Robert Williams, aka "Timelord"

[makubesu]

This is one cruel cosmic running joke being played on the Celtics for a long time now.

On the plus side, maybe nuclear war will end all human life, and then we won’t feel so bad.

[Feed Your Head]

discussing every day whether rob is DPOY, now all of a sudden, "we'll be fine"...

make it make sense!


Rob is a huge part of what we do and surprisingly I'm not just talking about defense.

I'm at level DESPAIR already.

It’s absolutely a big loss, but there are paths to making a run without Rob. Well until we face the Bucks lol, any series with them and we’d be toast without Rob.

Defensively what I expect to see is them move Tatum to the roamer role. It’s one he is familiar with, we used him that way two years ago, before the shutdown and in the bubble, and the defense was very good. Even with that, the defense will absolutely suffer some, but I think we can manage on that end.

Offensively is where I worry a bit more, he opens up SO much with his vertical spacing, and he sets really good screens. Now defenses won’t have to respect the lob threat as much, and we become more dependent on hitting threes and floaters.

Tatum is going to have to maintain this insane level of play, Al/Grant are going to have to hit their open threes, and Theis will need to magically not be called for as many fouls.

It sucks, but this team is still really freaking good.

[Hal14]

Sounds like it's possible he returns in 4-6 weeks. Tough part about Rob's durability is he's had a lot of random injuries. Not sure it can even really be narrowed to one body part.

I think it's pretty much always either knees or hip..

[tfribs45]

big blow on both ends of the court. Obviously rim protection but lob city on offense will be a big loss as well...That being said, we can easily weather the storm with Al, G Will and Theis at the 5 until the meniscus is healed up.

[Froob]

Rob should visit Kobe's totally legitimate German doctor or perhaps A Rod's training facility in Miami.

[Gomes3PC]

This is one cruel cosmic running joke being played on the Celtics for a long time now.

On the plus side, maybe nuclear war will end all human life, and then we won’t feel so bad.

Will not have to worry about Rob's timetable in that case!

[Gomes3PC]

Sounds like it's possible he returns in 4-6 weeks. Tough part about Rob's durability is he's had a lot of random injuries. Not sure it can even really be narrowed to one body part.

If it’s an iron man like giannis, probably 4-6 weeks is possible. With glass man Rob, probably 10-12 weeks.

Returning from ligament injuries is not about toughness.

[Ben-N1ce]

Their ceiling got a good amount lower without question

[Larry_Russell]

I am ok with not having Rob to catch the lobs offensively and have the defense has to change a smidge.

Smart/Pritchard
Brown/White
Tatum
Grant
Horford/Theis

In some matchups we can expect Tatum at PF with White probably starting too. In fact, against Brooklyn or Milwaukee I like having Tatum at the PF more than I do Grant.


Really wish we had another forward now though.

Really need 1 of Stauskis, Fitts, Nesmith or Hauser to step up NOW

[Ben-N1ce]

I am ok with not having Rob to catch the lobs offensively and have the defense has to change a smidge.

Smart/Pritchard
Brown/White
Tatum
Grant
Horford/Theis

In some matchups we can expect Tatum at PF with White probably starting too. In fact, against Brooklyn or Milwaukee I like having Tatum at the PF more than I do Grant.


Really wish we had another forward now though.

Really need 1 of Stauskis, Fitts, Nesmith or Hauser to step up NOW

Problem is they have Theis who is a massive downgrade and is constantly in foul trouble. If Al gets in early foul trouble they are basically screwed

[zoyathedestroya]

There's a cascading effect even on offense when just one of our 5 main guys is out. Without Rob's gravity as a roll guy and lob threat, spacing isn't the same. Rob was always someone the defense had to account for esp when he's around the basket. Easier to load up on Tatum if Horford/Theis aren't threats from inside the paint.

Anyway, our coaches will figure it out. Take this as far as it can go. I'll try to lower my expectations from a 6-game Finals to 7 games.

[Larry_Russell]

Just remember

We made the ECFs 2 times with Al Horford as the Starting Center and once with Theis being backup up by Rob

Once with basically no hayward and a useless Kemba
Once with Theis and Rob as the center combination (Rob at 11 minutes per game)
Once with Al and Olynyk as our centers.

All with much younger, and not nearly as good Smart/Brown/Tatum

[fallguy]

Mentally, I'm expecting him out to the conference finals. That's my best case scenario here.

[ajones9219]

I'm 3 meniscus tears in. My best recovery was about 20 days and worst was about 5 weeks. If you get a decent draw in the first round I think we are okay. Unless it's torn REALLY bad

[fallguy]

Honestly, we should probably play Rob about 60 games a year total in the regular season. Manage those loads!

[fallguy]

I'm 3 meniscus tears in. My best recovery was about 20 days and worst was about 5 weeks. If you get a decent draw in the first round I think we are okay. Unless it's torn REALLY bad

Did you have it removed or repaired? That'll make a difference.

[GoCeltics123]

Seriously...death, taxes, this team has a major injury before the playoffs.

This season is 2009 all over again

[PierceFan4ever]

Rob was our Bowser on defense you have to go through the Koopas and then if you find yourself in the paint Rob was gonna put fear in your eyes

[Ben-N1ce]

Honestly, we should probably play Rob about 60 games a year total in the regular season. Manage those loads!

Well he played 61 :/

[zoyathedestroya]

I can't believe Deuce's prayer didn't work.