, this was a good sign - no indication he was playing injured or lacked mobility or anything.
More than one of those lost rebounds in the 4th were timing and anticipation issues as well. He was jumping too soon or too lateor was in the wrong spot. Presumably rust related.
 

lovegtm

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I thought Rob had gotten fat in the layoff, but he looks fine--just got jacked over the summer, apparently.
 

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Imbricus

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It would seem more normal if this were a back to back, but Celts have had a rest day. I don't know, may be nothing, but ... hmm.
 

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It would seem more normal if this were a back to back, but Celts have had a rest day. I don't know, may be nothing, but ... hmm.
They haven't had a back to back since he returned, and don't have their next until a week from Wed/Th. Meanwhile, they play every other day until then. There is no way they weren't going to manage his load.
May be something, but...hmm
 

The Mort Report

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In the game against Denver it looked like he might have had something happen to him late. After a defensive score he went behind the hoop like he may have hurt something and didn't come back into the play very late, like the C's had walked the ball up and got their offense set from what I recall. He jogged back into the frame so he seemed fine, but it was really weird how long it took him to get back into the play, especially since he didn't hit the floor or anything like that. I wonder if something happened there.
 

radsoxfan

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He has looked really good, though the "questionable" aspect isn't great.

If it was planned knee management, of his injury, he should be out or not out.

Questionable fits more with unexpected symptoms to me.
 

Imbricus

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Questionable fits more with unexpected symptoms to me.
Good point. Horford is the best case of load management we have this season. He's been simply "out," I believe, on back to backs; I don't think I've seen him listed as "questionable."

Well, the good news is, we're still far enough away from April that (if there is a problem) hopefully they can figure out a way to manage it in time for the playoffs.
 

benhogan

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Two things stand out:
1. Tatum wants TL to start
2. Malaki Branham won't try that again

from The Athletic
https://theathletic.com/4067685/2023/01/08/after-squeaking-out-win-in-san-antonio-celtics-know-they-need-more-rob-williams/

When he checked out early in the fourth quarter, that could have been the end of his evening. But Tatum wasn’t having it.

“I asked him, ‘Yo, are you still on a minute restriction?’ And he was like, ‘No.’ I was like, ’All right, get your ass back in the game,’” Tatum said. “Whether he starts or comes off the bench, just want him on the floor, want him healthy, and want to be on the floor with him as much as possible. I’m gonna start, so I would like Rob to start. But whatever’s best for the team, he’ll do that. As much as I can be on the court with him as possible, I think makes us better.”

Even if this apparent minutes limit has been allegedly lifted, it doesn’t mean the sports science or coaching staffs think he’s ready for serious starter minutes. So the logic checks out to have him start the game on the bench and still have legs for crunch time. But maybe he needs to start the second half and play shorter spurts to ensure he can help the team when it needs it.

Tatum needs it. Brown certainly does as well. The early fourth-quarter second unit he has been leading, that stunk all year, was their saving grace Saturday. Brogdon was unstoppable with Williams out there. Even when their execution was poor on both ends, he cleaned everything up.

Williams missed his first shot since Christmas early in the fourth quarter, then naturally put it right back in. If he misses, he doesn’t miss for long. He has more blocked shots (12) than rim outs (6) in 174 minutes so far.

He finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, and 2 steals for the fourth time in his career. Only Kevin McHale did it more times, but it was just one more, per NBC Sports Boston. Williams is a rare breed, a hyperathletic anchor big who brings the electricity of a Jarred Vanderbilt while passing like Domas Sabonis in a headband.

The entire breadth of his game was on display late in the second quarter, when Malaki Branham made a rookie mistake and tried to launch a 3 with Williams within 50 feet of him.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BtbJXVLf0kM

“I’m really surprised he shot the ball,” Williams said. “Most people know I’m coming to block that. He won’t try it again.”

Williams made it clear that he is ready for more. His teammates want more. But will they get it?

“I’m here for whatever. Obviously, they’re trying to be careful and make the smart decision. If the guys are out there rolling, they’re rolling,” said Williams. “I enjoy playing the game. Coming off the bench, I feel like I’ve been able to be decisive on where we need to insert energy.”

