Celtics’ Grant Williams comes up big in victory over Raptors

With Enes Kanter out and the Celtics shorthanded at center, Brad Stevens knew he was probably going to need Grant Williams to play a bigger role Friday night against the Raptors.

The 20-year-old Williams seems to be prepared for anything, but the coach made sure his rookie knew anyway.

“I texted Grant yesterday and said, ‘You better know all of the 5 by tomorrow,’” Stevens said.

Williams probably didn’t expect himself to be right in the thick of things during crunch time against the defending NBA champions in just the second game of his career, but there he was in the fourth quarter in front of a raucous TD Garden crowd, making huge hustle plays and providing strong defense to help key the Celtics’ comeback 112-106 victory.

The rookie looked more like a seasoned vet, unafraid of the moment and looking very much like he belonged.

Williams had an idea his number might be called.

“As much as I am a nerd, I kind of knew going in,” he said. “He sent that text and I was like, ‘Gotcha coach.’ And (assistant coach Brandon) Bailey texted me on the side and said, ‘You know the 5, don’t you?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, but it’s OK, I’ll just go with it.’ So I was coming in and I didn’t know if I was going to play a lot of the position or if I was going to play a little other positions.

“But I’m comfortable doing it, something I’ve done at Tennessee, before Tennessee, and growing up, so being that short guy that people don’t think are that tough, you kind of just get that competitiveness and that mentality of you’re just going to go out there and do whatever it takes, and be that physical presence that not many people know.”

With Kanter out and Daniel Theis hobbling a bit after hurting his ankle, Williams found himself on the floor with the rest of the Celtics’ starters for long stretches in the fourth as they made their comeback. He played 22 minutes — the most of any C’s big — and it was hard to take him off the floor with the plays he was making.

While Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were hitting the big shots that fueled the rally, it might not have been possible without Williams, who was more than up to the task of defending veterans Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka. On one play, his overwhelming defense of Gasol forced him into a bad shot, which helped ignite a fast break in which Brown found Gordon Hayward for the go-ahead bucket.

“That was big time, man. Love that kid — he has great energy, super tough,” Walker said. “He wants that, he wants those battles. He wanted to guard Marc Gasol. He did an unbelievable job, and we’re gonna need that. He’s gonna have to grow up fast for us.”
“That was definitely an experience that I enjoyed,” Williams said.

Williams — who finished with seven rebounds, which included six offensive, and four assists — didn’t get caught too much in the moment, but when he corralled an offensive rebound and kicked it to Tatum for a go-ahead 3-pointer in the third, he allowed himself to soak it in.

“I just ran down the court,” Williams said. “I was like, it’s going in. Just like, please let this happen. I’ve seen guys do this on TV. … That was a moment I’ll remember for a long time.”

As Walker alluded to, the Celtics are going to continue to need Williams’ contributions with a thin frontcourt. On Friday, the rookie showed poise and an ability to play the 5 if the Celtics want to play small ball.

Afterward, it sounded like he’s been doing this for a long time.

“It’s all about competing, it’s all about playing with pace and the heart and motor most guys don’t play with at that position because you have to realize it’s a long 82 games,” Williams said. “There’s a lot of banging, you just have to bring a different dimension. …

“Honestly, I just come in with the mentality of just do whatever it takes. Because if you’re that guy, that outside noise is going to be fun, sure, but you’re really just focused on the team, and that’s all I’m about. These guys around me. I bring an energy to them every single day, whether or not I’m annoying them or loving it, but that’s just what makes me feel good about myself.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2pivk3A