[ad_1]
BOSTON — Forward of the Boston Celtics’ Friday night time matchup towards the Orlando Magic, a easy query was requested.
“Is Rob enjoying tonight?”
Joe Mazzulla’s response? “Sure.”
It’s been 264 days since Williams appeared in an everyday season sport, however the streak ends tonight. The large man, who was integral to Boston’s success by means of the latter half of final season, underwent arthroscopic knee surgical procedure earlier than this season started and has been out ever since.
All through Boston’s latest highway journey, it was teased that Williams may very well be near returning. And whereas many believed he would make his season debut towards the Los Angeles Lakers, he remained sidelined. As a substitute, the 25-year-old huge man will make his first look of the 12 months in entrance of the TD Backyard crowd towards the Magic – the primary contest of a seven-game homestand.
And regardless of not having performed in over half a 12 months (he performed in Sport 6 of the NBA Finals on June 16), Mazzulla said that there’s no minutes restriction in place. As a substitute, the workforce will merely monitor how he’s doing and go from there.
“There isn’t any restriction. It’s simply, , he hasn’t performed in six months. And so, it’s simply ensuring we don’t overuse him. Simply type of handle his minutes, how he feels, how he’s enjoying. So there’s not essentially a minutes restriction, it’s simply extra about how he’s doing throughout the sport after which how he’s after every sport.”
Williams loved a breakout 12 months final season, placing up career-high numbers throughout the board. He averaged 10.0 factors, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and a pair of.2 blocks on 73.6% taking pictures from the sector. He was the fulcrum of Boston’s protection, thriving in a free security function that allowed him to shift over and disrupt offenses within the paint. The large man earned All-Defensive Second Crew honors and completed seventh in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting.
Protection was the Celtics’ calling card final 12 months, however up to now this season, they’ve made a reputation for themselves as a consequence of their high-powered offense, which has been spearheaded by elite three-point taking pictures. Williams shouldn’t be a floor-spacer, however Mazzulla doesn’t suppose he’ll change the best way they play.
“I don’t suppose he alters [anything], I feel he simply makes us higher. From the standpoint of rim safety. I feel he’ll give our guys confidence. Simply having the ability to guard the ball much more aggressive as a result of they know they’ve assist and dimension behind. Offensively, screening, vertical spacing. I’ll look to see how groups match up with us relying on their matchups [and] what we run. And hopefully simply give us that vertical area as nicely.”
Final 12 months marked the primary season of Williams’ profession that he was capable of play in additional than 60 video games, and he simply barely reached that mark, showing in 61. He performed a career-high 29.6 minutes per contest, which was an enormous take a look at, contemplating he’s struggled with well being issues all through his profession.
Ever since he entered the league, Williams hasn’t been capable of constantly keep on the courtroom, however along with his most up-to-date surgical procedure, he and the Celtics were determined to get things right. He returned to motion rapidly after having surgical procedure on his meniscus within the spring, as he wished to play for Boston all through the postseason.
This time round, although, there was no rush. And now that he’s lastly able to return, Mazzulla says that he’s very pleased with the place Williams is at – bodily and mentally.
“His conditioning is admittedly good. He’s been doing the five-on-five within the exercises, after which his restoration the day after, the second day after, has been actually good as nicely. Simply type of completely satisfied the place he’s, each bodily and mentally.”
[ad_2]
Source link