But the energy needs to shift. It’s Brown’s catchphrase. He sells shirts with it emblazoned across the chest. You see them all over the city.

Brown tweeted it last year, claimed it wasn’t about basketball, then embraced that it was clearly what the team needed to hear. But he and Tatum are the equilibrium for this team, trying to keep their baseline higher than anybody else in the league. They need Williams to be the one who causes the spark. He’s clearly doing it now, but they just need more of it on nights like these.

No matter how many times they recognize they have a target on their backs and they’re getting everyone’s best each night, they’re struggling to keep up every game. But Williams is only on the floor for so long. So when he spends crunch time hiding in the dunker spot and hoping for a chance to briefly touch the ball, they’re still leaving money on the table.

“Just energy shifting,” Williams said. “I’m trying to insert that as much as I can.”
 

kfoss99

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Timelord is the straw that stirs the drink.

I wouldn't go as far to say he's the team's MVP, but they don't have a chance to win a championship unless he's healthy.

The whole team becomes Mario catching a star when he's in the lineup.
 

lovegtm

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Timelord is the straw that stirs the drink.

I wouldn't go as far to say he's the team's MVP, but they don't have a chance to win a championship unless he's healthy.

The whole team becomes Mario catching a star when he's in the lineup.
That's a bit strong: they easily could have won a championship last year without him fully healthy. We forget how close that Finals actually was because of how it ended.

If he's healthy, they go from "some title equity" to "hands-down favorites". He looks completely ridiculous physically--he'd be a DPOY favorite if healthy. Complete game-changer.
 

Erik Hanson's Hook

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True. Google says 7'6". Plus he's so quick off the floor. That double jump deny in the last minute was the stuff of legends.
 

TripleOT

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TL played 29.6 mpg last season, and 18.9 the season before. He is at 19.4 mpg this season, and his per minute production on points and rebounds is up around 20% from last season. I’d like to see him play around 25 minutes per game. He should start, because setting an early tone is important.

If they play one big, splitting time with AL makes sense, although Horford likes to start too. AL is at 30 mpg, probably about right for a big who does almost no heavy lifting at the offensive end.
 

Imbricus

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Even if this apparent minutes limit has been allegedly lifted, it doesn’t mean the sports science or coaching staffs think he’s ready for serious starter minutes. So the logic checks out to have him start the game on the bench and still have legs for crunch time.
I think this is it. They want to be conservative, but like having him in a "break glass if necessary" role. I applaud that. I just want to see him play a strong role in the postseason. If that means not starting, playing 9 minutes a night, taking every third game off, whatever, I'm all for it. Last year they were a bit too aggressive; they don't want to repeat that mistake.

It's easy for Tatum to say, "I want you out there," but I hope Rob's smart enough to know that the trainers/coaches are going to try to do the right thing long-term for his career.
 

phineas gage

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“I’m really surprised he shot the ball,” Williams said. “Most people know I’m coming to block that. He won’t try it again.”
How many other players in the league could have made that play? It's got to be in the low single digits.
 

Euclis20

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How many other players in the league could have made that play? It's got to be in the low single digits.
Over the last 3 seasons, Rob is 3rd in 3 pointers blocked per 100 possessions (.35) behind Matisse Thybulle (.74) and Chris Boucher (.62). Toss Mitchell Robinson (.34) in there as well, but it's a small group.
 

phineas gage

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Yes--and when you include the second half of the play where he outcompetes the other player for the ball and gallops to the hoop like a young Bill Russell, the number is perhaps even smaller.

edit: I have also not seen this level of 6th man play since McHale. Maybe it is better to leave him in that role.
 
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RSN Diaspora

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I think this is it. They want to be conservative, but like having him in a "break glass if necessary" role. I applaud that. I just want to see him play a strong role in the postseason. If that means not starting, playing 9 minutes a night, taking every third game off, whatever, I'm all for it. Last year they were a bit too aggressive; they don't want to repeat that mistake.

