Rob Williams on returning to Celtics’ starting lineup: ‘We started having fun’
Jayson Tatum ended the Celtics’ second-round playoff win over Philadelphia with arguably the greatest performance of his career. But the team’s turnaround from a 3-2 series deficit started well before Tatum’s Game 7 heroics and even his all-time fourth quarter in Game 6.
It began with a lineup change.
The Celtics replaced Derrick White in their starting lineup with Rob Williams, who fortified their defense alongside Al Horford in Game 6. Last season, Boston established itself as the best defensive team in the league through that double-big lineup. Williams’ work as a help defender roaming off the wing discouraged rim attacks and more recently helped crowd league MVP Joel Embiid at the end of the second round.
With Williams and Horford on the floor in these playoffs, the Celtics have out-scored their opponents by 12.8 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass. That number is one of the reasons Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said Tuesday that Williams would stay in the starting lineup after he came off the bench for Boston’s first 11 postseason games.
Speaking before Wednesday’s Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 against Miami, Williams said starting again came naturally to him.
“We started having fun,” he said. “That group hasn’t been together for a while, but it was kind of like riding a bike.”
The 25-year-old center added returning to the starting lineup hasn’t changed his mindset. Though he does feel the team’s energy has been better as a result.
“When I was coming off the bench and not starting, there were games you could just tell the energy was down a little bit,” Williams said. “Not saying that it’s a one-person task, it takes the whole team. But (I’m) just trying to start with a little higher energy.”
As for his role against the Heat, who took the Celtics to seven games in last year’s East Finals, Williams said he’ll continue to bring energy and spring his teammates free for open shots.
“Energy, rebounding, defense. Like I said, it’s not a one-person task. It requires everybody,” Williams said. “But that’s why I lead this team in a lot of aspects. Just energy-wise, getting my players open, getting us extra shots, getting the shooters open, so that was my job.”
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/vFjulCI
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