Seemingly all season the Boston Celtics have been waiting to see what they could get from a fully healthy Robert Williams in 2019-20. The Disney bubble has proven that the wait was well worth it.
As the seeding games start to unwind, the Boston Celtics now set their sights on the postseason and, in turn, a shot at attaining their 18th Larry O’Brien trophy.
Coming into this year’s playoffs, the shamrocks are penciled in as top-contenders according to numerous publications, and are expected to have one of the longest stays in Disney World. Despite their slow start to the resumption of the season, it would appear they are beginning to play up to their original hype, rattling off four straight victories, giving them a stellar bubble record of 6-2 and an overall season record of 48-23.
In regard to their last four outings, its been apparent that the entire roster has been fully healthy — something we rarely saw this season — and, with this, they’ve performed tremendously, besting two of their opponents (the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors) in blowout fashion.
While the usual suspects of Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, and Marcus Smart have all performed admirably and were massive contributors in their recent success, perhaps one of the most unsung heroes during this run has been Boston’s second-year big man out of Texas A&M, Robert Williams III.
Throughout his short two-year tenure in the NBA, the 22-year-old has struggled mightily to stay on the hardwood. Thanks in large to nagging lower-body injuries — particularly in his knees — the man known as “Time Lord” has only managed to suit up for a total of 60 games, and has produced to an average of only 3.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game on 72 percent shooting from the floor.
However, despite the lack of experience, his potential has been the talk of the town virtually since his arrival. Showcasing a natural gift for locking in on the defensive side of the ball, specifically at the rim, and an otherworldly level of athleticism, Williams’ upside appears to be quite promising.
And, since receiving minutes during the bubble, he has proven his “believers” right in terms of his promise for, with more minutes, he has produced better than even his per-36 minutes would have you believe.
Through four games played, in just 14.6 minutes a night Williams has put up 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks on 83 percent shooting from the field and an average box plus/ minus of +11.
Hitting his stride at the right time, it appears Robert Williams is a prime candidate to receive ample playing time in the upcoming postseason. With his recent level of play, coupled with his specific skill set, he could be a fantastic commodity for the team, specifically on the defensive end when going up against the likes of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Finally fully healthy, it appears the Boston Celtics have a true under-the-radar x-factor in Robert Williams coming into his own at the right time.
A good time indeed for shamrocks fans, if you ask me.