Grant Williams Thread

[steefP2]

So many strong drives and finishes by grant today! Still want to see him chuck it a bit more at times but the improvement in his drive and dish/finish game will set him up for a more balanced offensive approach long term

[Feed Your Head]

[Hal14]

he keeps playing like this (good, switchable, tough D....elite catch and shoot threat from 3, hustle plays, drives to the rim, knowing his role and not trying to do too much), he'll be making a case for moving into the starting lineup at the 4 spot whenever we decide to part ways with al..

or he's a key player off the bench but either way, he's developing into a damn solid role player. for a guy we drafted outside of the top 20, that's good value.

[Homerclease]

Shout out to Ime for actually getting through to this guy. Nice turnaround from a guy who was about to eat himself out of the league

[bisme37]

Shout out to Ime for actually getting through to this guy. Nice turnaround from a guy who was about to eat himself out of the league

He actually bulked up when he got to the Celtics because the team told him to. They wanted him banging with centers. Then everyone saw that the extra weight was diminishing his game, and he quickly took the weight off. Just saying this because you seemed to imply he was porking out on his own against the wishes of the team. Grant has always been a very mature, smart kid with a team first attitude.

[Curmudgeon]

Shout out to Ime for actually getting through to this guy. Nice turnaround from a guy who was about to eat himself out of the league

He actually bulked up when he got to the Celtics because the team told him to.

Is that really true? He was the strongest player at the draft combine so he obviously had been hitting the weights before he knew he would be a Celtic.

[bisme37]

Shout out to Ime for actually getting through to this guy. Nice turnaround from a guy who was about to eat himself out of the league

He actually bulked up when he got to the Celtics because the team told him to.

Is that really true? He was the strongest player at the draft combine so he obviously had been hitting the weights before he knew he would be a Celtic.

Yeah that's what Grant and reporters said earlier this season.

https://chowderandchampions.com/2021/12/16/boston-celtics-fans-time-give-grant-williams-due/

https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/10/3/22705925/grant-the-great-a-slimmed-down-williams-looks-to-bounce-back-in-year-3

[captain green]

Can't will myself to like can't will.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

In honor of the Grizzlies game tonight, and because people were mad that Ainge picked Grant Williams over Brandon Clarke, I feel like we should revisit that debate. It's a good reminder that we should give young players some time to see how they develop before passing judgement on who is going to have the better career.

Clarke's stats have stagnated since his rookie season except his three point and free throw shooting that have been trending down every year. In fact in nearly 1000 minutes of playing time this season, he has made 4 three pointers total. For a guy that doesn't play the 5 in the modern NBA that is rough. Grant has five games of 4+ threes this season alone.

Now Clarke certainly has the edge in areas like finishing inside the arc, rebounding and not turning the ball over but overall I don't think it's crazy to think that Williams is now better. Certainly he is an easier fit in most lineups with his shooting and defensive versatility. He is also trending up whereas Clarke's statistical profile really hasn't improved from his rookie year.

[darrendaye]

In honor of the Grizzlies game tonight, and because people were mad that Ainge picked Grant Williams over Brandon Clarke, I feel like we should revisit that debate. It's a good reminder that we should give young players some time to see how they develop before passing judgement on who is going to have the better career.

Clarke's stats have stagnated since his rookie season except his three point and free throw shooting that have been trending down every year. In fact in nearly 1000 minutes of playing time this season, he has made 4 three pointers total. For a guy that doesn't play the 5 in the modern NBA that is rough. Grant has five games of 4+ threes this season alone.

Now Clarke certainly has the edge in areas like finishing inside the arc, rebounding and not turning the ball over but overall I don't think it's crazy to think that Williams is now better. Certainly he is an easier fit in most lineups with his shooting and defensive versatility. He is also trending up whereas Clarke's statistical profile really hasn't improved from his rookie year.

Reference point. (Not meant to "restart" that thread, please)

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1857258&hilit=grant

[Feed Your Head]

In honor of the Grizzlies game tonight, and because people were mad that Ainge picked Grant Williams over Brandon Clarke, I feel like we should revisit that debate. It's a good reminder that we should give young players some time to see how they develop before passing judgement on who is going to have the better career.

Clarke's stats have stagnated since his rookie season except his three point and free throw shooting that have been trending down every year. In fact in nearly 1000 minutes of playing time this season, he has made 4 three pointers total. For a guy that doesn't play the 5 in the modern NBA that is rough. Grant has five games of 4+ threes this season alone.

