Boston Celtics: Robert Williams will play an important role in playoffs

Robert Williams could surprisingly be the wildcard for the Boston Celtics as the team heads into the playoffs.

It appears that the Boston Celtics could finally benefit from their top draft selection from two years ago in Robert Williams.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens recently said that Williams looks like a completely different player after the NBA’s hiatus.

"“[Williams] is a full go. He looks like an older player now compared to last season.” – Brad Stevens, per Nicole Yang of the Boston Globe"

After the team’s first live practice session in nearly four months, Williams even noticed a big difference in his own overall skills afterward.

"“I actually feel like I got a little bit quicker, a little bit faster. But like I said, being out those three, three-and-a-half months, it gave my body time to heal. I got some good treatment, some good work in, and I’m ready to prove it on the court.” – Robert Williams, per Tom Westerholm of Mass Live"

When healthy, Williams is poised to be one of the best rim protectors on the Celtics roster, as well as using his great athleticism, size, and length to frequently score above the basket in almost any situation, which is something the Celtics have missed this season.

Without Williams for a handful of games this season, the Celtics have had to rely on a two-man center rotation of Daniel Theis, who is having a career year, and Enes Kanter, who has struggled more often than not, as well as Grant Williams also jumping in for some relief minutes periodically throughout a game.

Marcus Smart, the team’s leader and unofficial captain of the Boston Celtics, paid a few compliments to his young teammate after noticing a difference in his progressions during their practice session just a few days ago.

"“I think our defense can go up another level. We got somebody back there that can protect the rim. No offense to the other guys on our team, but Rob is a different type of freak of nature when it comes to athleticism, and the ability to go and change shots at the rim. So that allows us to pick up our pressure a little bit more as guards. And really, really, really just give the opposing team problems.”“The game has definitely slowed down for him. You can tell, just seeing him, he looks ready and healthy to me. I mean, the dude’s head is still  jumping at the rim, it’s still there. He’s still catching crazy lobs, protecting the rim and moving his feet very well. So he looks ready to us. You know only he can tell us how healthy he is, how ready he is. But all around he looks good.” – Marcus Smart, per Tom Westerholm of Mass Live"

As Smart eluded to, having Williams out on the floor gives the Celtics a completely different type of competitive advantage in addition to the opposing teams not having much experience dealing with the versatile, athletic big man.

If Williams can in fact stay healthy through the duration of the playoffs, the Boston Celtics would have one of the most well-rounded center rotations in the NBA’s restarted bubble. At the end of the day, it’s great to finally see Williams feeling comfortable with himself really since he was drafted to Boston in 2018.