Boston Celtics: Robert Williams providing a higher level of energy

The Boston Celtics were playing great basketball and holding it down with big man Robert Williams III watching from the bench.  Now that he is back on the court and adjusting to the game, the team is starting to look even more dominant.

With Al Horford, Grant Williams and Luke Kornet holding down the fort in his absence, the Celtics were still able to beat most teams with their scoring, but there was a noticeable void whenever they would go up against teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, teams with active big men who can rebound and score.

That active big man in the middle, that rim protector was a need and Boston Celtics fans and obviously the team and players knew they already had the answer just healing up to get back on the court.  Though the team did go 0-3 in Time Lord’s first three games, his ability to impact the game defensively and around the rim on both ends was an immediate jolt.

Boston Celtics seeing the impact of Robert Williams III

The team has gone on to win the last four games in which the Robert Williams III impact was in high effect.  Rebounding, ally-op dunks, loud block shocks and even great passing has opened the game on both ends of the court when he is out there on the floor.

On the offensive side, his ability to battle on the boards keeps possessions alive.  When he’s out there with Horford, things open more for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown because of the spacing.  Horford is allowed to stretch the floor while Williams III lingers around the rim.  With Tatum and Brown’s ability to create their own shot and draw defenders, it opens easy buckets for the Celtics big man.

Defensively.  Well, if opposing players want to drive to the rim with him out there, it’s likely the ball will get swatted back.  In all, it’s just energy and a will to win.  Two factors that make a healthy Robert Williams III even more impactful when he’s out there on the court no matter what his role is.

"“I feel like I’m trying to win, you know what I’m saying?” Williams said, as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston.  “If [starting happens, it happens.  But we winners over here.  We pride ourselves on putting team first, you know what I’m saying?  I can impact off the bench, starting.  I like being able to see where I need to add the energy coming off the bench.  But, like I said, it’s in the air, I’m gonna rock with these guys regardless.”"

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Williams III has been rocking the rim at both sides of the court which is awesome to see for Boston Celtics fans and scary for opposing teams.  The pure effort out there on the field is enough to energize the entire team.  So far, he is averaging 8.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in just over 18 minutes played per game.  He will just get stronger which will lead to even more minutes on the court.

As far as whether he will re-gain his starting role, interim head coach Joe Mazzulla doesn’t rule that out, but ultimately, it’s whatever is best for the team.

"“Um, are we going to do that?” Mazzulla said this week, via Masslive.com.  “I just think it depends on what’s best for our team at the time.  What is best for him?  We’ve fluctuated the starting lineup a little bit throughout the year, which I think has given us some flexibility.  But we’ve found consistency in what we have now.  It’s just a matter of, if it makes sense, we’ll do it.  If it doesn’t, we won’t.”"

It really is as simple as that but the Boston Celtics having the Robert Williams III back out there on the court playing like he is capable of playing is a luxury for the best team in the NBA.