Ahead of a potential elimination game tonight in Philadelphia, the Celtics have opted to swap center Robert Williams into their starting lineup for guard Derrick White, per Shams Charania and Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
The Sixers, led by newly-minted league MVP Joel Embiid and veteran point guard James Harden, currently lead Boston 3-2, and have an opportunity to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 22 years with a home victory tonight.
As The Athletic’s duo notes, Williams had served as the team’s All-Defensive Team starting center during Boston’s 2021/22 season, which resulted in an NBA Finals run. Injuries have limited his availability this season, and he has been used in more of a reserve capacity, with White replacing him in a smaller first five.
“Just [gives] us a different look,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said of the switch, Weiss tweets. “Rob gives us a lift on the defensive end.”
Sources inform Charania and Weiss that backup guard Payton Pritchard could also see additional time tonight after enjoying an active run in mop-up duty during the end of a Game 5 blowout loss.
Not using one of those timeouts may have reserved their trip to Cancun shortly
Maybe
Derrick Williams has been out of the league for a long time.
He must have meant Rodney White.
Boston hasnt used certain guys in this matchup, and it’s really confusing. If you’re getting out coached by doc rivers, you probably need to figure something out. That’s 3 coaches now that have come in, and done similar things, and then for them to lose a matchup like this…
I thought they would have made the lineup changes a couple of games ago, but if they dont change anything, they’re probably going home, unless someone puts up a massive game
In this matchup, I think going back to Brown and Tatum at the 2/3 would better exploit Philly’s issue guarding on the wing/give them guard attackers to go at Philly’s not great defensive guards (besides Melton). I also dont get why Hauser isnt playing off the bench, or Grant Williams, unless they’re trying to be bring his worth down heading into the summer?
They need to get out of iso ball and kick it to a contested three with no time left on the shot clock. They’re at their best when they move the ball freely and find the open man. And please stop having marcus smart jack up meaningful threes.
Agree … except for Marcus shooting threes. He saves us with his three threes in the last game … as he does in many games.
Didn’t think they could do it. But Sixers have an excellent chance to end it at home. And then should be favored to win East. No matter who they play. Opportunity….
They sure did have an excellent chance.
Mazzulla watching ESPN I see. They suggested both of these things in the last couple days.
That was an ugly game for the Sixers. They had everything lined up and came up small.
Tatum played one of his worst games ever, the Celtics only played 7 guys, and Philly still loses by 9 at home in a closeout game.
Bad look.
James Harden with the classic 4-16, 06 from 3, 5 turnovers, -10 on the floor…
He’s bailed them out twice now, you realize? What about the MVP?
Matchup wise, they need more scoring from Harden, Tobias Harris, and if they used their depth at the 4 off the bench, which they arent
Embiid still had a good game against a tough matchup for him. I dont put it on him.
Disgusted yet hopeful! Fingers crossed!
Was hoping and suggesting TimeLord would & should start for the Celtics weeks ago. Not finally and desperately in the do-or-die, your-season’s-over-if-you-lose, last game!
And look at the response of the other 4 starters, Al, Marcus, Jaylen & Jason. They all wanted this move too! Now there’s too much pressure on Rob Williams to save the season.
I mean the rationale & argument about CLAMPING DOWN ON DEFENSE with the double big lineup AT THE START, so as to stop other teams getting hot, which is so disastrous in the NBA, and which was so successful last season, was so obvious & logical. Anyway, who knows what’s ahead now?
Go Celtics!
Our Celtics need Derrick White’s three point scoring! When he runs the show we get it. When we have Jayson & Jaylen dribble the ball up court DW goes to the corner & becomes insignificant on offense. Not good. Then he, and Al, force up contested threes. Disaster.
Do exactly what we did in Game 6. Start TimeLord and bring Malcom & Derrick in to shoot threes. They were 7 of 11 from three! We need that again. Go Celtics!