Boston Celtics: With Robert Williams out, is it now “Tacko Time” in Boston?

With Robert Williams expected to be sidelined multiple weeks with a hip injury, could the Boston Celtics look to Tacko Fall as a potential filler at center in the team’s rotation?

It should come as no surprise to anyone when one talks of how shallow and lackluster the Boston Celtics’ talent pool is at the center position. With players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond and Nikola Vučević all residing in the East, one could certainly say the Shamrocks lot of front court personnel is much closer to the bottom of the conference’s power rankings than it is to the top.

Now, with the latest news being center Robert Williams — also known as the “Time Lord” — is expected to be sidelined for at least the next three weeks, the team’s rotation has managed to become that much weaker.

Though not the team’s most menacing offensive force at the pivot, Williams has made a reputation for himself as being one of the best defenders Boston currently possesses — holds a defensive box +/- of 7.1 in 2019-20 (highest on the Celtics). The second year big finds himself averaging 3.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and just under a steal in 14.2 minutes per game.

With his diagnosis of bone edema — built up fluid in bone marrow — in his left hip, the center will be seen in dress clothes for the coming weeks, which means minutes are soon to be up for grabs at the five. While the team’s current participants in the rotation, Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter, should be seeing increases in their playing time during Williams’ absence, perhaps another player could end up being a beneficiary.

Tacko Fall, Beantown’s favorite 7-5 human, has spent a majority of the 2019-20 season with Boston’s G-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. In eight games, the Senegalese supergiant has proven to be quite dominant, averaging 13.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game on an impressive 67% shooting from the field — 10th highest in the league.

Fall came into the league as an un-drafted free agent, singing a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics this past October. A two-way contract allows a player to spend up to 45 days on a team’s official NBA roster.

So far this season, the UCF product has played in one game with the Celtics, logging four points and three rebounds on 50% shooting in four minutes of “garbage time” action. Now with Williams’ injury, Fall could soon be granted more playing time at the next level.

With the Celtics playing against bottom feeders such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks in the coming games, it might not be the worst time to start utilizing the 40+ games remaining of their 45 total call-up opportunities.

It’s never a good thing to see a player missing time due to injury. However, sometimes, it can open the door to opportunities for other players. Now, in the wake of Robert Williams’ absence, could we wind up seeing Tacko Fall make his way into the front court rotation with the Boston Celtics?