It's easy for Tatum to say, "I want you out there," but I hope Rob's smart enough to know that the trainers/coaches are going to try to do the right thing long-term for his career.
It's an inexact science, so I don't want to discount what you're suggesting, but I would also posit that we need everyone else healthy and if TL is not on a minutes restriction, he should probably get incrementally greater playing time as the season goes on. Marcus, Al, and the Jays are all averaging north of thirty minutes per night. If more TL can help lower those numbers, especially Horford's, there is substantial benefit there too. I share some of the reticence in rushing him back, but if the coaches and trainers insist he can play at full-strength, he should be seeing more of the floor, especially when the opponent is in the penalty and he can take it to the rim the way he does.
 

lexrageorge

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It's an inexact science, so I don't want to discount what you're suggesting, but I would also posit that we need everyone else healthy and if TL is not on a minutes restriction, he should probably get incrementally greater playing time as the season goes on. Marcus, Al, and the Jays are all averaging north of thirty minutes per night. If more TL can help lower those numbers, especially Horford's, there is substantial benefit there too. I share some of the reticence in rushing him back, but if the coaches and trainers insist he can play at full-strength, he should be seeing more of the floor, especially when the opponent is in the penalty and he can take it to the rim the way he does.
+1

It's easy for us to say "Just rest player X until the playoffs", but that is harder than it seems for most players. Williams has played 9 games and only recently could we say that he is near 90% in terms of working the rust off and getting his timing back, etc. If he was to play his current 19 mpg all the way until the playoffs, it's unlikely he would be able to just flick a switch and ramp up to playing the 25-30 mpg we would want to see from him come the playoffs. And it's not clear at all that a random 2-3 week holiday in February as was suggested is going to make him less prone to injury or magically heal his knee.

I don't think they necessarily need to ramp up his usage immediately. And he certainly will not see a back-to-back this season.
 

HomeRunBaker

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I think this is it. They want to be conservative, but like having him in a "break glass if necessary" role. I applaud that. I just want to see him play a strong role in the postseason. If that means not starting, playing 9 minutes a night, taking every third game off, whatever, I'm all for it. Last year they were a bit too aggressive; they don't want to repeat that mistake.

It's easy for Tatum to say, "I want you out there," but I hope Rob's smart enough to know that the trainers/coaches are going to try to do the right thing long-term for his career.
Yes. I’ve been a proponent of TL returning in an expanded Kornet-role. Tatum is failing to look at the big picture of TL’s health or the fact that with how his rotation has been staggered he’s be on the floor for the large majority of TL’s minutes. TL primarily in the 2Q and 4Q is what is best for both the team and the player right now until we ramp him up into the mid/late 20’s leading up to the playoffs.
 

InstaFace

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True. Google says 7'6". Plus he's so quick off the floor. That double jump deny in the last minute was the stuff of legends.
He's been working on not over-committing to the up-fake, because earlier in his career he got up-faked a million times. He has the springy-ness to wait on that and still affect the shot if it's coming. So you watch here:

View: https://youtu.be/1sr4qXVCakc?t=173


He knows he has a million inches on Langford, and even if Langford drives past him he can chase him down and has Al backing him up if need be.

1) Rotates seamlessly to Romeo. Denies the quick corner 3 that he wanted. But doesn't jump, so he doesn't give up the fake-then-drive as an option.
2) Jumps, but sideways (= no real shooting-foul opportunity) on the long 2 upfake. Because his momentum took him towards the backcourt, the most obvious fake-and-reset chance for Romeo (step-back 3, or shift one step left and try again) is gone too.
3) Because Romeo only has the shift-right option, Rob anticipates this and only needs to land and jump again to get up and contest the would-be shot. Romeo bails out mid-shot and passes left.

Romeo's only chance was to drive after he got Rob in the air on #2, but look at the positioning at that moment:

59873

He has the step on Rob in this moment, but if he drives left, Rob pushes him right into a Horford contest in the paint. Maybe he can make that work by a momentary 2-on-1 advantage with Al's guy, but that's not a matchup you like. If he drives right, Rob recovers and has both himself and Al contesting at the rim. So even though it looks like Rob has made a mistake (biting and jumping on the upfake), he's actually left no options open. Romeo realizes this a half second later when he goes right and tries again (#3) and gets another jump but one that he can't draw a foul from... or shoot over.

