After being upended on the boards in Recreation 3, the Boston Celtics got here again with poise and vitality in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks of their 129-121 win on Sunday night time. The Celtics now have a 3-1 chokehold on the sequence, and may have the prospect to shut out the sequence on Tuesday at dwelling in entrance of a packed TD Backyard.
If Boston manages to shut the sequence out then, the Japanese Convention Semifinals will begin on Saturday in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers. Sixers star and MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid has been battling a knee damage, and is a coin toss to play in Recreation 1, which bodes effectively for Boston. Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to return Monday night time in a vital Recreation 4 after struggling a again damage in Recreation 1 in opposition to Miami. After so many video games, put on and tear begins to stack up, which makes the entire resting that Boston has accomplished to maintain their gamers recent value it, particularly with Al Horford and Robert Williams.
In a press release efficiency in opposition to the Hawks, Robert Williams appeared pretty much as good as he’s had all season since his return from surgical procedure, racking up 13 factors, 4-of-5 from the sphere, 5-of-6 from the road, a game-high 15 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals. 12 of his rebounds got here within the first half, probably the most in a half since Kendrick Perkins in 2008.
Rob had two essential buckets off assists from Jaylen Brown late within the sport to seal issues away, and there appeared to be a newfound edge and confidence to his sport all the night time. Hustling, displaying some offensive prowess outdoors of simply dunks, and even combating for unfastened balls; you title it, and Robert Williams was doing it.
“It felt like this was a must-win sport, in our eyes,” stated Williams. After the sport, Head Coach Joe Mazzulla went as much as him and relayed a message. When requested what Mazzulla stated, Williams stated “He’s been difficult all of us to convey it with the physicality. He’s simply letting me know that’s why they paid me…it was respectable. He let me know ‘maintain going man’ and that’s once I’m at my greatest.”
“Shut. He simply must be constant,” stated Joe Mazzulla on Robert Williams’ affect in comparison with final 12 months’s earlier than his damage. “So when he performs at that stage, we’re a unique workforce, and he brings an vitality, and a stage of pleasure to our workforce continuously. When he performs like that, we’re completely different.”
Joe Mazzulla thinks Robert Williams is ‘shut’ to regaining his outdated type
“Rob is the sort of man the place he is gotta understand he has lots of presents and he has lots of talents … each dialog with Rob is about when he is at his greatest, we’re a unique workforce.
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“Rob is the sort of man the place he’s gotta understand he has lots of presents and he has lots of talents,” Mazzulla continued, “It goes again to what you guys at all times discuss. Guys must really feel appreciated, must really feel empowered. So each dialog with Rob is about when he’s at his greatest, we’re a unique workforce. So simply continuously reminding him of that.”
Past staying wholesome, Rob must be extra assertive in influencing the sport. It’s been a gradual buildup since his return, as there was a stage of hesitancy along with his motion to keep away from damage. We wouldn’t at all times see him be as explosive across the rim, and he’s turn out to be quite a bit choicier when displaying off his superhuman athleticism. This season underneath Mazzulla has been about empowering the workforce to be their greatest selves, and for Williams, it’s paid dividends.
“He has sort of a fair stage of constructing you up and tearing you down,” stated Williams on Mazzulla, “So despite the fact that he encourages me, he challenges me, even in the midst of a sport. He challenges me on a regular basis.”
The attention check would let you know that Rob is near final 12 months’s type, one that may anchor the league’s most daunting and smothering protection. When requested if this was the closest he’s felt to how he was taking part in to final 12 months, Williams stated “Oh yeah, yeah I’m feeling good man. Hopefully no accidents for me, or anyone else taking part in all through the playoffs.”
Robert Williams and the Celtics will attempt to shut issues out on Tuesday night time at TD Backyard, 7:30 PM EST tipoff.
