Which Celtics player outside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is most important to their title aspirations? There’s a strong argument for big man Robert Williams, who boasts a unique ability to change the game on both ends of the court.
How does Williams change the equation for Boston despite being the team's eighth-leading scorer? It all starts on defense, says former Celtics point guard and NBC Sports Boston analyst Eddie House.
" can be more aggressive on the perimeter knowing that you have a guy who can clean up a mistake or make somebody make a mistake," House explained. Williams is an elite interior defender who leads the Celtics in blocks, but he still makes an impact when he doesn't touch the ball. Opponents shot just 43.7 percent with Williams as their primary defender this season; only two players in the NBA limited their opponents to a lower shooting percentage .
Ex-Celtics forward and NBC Sports Boston color analyst Brian Scalabrine noted Boston is an"elite defensive team and an elite defensive rebounding team" when Williams andare on the court together, and the numbers back up his point: The Celtics boast a stingy 103.1 defensive rating and an 80.2 percent defensive rebounding percentage with Time Lord and Horford on the floor.
Boston will need Williams to assert himself on the boards against Hawks big man Clint Capela, who ripped down 21 rebounds in Atlanta's play-in tournament upset of the Miami Heat. But even if Williams isn't posting double-doubles on a nightly basis, his ability to keep the ball moving on offense and get in opponents' heads on defense can make a significant impact.
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