Getty Robert Williams III of the Boston Celtics looks on during the first half of the game against the Golden State Warriors.
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla went a smaller, dual point guard starting lineup in the Celtics’ playoff-opening win against the Atlanta Hawks, using franchise pivot Robert Williams III off the bench. Heading into Game 2 on April 18, it appeared that Mazzulla was planning to use the same starting five, and Williams seemed OK with it.
“I feel like I bring a great energy with that second group. I feel like we get out a run well together,” Williams said on the morning of Game 2. “I don’t really care about starting. I just want to win. I feel like we can win.”
Though he’s regularly used as a starter, Williams is no stranger to coming off the pine. In his 35 regular-season games this season, he was relegated to the second unit in 15 of them.
The Celtics went 9-6 and Williams posted per-game averages of 7.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 78.0% from the field.
How does Robert Williams feel about coming off the bench?
“I don’t really care about starting, I just want to win”
Quin Snyder Dishes on Celtics Center Robert Williams
Regardless of whether he starts or is inserted into the second unit, Williams is a nuisance for any opposing ball club, particularly on defense.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder discussed Williams’ defense on April 16, pointing out the difficulties of going up against against someone of Williams’ ilk.
“Well, that was how the game started with him again, and Williams is just a unique player,” Snyder said at a Hawks practice session. “Some of the things he did in the game were the result of us getting beat on the perimeter. You’re not going to be able to stop him from getting a lob. If we can impact the game defensively, cross-match, something like that, you know, we’re adjusting.”
Logging 21 minutes during their postseason opener, Robert Williams finished his night against the Hawks with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block while shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.
Joe Mazzulla Sounds Off on Al Horford’s Impact on Celtics
The man currently filling in at the starting pivot in place of Robert Williams is veteran Al Horford who, now in his second stint with the franchise, is having an otherworldly impact on the club.
At least, that’s how Joe Mazzulla seems to view his presence on this team, as he recently was seen praising the 36-year-old during a practice day media session on April 17 for his contributions both from a play and leadership perspective.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s, he’s a lot of things for us,” Mazzulla said. “One of them is our emotional leader to where he has an innate maturity and ability to bring our game back with a big shot or a blocked shot. And so you know, he did that, where he hit the three on the wing. And then he had to block shots. And transition with about two minutes to go. And so we’re just really fortunate to have him his ability, not only what he can do from a basketball standpoint, but what he brings from an emotional leadership standpoint, not only does it help us over the course of the season, but in moments of games too.”
In 63 regular-season games, Horford posted solid all-around averages of 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3 assists per game while shooting 47.6% from the field and 44.6% from deep.
He also ranked first on the Celtics in offensive rating (133) and defensive box plus-minus (1.7) while ranking second in box plus-minus (3.3) of those who logged 1,000 or more minutes on the year.
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