Boston Celtics: 3 ways Robert Williams-Al Horford duo can change offense

The Boston Celtics will have better spacing

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown love three play types: Isolation, transition, and pick and roll. They can thrive in the first two by themselves, but they need a competent rolling or popping big for the third play type. Without it, teams can focus more on their drives and leave the roaming center open, knowing they are not an immediate threat.

That changes with Robert Williams, and it’s why Boston was so dynamic with him on the court and so flat with him off the court. Williams provides what is known as vertical spacing, which is not the same as perimeter spacing, but it is similar. Perimeter spacing relies upon shooting and cutting to open up driving lanes or open three-pointers. Vertical spacing creates space right around the rim, creating open layups and easy dump-offs for cutters.

Having a rim runner that can demand the kind of attention Williams does is critical to any pick-and-roll dominant offense. His rim gravity can not only generate a ton of dunks for himself but also create even more open layups for his teammates without him even having to touch the ball. All Williams has to do to positively impact his teams’ offense is to move towards the rim.

Robert Williams’ impact should not be news; it was as clear as day during the season, but Horford’s impact will be slightly different. He will run more pick and pops than he will pick and rolls. Boston will rely on Horford to staple their perimeter spacing while Williams provides the vertical spacing. Horford is still capable of this, shooting 37% on 5.4 triples per game last season.

With Horford and Williams next to Tatum and Brown, Boston’s half-court offense will be so much more dynamic than it was last season with Thompson and Theis. They will have more flexibility, more spacing, and more ways to score than just isolating one of their star players. Expect more scoring by committee with the Celtics’ new big man rotation.