Boston Celtics: 3 players deserving of increased roles

Boston Celtics player No. 3) Robert Williams III

For you non-Boston Celtics fans out there, let me start out by saying something the franchise’s faithful have been preaching for quite some time now: Robert Williams III has the potential to be a monster in this league.

Though plagued by injuries over his first two years in the league, a finally healthy Timelord is seeing himself show up opposing teams early on in 2020-21.

Finding himself in a crowded frontcourt, the big man is averaging 5.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks a game on a whopping 74 percent shooting from the floor in just 16 minutes per game.

Though known as more of a shot swatter and board gobbler, Williams has showcased an impressive array of distribution skills, most recently with his stupendous touch-pass to Marcus Smart for a corner triple in the third quarter of their game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Attributing his improvements to newly signed center Tristan Thompson’s leadership skills, Williams claims he has a changed mindset pertaining to his approach to the game of basketball:

"“He’s a warrior,” Williams said. “He makes all of his teammates better. He makes you want to strive better. I commend him on that as far as changing my mental approach.”"

By all accounts, if anyone on the roster for the Boston Celtics deserves an increased role, it’s Robert Williams, a man who plays a position that is in dire need of an improvement over what Daniel Theis has provided thus far.