3 ways the Boston Celtics can embrace the small-ball revolution
Continue to play Grant Williams at the center position
If you ask Danny Ainge, the Houston Rockets were not the creators of small-ball…it was the Boston Celtics:
“The Houston Rockets are getting a lot of credit for smallball, but we’ve been playing Grant Williams at center and it’s been working really well for us and he’s played some great minutes there.” - Danny Ainge on the radio this morning https://t.co/0mZD47KFV4
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) February 7, 2020
Grant Williams, one of the team’s first rounders from the 2019 NBA Draft, has been somewhat of a revelation at the center position off the bench. It took all of two games for the Celtics’ stars to be impressed by his physicality in the post.
Speaking to reporters after the team’s second game, Kemba Walker was gushing about the rookie big-man:
Kemba Walker on Grant Williams at the 5: "I love that kid. He has great energy. He's super tough. He wants that. He wants those battles. He wanted to guard Marc [Gasol]. He did an unbelievable job. He was great. We're going to need that. He's going to have to grow up fast."
— Nicole Yang (@nicolecyang) October 26, 2019
Williams gave many fans who have been clamoring for an upgrade at the center position pause after his early-season grit. If he can continue to demonstrate that same ability, perhaps he can eventually play his way into the starting lineup.
For now, he is a great second unit small-ball center…and he’s only getting started.