A canny vet like a Jimmy Butler or someone might drive into the edge of Rob's landing zone there on the screen above, and try to draw a foul from that, but it's still a low-percentage play. Just great defense by him.
 

benhogan

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Always enjoy Keith Smith's 10 takeaways, with plenty of video evidence.

https://www.celticsblog.com/2023/1/8/23544736/a-great-escape-10-takeaways-from-boston-celtics-san-antonio-spurs

This space talked about it not mattering if Rob Williams starts or not, so long as we see plenty of the lineup that dominated last season as a starting group.
We’re changing course now…Williams should probably start.
The Celtics need to get off to better starts. Williams can help with that. He’s been so good on both ends of the floor, but especially with transforming the defense.


I've also changed course. Continue to shrink-wrap Rob/Al, but inch Rob's minutes up as a starter. Max him out at 26mpg post-All-Star break. Start him with Al, their combined defense in short minutes so far has been stellar. I expect CJM will eventually start using Rob's rotation-altering defense against the opposition's best offense at the beginning of Q1 + Q3 + end of games.

the Hogan/HRB debate recommences ;)

We can live with Luke for 10mpg against back-up Beef centers. Maybe Brad finds a better 3rd string Center???
 

Euclis20

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TL's defense was good until he jumped at this moment. I mentioned this in the game thread but a canny vet (even JB and JT these days :) ) jumps into TL after he is in the air and draws the two-shot foul.
Yeah, just about every go to offensive player in the league in this situation (in the closing seconds of a tight game, teams go to their best offensive player) is going to be able to take advantage of Rob jumping out of position here, either getting the easy shooting foul (and a strong wing with a mid-range game like Kawhi or Butler would have a great shot at the and1 for the lead) or driving past him and creating an open look at the rim or making the right pass to open things up elsewhere. Thankfully, Romeo (and his 106 career free throw attempts over 3+ years) isn't capable of taking advantage in the moment like that.
 

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Yeah, just about every go to offensive player in the league in this situation (in the closing seconds of a tight game, teams go to their best offensive player) is going to be able to take advantage of Rob jumping out of position here, either getting the easy shooting foul (and a strong wing with a mid-range game like Kawhi or Butler would have a great shot at the and1 for the lead) or driving past him and creating an open look at the rim or making the right pass to open things up elsewhere. Thankfully, Romeo (and his 106 career free throw attempts over 3+ years) isn't capable of taking advantage in the moment like that.
I agree. But seeing Robert Williams III move like that with the two jumps was also scary athleticism to see. So I'm glad how it worked out all around. :)
 

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Yeah, just about every go to offensive player in the league in this situation (in the closing seconds of a tight game, teams go to their best offensive player) is going to be able to take advantage of Rob jumping out of position here, either getting the easy shooting foul (and a strong wing with a mid-range game like Kawhi or Butler would have a great shot at the and1 for the lead) or driving past him and creating an open look at the rim or making the right pass to open things up elsewhere. Thankfully, Romeo (and his 106 career free throw attempts over 3+ years) isn't capable of taking advantage in the moment like that.
He also left Richardson at the 3 point line to help on Brown's man who was driving. With a 3 point lead under a minute to go that seems like a poor decision.
 

jablo1312

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Thought rob played pretty well on offense tonight- great effort on the glass, composure in tight spaces vs warriors interior d. D was solid if not spectacular.

13 games into his return, his per/36 numbers are almost identical to what he was putting up last year. My eyes tell me he's still getting up to speed, especially on defense. Thoughts from the board?
 

Eddie Jurak

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Thought rob played pretty well on offense tonight- great effort on the glass, composure in tight spaces vs warriors interior d. D was solid if not spectacular.

13 games into his return, his per/36 numbers are almost identical to what he was putting up last year. My eyes tell me he's still getting up to speed, especially on defense. Thoughts from the board?
On offense, I thought Rob looked the best he has all season. I think he only caught a couple of lobs, much of his damage was done crashing the glass after Celtic misses at the rim, and his timing was done for that. He also took some (very) shot jumpers while guarded instead of immeidately passing the ball out to the perimeter - he doesn't look natural doing it but today he was 2-3 including drawing and-1 on Draymond. Also had a nice pass to Al for a layup in the halfcourt offense, one of those plays where Al seals his man and Rob passess over the top of him.

