Now is the time for Robert Williams to seize the starting center role for the Boston Celtics with Tristan Thompson and Daniel Theis currently ailing.
The Boston Celtics open up their regular season in less than a week, but there is already plenty of uncertainty about how this unorthodox, fan-less season will play out in Beantown. Injuries are the main culprit here, with several starters and key reserves missing action.
Most notably is that the Cs will start the season without Kemba Walker manning the starting floor-general spot because of the nagging knee injury that knocked him out of some games in February and March and still kept him out during the bubble seeding games.
Elsewhere in the starting lineup, Daniel Theis, last year’s surprise standout big, is dealing with a back injury. While that may not preclude him from suiting up on Friday night in the final preseason tune-up before the games count in the standings, it will almost certainly slow him down as we exit the gates on the 2020-21 season.
Tristan Thompson, the man that was meant to give him his stiffest competition, is also dealing with an ailment himself, being slowed down by a hamstring injury. Not only that, but the biggest celebrity on the Celtics bench has been dealing with the drama surrounding whether or not he was caught cheating on Khloe Kardashian with another woman in Boston.
All in all, the center position is in somewhat of flux, and this is the perfect time…for the “Time Lord”. Robert Williams has a legitimate chance to steal the starting center position right now with both of his frontcourt competitors ailing.
He did a fine job making his case on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds (with an assist for the road). He made an even finer case in the Eastern Conference semifinals when he thoroughly outplayed Enes Kanter to absorb the lion share of the minutes against the then-imposing Toronto Raptors frontcourt.
Williams needs to continue showing Brad Stevens that his attributes, the ones his opponents lack (bounce out of the building to name one), are the perfect fit alongside a star-studded starting lineup.
He could end up stealing the starting center position if he does.