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Celtics Praise Robert Williams for Impact in What They Deemed a Must-Win Game 4: 'Can't Even Give Words to What Rob Does on Our Team'
Robert Williams is the Celtics' x-factor. He's near and arguably at the top of that category among playoff teams. His impact at the rim and on the boards raises Boston's ceiling at both ends of the floor.
And if this is the year they raise Banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters, the Time Lord staying healthy and consistently performing up to that standard will be on the short list of reasons it happened.
Sunday's 129-121 win over the Hawks, giving the Celtics a 3-1 series lead, was a prime example. In 29 minutes, Williams registered 13 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, including 12 on the defensive end, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
That doesn't even fully account for his ability to challenge and alter shots. The former Texas A&M Aggie contested a team-best 11 field goal attempts, including nine from inside the arc, a game-high. He also led Boston with eight screen assist points.
And in crunch time, with the visitors clinging to a 109-104 lead, Jaylen Brown's aggressive, downhill approach led to him getting to the basket, where he found Williams for back-to-back layups, giving the Celtics needed breathing room and a 113-106 edge with 3:14 on the clock.
The Time Lord later snagged an offensive rebound that led to a Brown corner three, and he earned a Tommy Point, diving to the floor for a loose ball, tipping it to Brown, who drove baseline for a two-handed flush that helped seal the victory.
After the game, Brown, who ditched his mask and the protection on his lacerated right hand in the second quarter and suddenly became more aggressive, finishing with 31 points, including 22 in the second half, expressed the following about Williams.
"Can't even give words to what Rob does on our team. Defensively and like a presence wise; when healthy, he's probably the best defender in our league," said the two-time All-Star, as captured by CLNS Media.
"He has such a presence on the game, being able to tip balls out, being able to distort shots, block shots, get big rebounds. Even on the offensive end, being a paint threat: I drove to the basket late in the fourth quarter two or three times, I was able to find him on a drop-off, and he was able to finish it. Just makes the game easier on both sides for everybody."
As seen on NBC Sports Boston, head coach Joe Mazzulla conveyed, "Rob's the kind of guy where he's got to realize he has a lot of gifts and he has a lot of abilities; it goes back to what you guys always talk about, guys need to feel appreciated, need to feel empowered, and so every conversation with Rob is about when he's at his best we're a different team. And so, just constantly reminding him of that."
Williams also spoke about his relationship with Mazzulla, who's constantly pushing Boston's x-factor, especially regarding his role in the Celtics being more physical than their opponent.
"He's been challenging all of us to bring it with the physicality. He's just letting me know that's why they pay me, which is respectable. And letting me know, 'keep going, man,' and that's when I'm at my best."
Williams later stated about Mazzulla, "He has a kind of even-level ability of being able to tear you down at the same time, so even though he encourages me, he challenges me, even in the middle of the game, he challenges me all the time."
Further Reading
Celtics Address Game 3 Loss to Hawks: 'This One Tonight is On Me'
[Film Room] Derrick White's Assertiveness Leads to 26 Points, MVP Chants as Celtics Take 2-0 Lead
The Celtics Discuss Their Game 1 Win vs. the Hawks: 'We Can't Take Our Foot Off the Gas'
