GRANT WILLIAMS!
Before I get too far let me say I usually try to avoid making GB threads that hype my Celtics players, but I'm guessing there are fans who don't even know who Grant is and I think he's earned some recognition. The dude has become one of the premier role players in the league and is having a terrific season.
From Hoopshype...
Boston Celtics big Grant Williams and Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry are the only players in the 50-40-90 club from the field, three-point line and free-throw line so far this season.
While it’s not surprising to see someone named Curry shooting so well, it’s more surprising to see Williams on the list. Williams is averaging 1.37 points per possession when shooting off the catch, per Synergy, which ranks in the 95th percentile. Among those who have as many attempts, only four players are shooting better on catch-and-shoot jumpers.
This is the same Grant Williams who missed his first TWENTY FIVE three point attempts in his rookie year and was the butt of his teammate's jokes lol. Now he's one of the best shooters in the NBA and is absolutely automatic from the corners in particular. The Celts broadcasters have started calling him Old Reliable. He's put in the work and come a long way.
More from Hoopshype...
But what’s most exciting is how much his three-point shooting is opening up the rest of his offensive game. Now that defenders have to guard him on the perimeter, he can use sweet pump fakes to fool his defender before driving to the basket for nifty floaters.
Williams has improved as a shooter, indeed, but he is also 9-for-12 (75.0 percent) when cutting to the basket. Overall, he is shooting comically well near the basket, connecting on 22-for-26 (84.6 percent) of looks at the rim. That is the best mark among anyone in the league who has as many attempts in that zone.
He is doing nearly all of his damage from the restricted area or from the corners on the perimeter and his shot selection profile has been solid all season long.
And he's an incredibly solid and versatile defender as well. Had an amazing block last night on an AD dunk attempt, if you missed it. At 6'6" he guards 1 through 5 at times and takes whatever assignment is given to him...
On the other end of the floor, he is also an intriguing player on defense. Statistically speaking, based on a metric created by BBall-Index.com, Williams is actually one of the most versatile defenders in the league. While he is a frontcourt player, he is defending guards for more than one-third of his defensive possessions.
During the three games that the Celtics have played against the Toronto Raptors, Williams has defended the 6-foot-1 guard Fred VanVleet (who is in the midst of an All-Star campaign) for nearly 20 defensive possessions. When Boston faced Toronto on Nov. 28, during the two minutes that Williams was matched up on VanVleet, the Raptors star had two attempts from the field – both were three-pointers off the dribble on high pick and rolls – and he missed them both.
However, Boston is also using him on defense against talented bigs like Evan Mobley, Christian Wood and Julius Randle.
Williams defended Mobley, the lengthy 6-foot-11 Cleveland Cavaliers big man and Rookie of the Year hopeful, for approximately 30 defensive possessions over the course of two games. He got his hand in his face to contest a three-pointer and he also gave him fits while defending him in the pick and roll.
https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-news-stats-cole-anthony-grant-williams-javale-mcgee/
Grant is a player any team would love to have. He's also super smart, and great communicator on and off the court, and recently became a VP of the Player's Association. Go GRANTMAN!
