Robert Williams, aka "Timelord"

[Andrew McCeltic]

https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2023/01/19/0022200679/346/73974873-f411-fe19-10a3-7f4eb083ba72_1280x720.mp4

Look at the touch on this little flip floater. That's new. No idea how you go from clunky fast-twitch to feathery smooth, but really encouraging.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Rob hasn't been as pogo sticky so I'm not sure if it's him being health hesitant or more mature on how to judge contests.

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Yeah, watching this too. He's bulked up, too, which is making him a better rebounder, but slow injury recovery, mindset, permanent decrease in quickness and vert, maturity are all possibilities. He's so smart defensively now, and so long, it hasn't reduced his impact.

Might also be a conscious decision from the team to have him play a more ground based game in the regular season. There has been multiple times where he just laid the ball in this year when he easily could have dunked. I like it, there's less pounding on his knees and less chance of a bad landing if he doesn't jump. Playing close to the floor at all time is an underrated reason as to why Jokic (or Grant Williams) never gets hurt and as we know Timelord needs all the help he can get to stay healthy.

[zoyathedestroya]

Remains one of the more random stats… or is it really random?

Celtics are now 27-2 in Rob’s last 29 regular season starts. 12 straight wins, dating back to last season.

[Fencer reregistered]

Rob hasn't been as pogo sticky so I'm not sure if it's him being health hesitant or more mature on how to judge contests.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

Yeah, watching this too. He's bulked up, too, which is making him a better rebounder, but slow injury recovery, mindset, permanent decrease in quickness and vert, maturity are all possibilities. He's so smart defensively now, and so long, it hasn't reduced his impact.

Might also be a conscious decision from the team to have him play a more ground based game in the regular season. There has been multiple times where he just laid the ball in this year when he easily could have dunked. I like it, there's less pounding on his knees and less chance of a bad landing if he doesn't jump. Playing close to the floor at all time is an underrated reason as to why Jokic (or Grant Williams) never gets hurt and as we know Timelord needs all the help he can get to stay healthy.

Makes sense, but his own decision has a lot to do with it.

E.g., there was one case where he outright said he laid the ball in rather than dunking it because his knee was buckling a bit. (I think it was the transition score after his flying block at the 3 pt line.)

[Fencer reregistered]

Remains one of the more random stats… or is it really random?

Celtics are now 27-2 in Rob’s last 29 regular season starts. 12 straight wins, dating back to last season.

Rob, when he's right, is a VERY good basketball player.

[zoyathedestroya]

Remains one of the more random stats… or is it really random?

Celtics are now 27-2 in Rob’s last 29 regular season starts. 12 straight wins, dating back to last season.

Rob, when he's right, is a VERY good basketball player.

*28-3 in last 31. 9-1 this season playing 20+ mpg.

[zoyathedestroya]

If he can become a scoring threat outside of putbacks and finishing alleyoops, it will open up more for our offense. They really should encourage him to at least have one-dribble moves in the restricted area. He doesn’t need to automatically kick the ball out. Look at the rim once in a while. Jays + Brogs driving, drawing his man, and dropping off to him gets us easy points too!

Watch on YouTube

[shackles10]

Agreed. So many times he gets the ball where a one dribble move and drive to the basket would be a good shot for him or least to a potential assist when help slides over because he is a good passer too. Hopefully it’s something he works on in the summer and coaching staff makes it an option on offense when we swing the ball and find him in those situations.

[165bows]

If he can become a scoring threat outside of putbacks and finishing alleyoops, it will open up more for our offense. They really should encourage him to at least have one-dribble moves in the restricted area. He doesn’t need to automatically kick the ball out. Look at the rim once in a while. Jays + Brogs driving, drawing his man, and dropping off to him gets us easy points too!

Watch on YouTube

I remember Smitty hinting last year that they felt Rob could really open up his offensive game, and that he was optimistic about it. ATM he's like Al on offense - elite at what he does, but what he does is confined to only certain roles.

[31to6]

If he can become a scoring threat outside of putbacks and finishing alleyoops, it will open up more for our offense. They really should encourage him to at least have one-dribble moves in the restricted area. He doesn’t need to automatically kick the ball out. Look at the rim once in a while. Jays + Brogs driving, drawing his man, and dropping off to him gets us easy points too!

