Celtics raving about versatile rookie Grant Williams’ play at center

https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/10/27/celtics-young-guys-play-an-early-role/





Celtics raving about versatile rookie Grant Williams’ play at center



By: Quenton S. Albertie | October 26, 2019 7:19 am



Boston Celtics rookie forward Grant Williams is the classic glue player, albeit one with the potential to be an elite defensive player.

Skilled enough to impact the game in every way, intelligent enough to consistently make the right play and versatile enough to play multiple positions, Williams put his abilities on display against the Toronto Raptors as he tacked on seven rebounds, four assists and a steal to a modest four-point outing.

However, more important than his ability to fill up the box, was his ability to guard Raptors center Marc Gasol in one.

Gasol, one of the best center of the last decade, may be on a physical decline at 34 years old but he’s still listed as 6’11” and 255 pounds. He’s a big body with plenty of strength and for Williams, 6’6” and 236 pounds, Gasol would be a load down low.

But Williams, instructed to “know all of the 5 (the center position)” by Celtics head coach Brad Stevens on the eve of their home opener after veteran Enes Kanter was listed as out with a knee contusion, would impress.

Having played plenty small-ball center in college with the Tennessee Volunteers, Williams is well-versed in matching up with larger players and he used his a priori knowledge to his advantage against Toronto.

Speaking to reporters after the game, he detailed how he was able to effectively guard Gasol, who went 0-8 from the field on Friday while only pulling down five boards.

Per Celtics.com’s Taylor Snow:

“It’s all about competing and all about playing with intensity and playing with pace and the heart and motor most guys play with at that position,” he explained. “Because you got to realize it’s a long 82 games of banging. You have to bring a different dimension, getting out of screens quick, getting off the glass and doing things like getting under guys and not allowing them to get easy position. Being physical. I was just prepared for that.”

While Stevens enjoyed Williams’ pick-and-roll defense and energy, the rookie’s efforts were also praised by his more highly-touted teammates.

“He gave us a big spark,” said teammate Jayson Tatum.

“With Enes out and Theis going down, Grant’s undersized, but he is very smart and super strong and he is always at the right spot at the right time and he played hard. We needed it.”

Nine-year veteran Kemba Walker, brimming with enthusiasm after his first win as a Celtic and in TD Garden, had this to say about the 20-year-old (per Boston.com’s Nicole Yang):

“I love that kid. He has great energy. He’s super tough. He wants that. He wants those battles. He wanted to guard Marc [Gasol]. He did an unbelievable job. He was great. We’re going to need that. He’s going to have to grow up fast.”

Before being drafted, Williams was praised as the type of players who made winning plays more than the highlight plays and the traits needed to be that type of player are now being highlighted.

Energy, intelligence, footwork, adaptability. Toughness.

Even the players known for their defense couldn’t help but to come away impressed by Williams’ moxie.

“Rook’ came out and balled, man,” said Jaylen Brown. “He was physical. He took some charges. He did a lot of great stuff. A lot of winning plays. Stuff like that, it’s going to be hard not to put him on the floor. So if he can keep that up, that’s good for us.”

Brown is right. If Williams keeps playing like this, he’ll force Stevens’ hand and cause him to think hard about his rotation.

Who those minutes come at the expense of is uncertain, though it would quite possibly one of the players at the pivot if the Carolinian can continue to play well as an undersized center. Guarding Gasol isn’t going to be as difficult as matching up with Joel Embiid, Karl Anthony-Towns or Nikola Jokic but Williams — thanks to his effort, awareness, positioning and strength — should make those battles interesting if given the chance.

It’s hard to believe that the Celtics were able to draft Williams late in the first round of the NBA Draft although that just goes to show how much talent is dispersed throughout the league in nearly every draft class. Nonetheless, regardless of Williams’ draft position, Boston knows they hit a home run with their selection.

Williams will be in the league for a long time.



bob
MY NOTE: I had my doubts about GWill because of his size. I keep forgetting I have a blind spot for tweeners (which is why I keep forgetting). LOVE his BBIQ!!!



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He is another version of Marcus Smart. Is it legal to have 2 players on your team like that?

I liked the lineup with the Williams boys.

What a draft class by Danny, and Romeo is still an unkown! We could someday be able to put Carsen, Romeo, GWill, and Tacko on the floor at once along with one of our vets.

the comparisons some had around draft time with Draymond look fairly good so far.

Bring on Wednesday and Antetokounmpo! Let's see how he stacks up against the best! Should be very interesting.

db