Now Clarke certainly has the edge in areas like finishing inside the arc, rebounding and not turning the ball over but overall I don't think it's crazy to think that Williams is now better. Certainly he is an easier fit in most lineups with his shooting and defensive versatility. He is also trending up whereas Clarke's statistical profile really hasn't improved from his rookie year.

Reference point. (Not meant to "restart" that thread, please)

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1857258&hilit=grant

PJ Tucker with a bit of Boris Diaw is my prediction. A very solid 5th starter type, or a really good bench player. That's good value where they picked him.

Hopefully we can take more advantage of his passing ability, though he’s started to make some nice passes when attacking closeouts.

He’s DAMN good in the post, and knows when to pick his spots there.

[Bad-Thoma]

Shout out to Ime for actually getting through to this guy. Nice turnaround from a guy who was about to eat himself out of the league

That's a terrible take.

[1st banana]

As insane as grants shooting has been and his ability to attack the close outs his improvement from the line is maybe the wildest of all.

There was a game last year we were down 3 late and the defense fouled grant on the inbound and when he went to the line needing knock down fts I had less confidence than I would Andre Drummond.

He’s at what now 90+%. Are you **** kidding me.

[Scoonie]

Shout out to Ime for actually getting through to this guy. Nice turnaround from a guy who was about to eat himself out of the league

Grant has had very low body fat his entire time in the NBA. He was never in danger of eating himself out of the league.

[zoyathedestroya]

He became a 50-40-90 guy last night then missed his closeout drive and putback attempt with the game essentially wrapped (a minute to go).

Currently 3rd in FT% (minimum 50 makes) and 3rd in 3FG% (minimum 50 makes) in the entire league.

[steefP2]

People are gonna freak when he gets 4/60 lol

[Feed Your Head]

6. Grant Williams, driving

An underrated ingredient in the Boston Celtic's defensive juggernaut and their run up the East standings: Williams doing enough on offense to play major minutes as Boston's younger P.J. Tucker. Williams can guard every position -- key to Boston's switchy scheme.

The goal of switching is to force teams into attacking one-on-one; only Al Horford has defended more isolations than Williams, per Second Spectrum. Teams average a measly 0.684 points when an isolation against Williams leads to a shot or turnover -- 10th lowest among 256 players who have guarded at least 50 isolations. Attack him at your peril.

Williams has drained a career-best 44% from deep at higher volume, and his accuracy is no longer confined to the corners; Williams has hit 38% from above the break, and his comfort out there allows him to function more as a screener and playmaker instead of a stationary shooter -- adding spice to a Boston offense that thrives when its bigs facilitate.

Williams' shooting has allowed Boston to keep one true center -- Robert Williams III or Horford -- on the floor at all times instead of trading size for shooting.

But 3-and-D isn't enough. Role players need to slice into the lane when defenders run them off the arc, and make the next play. Williams has made major strides there.

He's decisive, and a good passer. He's finishing with more oomph

Williams is shooting 75% at the rim -- by far the best mark of his career. Boston has scored 1.155 points per possession when Williams shoots out of a drive, or dishes to a teammate who launches -- 24th among 296 players with at least 50 drives, per Second Spectrum.

He can even run an impromptu pick-and-roll. Williams mashes little guys in the post on switches.

Think about what this means for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: if every player on the floor -- even the alleged "weakest" link -- is a threat with the ball, stars have an easier time hunting mismatches. Every teammate is a potential screening partner. (Keep an eye on the Derrick White-Tatum two-man game when teams stash point guards on White.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/33414881/zach-lowe-10-nba-things-ignore-rudy-gobert-your-peril-one-critical-ingredient-boston-juggernaut-rise

[sam_I_am]

Grant is smart, funny and has an infectious upbeat personality which would make him a winner no matter what he chose to do as a career. I loved the pick, I loved his defensive tenacity right from the start but was worried when he took a step back sophomore season. However, it is obvious that the team made a mistake trying to make him a Draymond Green like playmaking small C rather than a PF in the PJ Tucker mode. I couldn’t be happier to see an underdog like him prove everybody wrong. He will make a great TV analyst, coach or GM some day - whichever it is he chooses to do.

[timpiker]

I love it when he hits a 3, there's a TV timeout...he high 5's his teammates and that GREAT BIG SMILE comes out!!!

[zoyathedestroya]

Reading that Lowe 10 Things snippet on Grant...