Celtics big man Robert Williams is battling a knee injury that has sidelined him for several playoff games and limited his effectiveness in others, but head coach Ime Udoka has maintained a desire to use Williams whenever possible, writes Jay King of The Athletic. As King outlines, the Celtics view Williams as a foundational piece and want him to be “adaptable” to a variety of matchups — the Warriors’ offense presents some unique challenges for him to figure out.
“It’s the NBA Finals and we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to win,” Udoka said. “But this is the core group going forward, and to have the confidence to be able to figure it out with him is going to be big going forward.”
In Wednesday’s Game 3, Williams was a difference-maker on defense in the second half, registering three steals and a block during one impressive two-minute stretch and helping the Celtics limit Golden State to just 11 fourth-quarter points. The big man said his knee injury is one that would normally require more time off, but the extra days off after Games 1 and 2 have helped him, tweets Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“I’m just trying to be accountable for my team,” Williams said, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic (Twitter link). “We made it this far. I had a discussion with myself about pushing through this, but I’m happy with how it’s going. We’ll worry about the injury at the end of the season. But for now, I’m still fighting.”
Here’s more on the Celtics:
- As they did repeatedly during the season’s second half and in the first three rounds of the playoffs, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown showed once again on Wednesday why the idea of breaking them up with a trade – a popular topic of speculation in the first half of 2021/22 – is one that shouldn’t come up again, writes Chris Mannix of SI.com.
- Tatum said earlier this week that he’s not sure why the debate over whether or not he’s a true superstar has been such a common one over the last couple years, as Tim Bontemps of ESPN relays. “I’ve seen there’s a huge debate: Is he a superstar or is he not? I want to know where that came from,” Tatum said. “… It’s been a big deal this last year and a half or two years. I see it all the time. There’s always been a question in the back of my head, I wonder who spoke on my behalf or said that or why that was such a big deal.” The Celtics forward added that he’s more concerned about winning a title than determining his individual standing in the NBA: “If you win a championship, they can debate a lot of things. They can’t debate whether or not you’re a champion.”
- In a separate story for ESPN, Bontemps takes an in-depth look at Al Horford‘s 15-year journey to his first NBA Finals and what the veteran big man means to the Celtics.
I think Robert Williams is a huge difference out there for Boston. Very effective rim protector and occasional lob threat. To do it on a gimpy knee shows even more his maturity. I’m impressed, especially considering all that was said about him coming out of college regarding lack of focus.
His presence probably gives Boston a lot of confidence out there on defense. Knowing the big guy is back there helps the wing and guard Defenders attack the line with more confidence.
Im absolutely impressed by R. Williams, he has been a game changer all playoffs for Boston, and he is doing that with a gimpy knee like you said. He will be a DPOY in years to come for sure.
Anyone doubting whether Tatum is a super-star clearly isn’t paying enough attention. His skill level, scoring, and defense easily put him in the top 7 players in the game right now. If you were starting a franchise today, he’d have to be in the top 3 guys you’d want to build around. Maybe even number 1
Nah he’s overrated, he just on a good team so defenses leaving him open a lot for an allstar
“He’s just on a good team so defenses leave him open” is so incredibly weak. You could say that about any player on one of the top 10 teams in the NBA.
Pick a reason that makes sense if you don’t like him.
No you can’t. Name me a top 10 team that you would trade everyone but their best player for. Would you trade Curry’s team for Tatum’s team?
Oh ok. What you said only applies to Tatum. He is the only player in the NBA on a good team who is left open. Deep thoughts.
Tatum is a superstar, but he is not on the Giannis – Luka’s lvl or KD/LBJ in previous years. He had a lot of bad games in this playoff run. Luka’s and Giannis “bad games” are still better than most players good games.
I think it’s pretty obvious that Giannis and Luka are better than Tatum. I don’t think Celtics fans care all that much tho, cuz those guys are home.
@ElMajesty
So what level is ahead of a “superstar”?
I wonder why this generation is so focused on the reevaluation of everyone almost on a daily/weekly basis. Guy has a great game and then that changes his status. It’s all too silly. A true goat or labeling of a superstar should happen over an extended period of time.
generational talent? hahaha
To me Tatum is a superstar, he has 3 playoff games of +40 points in 71 playoffs games, in comparison Paul Pierce has 3 in 171 playoffs games.
Yes Tatum had a couple of 12 points or less games this playoffs, but still has exploded in a couple of key games against the Bucks and Heat, and he has taken a leap on the defensive end. He is for sure a top 10 guy in the league.
Comparing scoring between Pierce and Tatum is senseless. Pierce came in the league when scoring was at its hardest. Tatum came in the league when scoring is at its easiest
@bamck
Tatum is a star but he’s not a superstar… yet. He’s had 3 games this playoff season where he scored 12 points or less. I can’t recall a Jordan, LBJ, Kobe, Shaq or Magic coming up short that many times in three same playoff season.
Superstar or not Tatum’s the best player in the league right now. He doesn’t have a Pippen, a super team, and an equivalent Kobe/Shaq pairing. Here’s what makes him great:
Career numbers:
FT% .844
DRB% 18.6 (better than 20 past two seasons)
Steal% 1.6 (good for a SF)
Assist% 18.6 (better than 20 past two seasons) elite for a SF
3ptAtt/100POS 8.7 (better than 10 past two seasons)
These are the stats that matter in the modern NBA. He’s the complete package. My doubts with the Celtics is that I question whether or not the Cs have sufficient talent surrounding him. That question hasn’t been answered yet. Not gonna lie, IMO, win or lose, the Cs should attempt to deal for Donovan Mitchell, who wants out of Utah. DM is just what the team needs, a good shooter who can score.
Tatum is for sure a top 10 player, and a superstar, but he is nowhere near Giannis, Luka or Jokic lvl. He is not the best player in the league and considering Giannis and Luka’s age maybe he will never be.
I am a diehard Celtics fan and I def would take Giannis, Luka, Jokic, and Embiid over Tatum without even thinking about it.
I can see the logic with Giannis, Luka and Jokic, but Embiid? He’s 4 years older and frequently injured.
Tatum is so good that the Celtics need to help him more?— How about one standard being able to carry a team already over the luxury line.
Why choose those stats for your profile? There must be a reason. There are many more complex aggregates that claim merit.
It’s Tatum’s passing, defense and ‘keeping his head in the game when his shot’s not falling’ that has most impressed me this series.
Tatum is a gifted scorer and his team’s best all around player, and he’s doing his best to ignore the noise and be everything his team needs him to be in order to win a championship. Maybe that’s not a superstar (at least in the Giannis, Jokic, Doncic sense), but, if his team does in fact win it all, then it doesn’t matter. For purists, it’s about skill sets first, with results needed for confirmation, but, for most of everyone else, it’s the other way around. If Tatum leads BOS to a championship, the superstar definition will have to expand to include him. Curry, among many others, wasn’t considered by anyone in the game to be a superstar, UNTIL he was able to leverage his skills to the point that he could lead a team to a championship.
DirtyDra …….. for 35 mins he did more grabbing, holding, talking, fouling than anything else apparently.
2 pts, 25% FG (1-4), 4 rebs, 3 ast, 1 blk,
2 TO, 6 PF ………. OverTheHill .
Tatum sounded saner in the espn article. I think the idea for that pompous subject came from the espn writer… it was his angle. Tatum should not be blamed for the grandeur of the “controversy”, but maybe the writer thought it fit him, and was true in spirit.
I might agree, if it mattered. “Superstar” is for others to ponder.
Tatum: “Did I ever say I’m a superstar, I’m on the verge? That never came from me.”