Boston Celtics: Robert Williams attacking the rim like a grown man

Sky’s the limit for Boston Celtics big man Robert Williams and he is soaring around the rim when he is given an opportunity.

Sometimes injuries open the door for young talent.  Such was the case two seasons ago when Gordon Hayward went down for the Boston Celtics.  That opened the door of opportunity for Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

This season, the absence of Enes Kanter is opening that same door of opportunity for second-year big man Robert Williams III.

In Saturday night’s blowout win against the San Antonio Spurs, Williams not only recorded a career night with 11 points, seven rebounds and six blocked shots, he also seemed to set a record with highlight blocks and dunks around the rim.

DeAndre Jordan anyone?

Actually, the Boston Celtics would love if the late first-round pick panned out to be the caliber type of big man Jordan was during his prime with the Los Angeles Clippers.  Young, athletic and coming into the league with more potential, Robert Williams can be so much more, especially if he developed any kind of shot.

Just in his second year in the league, the points will come for Williams with the way he flies around the rim.  Especially when he flies like this:

That is a grown man play and he captivated the fans at the AT&T Center in San Antonio and NBA Twitter with a few of those types of lob plays.  But where he is expected to really flourish with the Celtics is defensively.  His ability to protect the rim and rebound is what the team really needs, along with that highlight reel action offensively.

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"“He’s going to get some points to go down, but he was really running,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said following Saturday’s 135-115 win, via Masslive.com.  “He’s a great shot blocker, and where I think he’s been at his best this year is rebounding over the top.  He’s still improving in pick-and-roll and different defensive coverages.  But offensively, he has an ability to pass it and he’s a threat at the rim.  That’s what we need him and [Daniel] This to be, because they’re not high-volume jump shooters.”"

With his skillset, the only thing holding Robert Williams back would be playing time and any lack of confidence.  The more he plays, however, the more growth he is showing out there on the court and the confidence is building.

But, like any young player transitioning into the league, he also knows early season success is nothing to get content with.  When asked about the team’s 3-0 road trip, he gave a grown man answer.

"“We’ve got hella games left,” Williams said, via Masslive.com.  “Hella games left.  It’s a great road trip win, all three of them.  But we’ve got hella games left.”"

That’s a “hella” lot of games for Boston Celtics fans and fans in other team’s arenas to see Robert Williams sky to limits unknown.  Whether blocking shots or rocking the rim, the Celtics have a big man who is showing off some talent unseen before in the green and white.