Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Film Room: Grant Williams' Value on Full Display in Celtics' Game 4 Win vs. Heat
By carrying out his job consistently, Grant Williams shined in the Celtics' 116-99 win over the Heat.
The former Tennessee Volunteer played with considerable energy. On a night Boston returned to the identity that best suits it, allowing the visitors to maintain an up-tempo operation, even on transition opportunities, it felt like Williams was never out of frame.
He drilled 4/6 threes, registering 14 points in 29:13 of playing time, his most this postseason.
According to Celtics' in-house reporter Taylor Snow, Williams has a career playoff three-point percentage of 45 percent on 140 attempts from beyond the arc. That's the third-highest conversion rate in NBA history among players who have hoisted at least that many threes.
Knocking down shots from long distance is how he can make the most impact offensively, but the dynamic forward brings more to the table. He's an effective facilitator who makes quick decisions with the ball. Sometimes that means dribbling into a turnover, but when applied as a passer, he tends to help Boston create quality possessions.
Along with spacing the floor, making shots, and keeping the offense humming, Williams also demonstrated his value as a screener.
The play above occurred right after Gabe Vincent hurt his ankle. The cold-blooded reality is it would've been a mistake not to attack him. And who better to do so with than Jayson Tatum?
To make that happen, Williams picks off the four-time All-Star's defender, Caleb Martin, leaving Vincent on an island with Tatum, who capitalizes on the mismatch.
The 24-year-old forward also showed off his defensive versatility on Tuesday.
The most notable example of him shining on that end of the floor was when he cut off Jimmy Butler, then stuffed his shot.
Beyond that, Williams was essential to the visitors' success packing the paint to keep Miami from the rim.
In the play above, three help defenders are in and around the paint against an offense spaced poorly; the six-foot-six forward times when he comes to wall-off Butler from getting to the basket perfectly.
Even if the latter makes a kick-out pass to the corner, Tatum can sink to Martin, and Williams can x-out to Max Strus. Instead, the Heat's star forward spins into a shot contested by Jaylen Brown that he leaves short, leading to a three at the other end.
The combination of packing the paint and multiple players constantly swiping at the ball as members of the hosts drove downhill led to the Heat committing nine second-half turnovers, which the Celtics parlayed into 18 points.
They also did a great job closing out hard to shooters, running them off the three-point line or doing their best to influence misses, translating to Miami making 3/16 threes in the second half and only eight for the game.
Conversely, Boston buried 9/20 in the final two frames, outscoring the Heat 66-43 in the second half. The visitors making 18/45 long-range attempts, generating 30 more points from beyond the arc, was crucial to saving their season.
Williams, who paired his four made threes with two deflections, a steal, and six contested shots, reflecting the benefits of closing out hard and in control, and his ability to stay with players off the dribble, was a significant part of the Celtics' success on Tuesday.
And as someone who's best to play at the four, a position he's undersized for, the six-foot-six forward doesn't typically receive praise for his rebounding. But in Game 4, he corralled six rebounds, including four Miami misses.
After a victory extending the Eastern Conference Finals to a Game 5 in Boston, Marcus Smart voiced of Williams, "His professionalism is underrated," adding, "We love Grant. And we love everything he brings to this team. You need a guy like Grant on your team to win, and he helps us win games. And when he’s playing like that and (he's) focused like that, we’re gonna be alright."
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
It's been a trying season for the 24-year-old forward. That's remained the case in the playoffs. Williams didn't play in three of the six matchups in the first round against the Hawks. And in Game 4, he logged less than a minute.
He didn't see much court time vs. the Sixers either, playing 4:01 in the series opener, 12:24 in Game 4, 8:27 the following contest, receiving another DNP-CD in Game 6, then getting off the pine for 3:23 in the Celtics' 112-88 blowout to return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth time in seven years.
But after sitting through the series opener against the Heat, Williams, a restricted free agent this summer, showcased his value to his current team and those around the league.
He didn't need to poke the hibernating bear that was Jimmy Butler, who scored half as many points (nine) in the final 6:22 as he had in nearly 42 minutes in Game 2, rallying Miami for a second-straight win in Boston. But at least he showed fight.
That's a staple of Williams' game, including when he repeatedly squares off with the likes of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, two grueling assignments he executes without letting the exhausting nature of the job take from his ability to perform it.
Even with his minutes restricted this campaign, Williams has made the Celtics' decision of whether to re-sign him for them, driving home his value during this Eastern Conference Finals.
But the other edge of that sword is the restrictive nature of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement making it difficult to match an offer sheet from a franchise that sees what he's done in the past, what he's doing on this stage, and understands it'll take signing him to a significant offer sheet to pry him from Boston.
If there was any uncertainty about whether the team that drafted Williams should try to bring him back beyond this season, he's provided clarity. But in doing so, the Celtics have to hope he didn't price himself out of Boston.
Further Reading
Celtics Stars Speak on Team Sticking Together Down 3-0: 'We Didn't Want That to Define Us'
Jaylen Brown Responds to Rumors of Disconnect in Celtics Locker Room
Looking to do the Impossible, Celtics Channel Kevin Millar: 'Don't Let Us Get One'
Trading Jaylen Brown is a Gamble the Celtics are Better Off Not Making
Celtics Address 'Letting Go of the Rope' After Game 1 Loss to Heat
