3 biggest X-factors found on the bench for the Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics X-factor No. 3) Grant Williams

Last but certainly not least we have third-year forward, Grant Williams, making his way onto our list of Boston Celtics X-factors coming off the pine this season.

Coming into 2021-22, many (admittedly, including ourselves) weren’t so sure as to how the 23-year-old was going to fair in his junior year with the team considering the fact that they seemingly bolstered the depth at the four spot while also bringing on added floor spacers during the offseason.

Now, 66 games in, we find that despite all the questions, comments, and concerns, the big has undoubtedly proven himself to be one of the C’s most trusty role players.

Though he may be a smaller power forward, as he measures in at just 6-6, Williams has shown that he can hold his own against bigger opposing players, especially on the defensive end of the ball where, thanks to his muscular physique, he has shown that he can absorb contact when squaring up in the post and has an underrated ability to time an opponent’s shot attempt well enough to swat shots down at the rim when need be.

Offensively, though he may not be the team’s main option by any stretch of the word, his presence has undoubtedly been felt all throughout this year’s campaign, as Grant Williams finds himself serving as the C’s most trusty 3-point sniper, converting his long-range attempts at a 44 percent clip.

Easily having himself the best season of his career, per 75 possessions the 23-year-old is posting 12.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and just over a block per game while boasting a 63 effective field goal percentage.

Though he’s by no means a star, recently we saw him be described by ESPN as “Boston’s version of P.J. Tucker” which, frankly, is actually quite fitting, and 300+ Celtics fans also seemed to agree with this kind of description when we shared it on Twitter a few days back.

Throughout his career and during last year’s championship run with the Milwaukee Bucks, Tucker has managed to turn himself into an X-factor of sorts for the vast majority of teams that he’s suited up for due to his floor spacing, defensive versatility, and all-out hustle, and we feel the same can be said about Grant Williams this year with the C’s for very similar reasons.