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Boston Celtics: 3 regular season goals for Robert Williams in 2018-19

By Joe DeFerrari

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: (EDITOR'S NOTE: SATURATION WAS REMOVED FROM THIS IMAGE) Robert Williams #44 of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 12: (EDITOR'S NOTE: SATURATION WAS REMOVED FROM THIS IMAGE) Robert Williams #44 of the Boston Celtics poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

How Robert Williams can help the Boston Celtics on defense

There’s a lot to be excited about on offense; if Williams reaches his ceiling on that end, he could be a very functional starting center in the NBA.

On defense, a fully realized Robert Williams would be flat out special. The potential is huge and underrated.

The two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year has just about every physical tool he needs. He has quick feet that are more than capable of keeping up with smaller players. His aforementioned length helps with containing off switches, and enables him to tally up blocks.

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His 40″ vertical allows him to get to a lot of blocks and rebounds that his contemporaries couldn’t. There’s a skill component to defense, of course, but if you’re big and fast and explode off the ground, you’re a big chunk of the way there already. Fully realized, he would be a high-caliber weakside rim protector with elite switchability.

There are questions. While he took over games for stretches at Texas A&M, he also went through long stretches where he didn’t impact the game. Analysts at NbaDraft.net pointed out his inconsistent motor on the defensive end. He has habits of forgetting to box out and getting caught out of position, things he has often gotten away with so far thanks to his athleticism. Karl-Anthony Towns has very similar bad habits, and as a result has not come close to his defensive potential.

For Williams to make a defensive impact for the Boston Celtics this year, he’ll have to be a dialed-in defender who makes the most of his elite physical tools in his limited minutes. If he could do that, he might fill an important role on this team.

As great as Horford is, you wonder how he’ll handle physical centers like Joel Embiid as he ages. Horford gets by with intellect and effort, not physical gifts. Williams, on the other hand, has the physical tools to deal with anybody; the Celtics have not had a defender like that in a long while. Fans have to be excited about the potential.

This all ties hand in hand with the third goal for Williams, which may be the most important: being mentally ready to handle his responsibilities on and off the court.

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