Watch on YouTube

I remember Smitty hinting last year that they felt Rob could really open up his offensive game, and that he was optimistic about it. ATM he's like Al on offense - elite at what he does, but what he does is confined to only certain roles.

yup, his post-up move at 1:40 isn't fluid but is one of the most exciting plays of the whole season IMO.
Up there with when he tried to take Wiggins (or Draymond?) off the dribble, and the one other time (against an ORL wing?) he actually made an offensive move.

If Rob can develop an offensive game AND stay healthy AND keep playing on this roster, the rest of the league will be ****. Doesn't even have to be much of an offensive game, at all. Just: anything. Turnaround jumper. Jump hook. One dribble drives. He's got the body, mobility, and touch for it. And I HOPE he's got teammates and coaches encouraging him to do it. Try it out! It'd unlock a whole new level for us -- if he MOSTLY just keeps the ball moving, but becomes a known threat for also having the ability to score it himself then what do you do defensively?

[sam_I_am]

Remains one of the more random stats… or is it really random?

Celtics are now 27-2 in Rob’s last 29 regular season starts. 12 straight wins, dating back to last season.

Rob, when he's right, is a VERY good basketball player.

*28-3 in last 31. 9-1 this season playing 20+ mpg.

They were 22-7 before he returned with highest rated offense in NBA history and Hauser had highest +/- in NBA.

After Rob came back they went 4-5 at first and are only 15-8 overall.

I am not blaming Rob for the hiccup or suggesting we aren’t better with him at all.

I think we had something great with healthy Rob last year with Udoka’s defense first system. We had something great without Rob with Joe’s offense first system but many of us noted there were serious red flags that it wasn’t going to work in playoffs.

We all believed that Rob’s return would lead to a union of both but that didn’t happen right away. Great to see your statistical evidence that as starter and with more minutes that it is showing signs of it happening. Hopefully the next shoe to drop is getting Grant/Hauser/White….but especially Hauser … back to shooting the 3 the way they were.

[ballup]

Rob's development is contingent on him being healthy in the offseason.

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[shackles10]

Rob's development is contingent on him being healthy in the offseason.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

True. Much harder to add to your game when you’re rehabbing your body with all of your gym time. The potential is there though because with his physical tools it wouldn’t take a ton of changes to make an even greater offensive impact.

[Bohemian]

We all love the Jays and we acknowledge their stardom, but there are some VITAL players in this team. Particularly Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. Without them, we struggle against the opponent despite having star players as the Jays or Brogdon (who has been amazing this year, btw).

Having been able to extend both Marcus and Robert (and for friendly contracts) has to be one of the major accomplishments by Brad Stevens.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

In terms of skill and mindset, Rob is the perfect big to have around Tatum & Brown. His availability has always been the question mark.

[Fencer reregistered]

We all love the Jays and we acknowledge their stardom, but there are some VITAL players in this team. Particularly Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. Without them, we struggle against the opponent despite having star players as the Jays or Brogdon (who has been amazing this year, btw).

Having been able to extend both Marcus and Robert (and for friendly contracts) has to be one of the major accomplishments by Brad Stevens.

The Celtics have a core four: Tatum, Brown, Smart, Timelord. All drafted by the team. All highly appreciative of each other's skills. All highly familiar with each other's games. All elite at some aspects of the game and at least adequate at almost everything else. 3 of the 4 excellent at making guys around them better.

[zoyathedestroya]

Watch on YouTube

Just the fourth 15-15 game on 75%+ shooting by a Celtics player this millennium. KG, AlJeff, and Kanter recorded the other three. First on the road in last 30 seasons.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

[31to6]

We all love the Jays and we acknowledge their stardom, but there are some VITAL players in this team. Particularly Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. Without them, we struggle against the opponent despite having star players as the Jays or Brogdon (who has been amazing this year, btw).

Having been able to extend both Marcus and Robert (and for friendly contracts) has to be one of the major accomplishments by Brad Stevens.

The Celtics have a core four: Tatum, Brown, Smart, Timelord. All drafted by the team. All highly appreciative of each other's skills. All highly familiar with each other's games. All elite at some aspects of the game and at least adequate at almost everything else. 3 of the 4 excellent at making guys around them better.

I appreciate everything being said here -- it's all true -- but feel compelled to add: Al Horford is as important as anyone on this team, and while we sometimes lose track of that in the regular season (especially the middle of it) we'll remember that come playoff time.

[Fierce1]

Celts are just so hard to beat when Rob is healthy.

Rob's rebounding and rim protection really takes the Celtics on another level.

Although Rob's shot-blocking numbers are not high right now, you can see opposing players hesitate attacking the basket if Rob is in there.