Where Rob didn't look great tonight is on the defensive glass. He had 11 rebounds, but 7 of those were offensive. Of the 4 defensive rebounds, at least one was a play where all the Warriors had dropped back after the shot. Several plays in the first quarter where GS players got offensive rebounds because Rob was not in position. A part of his game he needs to work on. Also, no blocks.

I think the Celtics would have lost to GS without him though.
 

tbrown_01923

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Yeah I thought he looked out of position on rebounds, sometimes off balance. I also thought he wasn't in the right position to defend the rim. A couple of occasions too far onto perimeter for non steph, clay, Poole players.

It's worth giving some slack as this five gains familiarity D'ing together again.
 

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Maybe it’s partly a function of Tatum getting all the rebounds? :D Of course, that wouldn’t account for positioning and blocks. Carried the team on offense for a stretch which Imm not sure I can recall seeing before.
 
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lovegtm

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On offense, I thought Rob looked the best he has all season. I think he only caught a couple of lobs, much of his damage was done crashing the glass after Celtic misses at the rim, and his timing was done for that. He also took some (very) shot jumpers while guarded instead of immeidately passing the ball out to the perimeter - he doesn't look natural doing it but today he was 2-3 including drawing and-1 on Draymond. Also had a nice pass to Al for a layup in the halfcourt offense, one of those plays where Al seals his man and Rob passess over the top of him.

Where Rob didn't look great tonight is on the defensive glass. He had 11 rebounds, but 7 of those were offensive. Of the 4 defensive rebounds, at least one was a play where all the Warriors had dropped back after the shot. Several plays in the first quarter where GS players got offensive rebounds because Rob was not in position. A part of his game he needs to work on. Also, no blocks.

I think the Celtics would have lost to GS without him though.
Felt like a weird game, where he was messing up lots of defensive rebounds he normally handles with ease.
 

chilidawg

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On offense, I thought Rob looked the best he has all season. I think he only caught a couple of lobs, much of his damage was done crashing the glass after Celtic misses at the rim, and his timing was done for that. He also took some (very) shot jumpers while guarded instead of immeidately passing the ball out to the perimeter - he doesn't look natural doing it but today he was 2-3 including drawing and-1 on Draymond. Also had a nice pass to Al for a layup in the halfcourt offense, one of those plays where Al seals his man and Rob passess over the top of him.
I was glad to see him a little more aggressive offensively as you note. I think that's a key for him moving forward to be even more impactful on that end, and I think he's got the skills to do it.
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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On offense, I thought Rob looked the best he has all season. I think he only caught a couple of lobs, much of his damage was done crashing the glass after Celtic misses at the rim, and his timing was done for that. He also took some (very) shot jumpers while guarded instead of immeidately passing the ball out to the perimeter - he doesn't look natural doing it but today he was 2-3 including drawing and-1 on Draymond. Also had a nice pass to Al for a layup in the halfcourt offense, one of those plays where Al seals his man and Rob passess over the top of him.

Where Rob didn't look great tonight is on the defensive glass. He had 11 rebounds, but 7 of those were offensive. Of the 4 defensive rebounds, at least one was a play where all the Warriors had dropped back after the shot. Several plays in the first quarter where GS players got offensive rebounds because Rob was not in position. A part of his game he needs to work on. Also, no blocks.

I think the Celtics would have lost to GS without him though.
Yeah, this pass from TimeLord didn't get a lot of mention, but I think is next-level and that he's maybe the only one on the team that could pull it off. It was in Al's highlights package and it sort of went by like no big deal, but the touch on that 20-foot pass is insane.

60258
 

kieckeredinthehead

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Where Rob didn't look great tonight is on the defensive glass. He had 11 rebounds, but 7 of those were offensive. Of the 4 defensive rebounds, at least one was a play where all the Warriors had dropped back after the shot. Several plays in the first quarter where GS players got offensive rebounds because Rob was not in position. A part of his game he needs to work on. Also, no blocks.

I think the Celtics would have lost to GS without him though.
It looked to me like Rob was out of position for rebounds thanks to the Warriors’ hands and the refs’ lost whistles.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Yeah, this pass from TimeLord didn't get a lot of mention, but I think is next-level and that he's maybe the only one on the team that could pull it off. It was in Al's highlights package and it sort of went by like no big deal, but the touch on that 20-foot pass is insane.

