How Robert Williams return could benefit Boston Celtics star

One of the main storylines bordering the Boston Celtics early in the 2022-23 NBA Season has been the impending return of Robert Williams III. The team has been without it’s All-Defensive center for the entirety -of the young 2022-23 NBA season.

Williams first injured his knee last April, when he tore his meniscus in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was able to make a speedy return to the team, joining them in Game 3 of the first round. Williams played sporadically throughout Boston’s NBA Finals run and never quite looked like the dominant force fans had watched during the regular season.

‘The Timelord’ averaged a solid 10 points and just under 10 rebounds over the course of the 2021-22 campaign. His numbers took a bit of a hit in the playoffs when he put up just under eight points and grabbed about six rebounds per game. Rob’s knee clearly wasn’t at his best but the Texas A&M alumni wanted to be out there for the C’s as the marched towards the NBA Finals.

News broke of Williams undergoing a second procedure on that knee in late September. The timetable for the Timelord’s return was reported to be anywhere from 8-12 weeks after the surgery. Williams described himself as day-to-day before the December 10 loss to the Golden State Warriors, saying “there is a possibility of anything.”

A dynamic pairing for the Boston Celtics

Robert Williams’ return could be something that helps to once again take the play of Marcus Smart to another level. Smart has been having the best season of his career through Boston’s first 27 games. The 28-year-old is averaging just under 12 points per game to go along with 7.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds. His efficiency is as high as it’s ever been, as Smart is shooting 44% from the field, which is a career-high. The Oklahoma State alumni has also been having his best 3-point shooting season since 2019-20, making 34.7% of his threes.

Throughout his career with the Celtics, fans have been able to see Smart develop great chemistry with all sorts of players. More specifically, he’s been able to feed big men exceptionally well out of the pick and roll. Marcus has always found a way to set players such as Al Horford, Daniel Theis, Aron Baynes, and even Williams himself up with easy looks.

This season has been no different. Smart is fourth in the NBA in points per possession when he is the ball-handler in the pick-and-roll at 1.24. The return of Timelord will undoubtedly make the 28-year-old even more of a threat in that offense. He’ll have one of the most reliable finishers in the NBA at his disposal. The pairing should prove to be even more lethal to opposing teams than it has in the past, with how great Smart’s decision making has been for the Boston Celtics.