Here’s why Brad Stevens has kept Celtics big Robert Williams’ minutes down early in season

From the Boston Globe...

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2021/02/21/brad-stevens-celtics-robert-williams-minutes-restriction/amp

Here’s why Brad Stevens has kept Celtics big Robert Williams’ minutes down early in season

By Tom Westerholm  February 21, 2021

Boston Celtics big man Robert Williams rarely receives major minutes, even though he’s shooting over 70 percent from the field this season.

In his last 10 games on the floor, Williams has topped 20 minutes just once, when he played 20:02 against the Nuggets. He sat two games, and only played eight minutes against the Golden State Warriors.

That light workload is by design, according to Celtics coach Brad Stevens. Williams has been dealing with a hip issue, and he has an artery condition that causes cramping and could eventually require a procedure if it becomes a major issue. Boston is preemptively trying to keep him off the injury list and wants him available as the season stretches on.

“The hip is not bothering him, but we’re just trying to manage it over the course of the long season so that he’s available more often than not, and then able to peak in minutes late,” Stevens said. “So I guess it’s more of a just be alert to it. Obviously, he had the two games that he sat out because it was bothering him, but we’re just alert to it.”

Williams has shown some progress this season. He’s a perfect lob target for Boston, with long arms and a huge catch radius. Defensively, Williams isn’t always in position, and he isn’t as mobile laterally as Daniel Theis, but his athleticism makes up some of the difference.

The Celtics have a lot of good big men, but a limited sample size of Williams with Theis (89 possessions) has been very encouraging — the Celtics won those minutes by 30.1 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass.

“We’re in a good position with him from the standpoint that I think he’s getting a lot better, I think he’s doing a lot of good things,” Stevens said. “He makes a big impact on our team. And I think as the season progresses, and this is just another thing that you try to keep in the back of your mind from my seat is like, we need him to be able to play higher minutes as the season gets later.

“So right now, I guess you would call that managing it appropriately. But certainly, it helps when all three bigs are available.”

Good point Bob. Brad may be coaching his RWill asset appropriately after all. We fans are so critical when losing. Or being .500.

Ever hear of artery condition or issue, what’s the f..kin name? Is this why RW slipped so far in draft? This is f..kin bullshit that now they bring it up when every fan on social media is pining for more playing time for RWill, even Mike Gorman, so if he’s got artery condition, why wasn’t it fixed like in his rookie year.....????

dbrown4 wrote:Well, there you have it.  This must be why Danny is so adamant about keeping Brad.  They must mutually be in each other's ear far more than we are led to believe or want to believe.

Since it's a medical condition, HIPAA laws indicate they don't have to reveal jack ever, correct worcester?  So like it or not, BOS clearly within the laws and behaving appropriately.  I'm guessing all the chatter on RWIII maybe forced their hand?  I'm not a doctor but I play one on TV.  (Heck, I don't even know that one!  Anyone?  I know it was a commercial but for what product?!)

db

P.S.  Yep, worcester.  For us at .500, we might as well be the worst team in the league looking for the #1 pick in the draft.  Maybe that's why everyone hates us!  Some teams and franchises would kill for .500 ball.  

The original commercial first aired in 1984, and it was hawking Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup. The actor in question was Chris Robinson, who portrayed Dr. Rick Webber on the daytime drama General Hospital from 1978 until 1986. The ad campaign was successful enough that the Vicks execs re-cast it in 1986 (with All My Children’s Peter Bergman, aka Dr. Cliff Warner) after Robinson was convicted of income tax evasion in 1985.

Danny you moron, if you have damaged goods, do the surgery, the fixing earlier, like right away!!!! Why was nothing done?????

I like 15 minute per game restriction on players

We knew when we drafted him that he has a potential serious defect in his leg that may or may not be corrected with surgery. Can he be a part time player off the bench while preserving his health as a career move, a possibility and he would be a good one in that role. or, do you risk an operation that fails and you in essence end his career? Tough decision.

I would shoot for the surgery and find out. If it works, you now have a full time center. If not, you move on.

112288

112288 wrote:We knew when we drafted him that he has a potential serious defect in his leg that may or may not be corrected with surgery.  Can he be a part time player off the bench while preserving his health as a career move, a possibility and he would be a good one in that role.  or, do you risk an operation that fails and you in essence end his career?  Tough decision.

I would shoot for the surgery and find out.  If it works, you now have a full time center. If not, you move on.

112288

Danny is on a roll getting this franchise damaged goods

Anyone know the name of his artery condition?

Before we proceed with surgery, let's get a diagnosis and check his insurance.

Celtics rookie Robert Williams acknowledges leg condition

Boston Globe By Adam Himmelsbach Globe Staff,Updated July 11, 2018, 1:48 a.m.

Robert Williams said that NBA teams were aware of his leg issue and that it came up frequently during the pre-draft process.

Robert Williams said that NBA teams were aware of his leg issue and that it came up frequently during the pre-draft process.
CHARLES KRUPA/ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS — Celtics rookie Robert Williams on Tuesday confirmed that he has played through an artery condition in his legs that can cause cramping and calf pain, but he said the issue has dissipated recently and is not a major concern moving forward.

“Yeah, it was just a time-to-time thing,” Williams told the Globe. “I haven’t been dealing with it for a while really. The last time was in the middle of my college season last year.”