View attachment 60258
This reminded me of a staple of the Pierce era. Seemed like about once a game Pierce would seal his man (as Horford did above) and Antoine Walker and then later Garnett would lob it over the D to him.
 

InstaFace

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Bubble-wrap him on the bench for a week, please. If not two.

If it were anything other than his left knee, I'd be fine with an assessment of "nothing serious", but please let's take absolutely no risks with his left knee. It's enough to hear that he's fine - I damn near had a heart attack watching the game.
 

The Mort Report

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I want TL to try to expand his offensive game a bit. There are multiple times a game where he’s all alone 2-4 feet inside the 3 point line and basically only swings the ball. A couple games ago he drove on one of those and got to the net easy. He has also shown the range to maybe be decent at FT line jumpers. Who knows if he’s got it in him, but I’d like to see him try, even just to give the other team something to think about
 

lovegtm

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I want TL to try to expand his offensive game a bit. There are multiple times a game where he’s all alone 2-4 feet inside the 3 point line and basically only swings the ball. A couple games ago he drove on one of those and got to the net easy. He has also shown the range to maybe be decent at FT line jumpers. Who knows if he’s got it in him, but I’d like to see him try, even just to give the other team something to think about
I expect we'll see this over time, if he stays healthy. Staying on the court and getting consistent playing time (or consistent summer work) is a pre-requisite for adding new stuff.
 

benhogan

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More from Jay King/ the Athletic

Since Robert Williams reentered the starting lineup seven games ago, the Celtics have gone 7-0 while leading the league in defensive efficiency. He did miss one of those games and is considered questionable for Monday’s meeting with the Magic after hyperextending his left knee during the win against Toronto. When on the court, several statistics show how the big man’s presence has transformed the Celtics.

  • They have a 33.6-percent offensive rebound rate with Williams on the court, which would rank second over the full season. Without him, they have rarely grabbed offensive rebounds, snagging just 23.9 percent of their available misses. The latter mark would rank 27th over the full season.
  • The Celtics have led the league in defensive rebound rate this season even while playing many of their games without Williams. Not surprisingly, Williams’ minutes have only enhanced that strength. Boston owns a dominant 78.1-percent defensive rebound rate with him on the court this season. For the sake of reference, the Celtics lead the league in that category overall at 74.7 percent. The Bucks rank second at 73.9 percent.
  • The Celtics have been among the best teams at preventing shot attempts at the rim all season. With Williams, they have been even sharper on that front. They have allowed only 44 points in the paint per 48 minutes with him in the lineup, which would rank second over the course of the full season.
The Celtics were trending up defensively even before Williams’ return. With him, they appear to be rounding into the type of bully everyone expected based on last season’s success. They haven’t needed dazzling results from 3-point land to win nine straight games.
 

The Mort Report

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I expect we'll see this over time, if he stays healthy. Staying on the court and getting consistent playing time (or consistent summer work) is a pre-requisite for adding new stuff.
Oh totally, especially when it comes to adding range. He shoots free throws fairly well so I can see him adding it later. Though I don't know if you remember the play, I can't seem to find a clip anywhere, it wasn't a broken play or late in the shot clock where it was his only option. He received the ball just inside the arc and immediately drove to the hoop with zero hesitation, blowing by his defender for an easy 2. It looked so natural and completely under control, like he practiced it all the time. I'm sure they don't want to ask too much from him on that end right now, but it was an eye opening play for me
 

reggiecleveland

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Yeah, this pass from TimeLord didn't get a lot of mention, but I think is next-level and that he's maybe the only one on the team that could pull it off. It was in Al's highlights package and it sort of went by like no big deal, but the touch on that 20-foot pass is insane.

View attachment 60258
Pretty standard high low pass that forwards do all the time. I mean if the played off me 15 feet like that I guarantee I could make that pass. It just seems rare because the Cs hardly ever post up Al.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Pretty standard high low pass that forwards do all the time. I mean if the played off me 15 feet like that I guarantee I could make that pass. It just seems rare because the Cs hardly ever post up Al.
I don't know why they never run that for JT? The Celtics used to run that play for Pierce all the time.