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After two-straight dominant performances, the Boston Celtics faltered on Friday evening, dropping Game 3 of their first-round collection in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks.
Boston’s rebounding troubles took middle stage as Atlanta nabbed 11 offensive boards. And following a few tough showings, Trae Younger placed on a parade for his house crowd, exploding for 32 factors.
A tough second half from Jayson Tatum and a poor capturing evening for Jaylen Brown contributed to an unpleasant loss for the Celtics, however a significant shiny spot additionally appeared as Grant Williams earned his first minutes of the collection.
“You bought to remain ready for the second,” Williams mentioned post-game. “[Assistant coach] Tony [Dobbins] walked as much as me and mentioned I used to be in, so I simply tried to do no matter it took to assist my workforce win.”
As quickly as Williams entered the sport, he made himself recognized. Standing within the nook–an space of the courtroom he’s turn into synonymous with–Williams instantly nailed a 3 off of a Malcolm Brogdon help.
Williams ran again on the opposite finish, however he wasn’t achieved. Switched onto Bogdan Bogdanovic, Williams lowered himself right into a defensive stance, reduce off Bogdanovic’s go, and leaped up within the air for a steal. He even added a drawn cost to his in-game resume, doing somewhat little bit of all the pieces to assist Boston push ahead.
“Once I acquired subbed in, I simply tried to not mess up their circulation and did what I used to be informed to do,” mentioned Williams.
He completed the evening with 14 factors on 4-of-4 capturing from the sector—all three-point makes an attempt. The efficiency was highlighted by a step-back three on the finish of the third quarter, which reduce Atlanta’s result in seven. On the time, it gave them momentum heading into the ultimate body as they tried to mount a comeback.
It’s been an up-and-down season for Williams. Beginning along with his contract negotiations earlier than the 12 months started to his early successes and late-season struggles. With Sam Hauser’s sizzling streak to finish the 12 months, seeing him displace Williams within the playoff rotation could not have stunned many.
Together with Williams.
“No, I didn’t,” Williams mentioned when requested if he knew he could be out of the rotation in Video games 1 and a pair of. “However that’s one thing that you just don’t count on to listen to. You’re only a participant in a scenario. You don’t attempt to coach. You simply attempt your finest to give attention to what you possibly can management.”
By the primary two video games, Williams might be seen on the bench sustaining his traditional energetic persona.
“Once I didn’t play, [I was] simply attempting to maintain the identical perspective I’d if I used to be,” mentioned Williams. “Simply attempting to cheer on my teammates and convey power. And the identical in Sport 2.”
Boston’s loss prompted Williams’ large recreation to finish on a bitter notice, however his recreation can’t be understated. Together with the break earlier than the playoffs and every two-day break between the video games within the first spherical, Williams hadn’t earned enjoying time since April 9–a 12-day break. And that features the less-than-six minutes he performed in Boston’s final recreation of the season.
And but, when his quantity was known as, he picked up the telephone and delivered.
“We discuss that on a regular basis. One of many strengths of our workforce this 12 months is, no matter [the situation], guys are all the time able to play,” mentioned Mazzulla. “So, it says lots about him being able to play, and I believe issues like that assist a workforce in a playoff run.”
With Atlanta incomes a win, the Celtics at the moment are up 2-1 within the collection and will have an opportunity to shut issues out at TD Backyard in the event that they win out. However Williams’ efficiency means greater than that.
His protection will probably be a mandatory commodity if Boston will get the possibility to tackle the likes of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo in later rounds. If he’s capturing properly from deep and retaining his confidence up, it’ll make it lots simpler to maintain him within the common rotation.
Within the meantime, Williams isn’t frightened about enjoying time. He’s acquired his eyes set on greater targets.
“You simply attempt to keep optimistic,” Williams mentioned. “The largest factor is simply ensuring that you’re centered on the last word objective of successful a championship. Ensuring that you just’re caring on your teammates. Exhibiting that love for them. That was my largest factor. I don’t need my scenario to have an effect on what this workforce is doing.”
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