MassLive.com, citing an anonymous source, on Monday first reported Williams’s condition, which is known as popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, or PAES. Williams, who was drafted 27th overall by the Celtics last month, said that NBA teams were aware of his issue and that it came up frequently during the pre-draft process.


“Definitely, they asked me about it,” he said. “Every team is supposed to have concerns about what they’re investing money in, and I tell them it’s under control. I’ve been playing with it for two years in college and playing pretty well. It starts like a little burning sensation and then it’ll just cramp up. It goes away though. I play through it.”

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Williams said that when pain sprouted while he was at Texas A&M, it was treated with acupuncture, massage, and rest. He said acupuncture was a particularly effective course of action.

“It’s something that can affect me over time, but doctors said I’m clear now,” Williams said. “Obviously when I’m done playing basketball I might look into a surgery and make sure everything is good, but for right now I’m good.”

PAES is most common in athletes and it is caused by tendons and muscles around the knee entrapping the primary artery behind the knee, slowing blood flow to the lower leg.

Williams, who has missed the Celtics’ last two summer league games with a knee contusion, was expected to take part in portions of Tuesday’s practice. His status for the team’s upcoming opening-round summer league playoff game is unclear.

“Anyone would want to be out there playing right now,” Williams said. “It’s tough as hell to just watch my team play and not be able to play. But you’ve got to support them in any way possible.”

Williams said he is aware of the buzz that surrounded his arrival with the Celtics, and the high-flying, shot-blocking big man hopes he is able to finally put his talents on display soon.

“Boston is a crazy place, especially the fan base,” Williams said. “I’m definitely ready to give them what they’ve been waiting for.”

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THE CLEVELAND CLINIC

What is popliteal artery entrapment syndrome?

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is a rare vascular disease that affects the legs of some young athletes. The muscle and tendons near the knee are positioned so that they compress the popliteal artery – the main artery that runs through and behind the knee. Compression of the artery restricts blood flow to the lower leg and can damage the artery.

Patients with PAES may be born with the condition due to a developmental defect in the calf muscle on the back of the lower leg (gastrocnemius or popliteus muscle) and the popliteal artery. The condition can also develop over time, as exercise and training lead to an enlarged calf muscle that compresses the popliteal artery.

Who is at risk for PAES?

PAES occurs most often in male athletes under age 30, particularly those who are runners or play soccer, football or rugby. However, the condition can also affect young female athletes.. As the muscles next to the popliteal artery get larger, there is a greater chance of compression. This may be referred to an "over-use" injury.

Less than 3% of people are born with the defect that can lead to PAES, and most people with the condition never develop symptoms.

What can I expect after PAES surgery?
Hospital stay is typically one to two days. Physical therapy may be done as an outpatient to help facilitate recovery by using stretching and flexibility exercises. Once you fully recover, you can expect to go back to training and your normal routine.

What type of follow-up care will I need?
Follow up ultrasound of the repaired artery and blood pressure checks in the feet will be done in the office at one to two months in the office and at one year. If the artery has returned to normal you won’t need any further follow-up visits unless your symptoms return or a bypass of the artery was required.

SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

What are the symptoms of PAES?

Patients with PAES have history of aching pain, numbness, and tiredness or cramping in the calf when they exercise. The symptoms typically go away in three to five minutes of resting. In many cases, the pain always occurs at the same point during exercise and affects the same leg. In some cases they may note leg swelling. The leg pain is known as intermittent claudication (walking pain).

The symptoms of popliteal artery entrapment (PAES) are similar to adventitial cystic disease. If young patient has pain when walking, the doctor will check for both of these conditions.

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS
How is PAES diagnosed?

A vascular specialist is the type of doctor who can best diagnose PAES. You will have a physical exam that includes checking the pulse in your foot and popliteal artery. If you have the condition, the doctor may be able to feel the pulses while you’re resting, but they may be harder to detect when you exercise or flex or extend your foot. Diagnostic tests are done to measure blood flow through the knee, leg and foot.

These can include:

Ankle brachial pressures with exercise – Measures the blood pressures in the arms and legs before and after exercise

Duplex Ultrasound – Uses sound waves to image the artery and measure blood flow
Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) – Type of CT scan that uses dye to look for areas around the knee with poor blood flow or narrowed arteries

Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) – Test using magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of muscles tendons and blood vessels inside the body

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

What treatments are available for patients with PAES?
Surgery can be done to correct the problem with the muscle or tendons and release the popliteal artery. This eliminates the compression of the artery and allows normal blood flow to the leg.

In more advanced cases when the popliteal artery is blocked, rather than pinched, the surgeon will correct the problem with the muscles or tendons and also perform a bypass around the blocked section of the artery to restore blood flow.

112288

"He said acupuncture was a particularly effective course of action."

Do that first. Tom Brady's treatment center in Foxboro has a good acupuncturist on staff and good stretching and pliability protocols. He would benefit from their care.

Great info Rich

So is he a 12 minute a game player for the rest of his career?

Seems to me by a players 3rd year a team has had plenty of time to get an asset healthy. Now I’m wondering why other teams, all dealing with the horrific schedule, are dealing with it better than us. Other teams play harder than us throughout the game. We sure could use more minutes/impact from him. Shame a talented game changing player like that can’t even avg 24 minutes a game.....