Robert Williams III is staying in the Boston Celtics‘ starting lineup, coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters Tuesday, the eve of the Eastern Conference finals. Williams changed the Celtics’ second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers when inserted into the starting lineup for Games 6 and 7, roaming off forward P.J. Tucker to protect the paint and disrupt James Harden and Joel Embiid’s pick-and-roll game.
Game 1 against the Miami Heat is on Wednesday, but, by letting them know this part of the game plan, Mazzulla has started the chess match early.
What does this mean for the series? Let’s dive in.
Who does Williams guard?
Boston’s defense is at its best when Williams is not matched up against a screen-setting center. Ideally, he’s “guarding” a total non-shooter the way Andrew Bogut guarded Tony Allen eight years ago, but the Celtics are fine with putting him on perimeter players who are inconsistent or reluctant shooters. Williams’ 7-foot-6 wingspan is most valuable near the paint, and, paired with his quick feet, he can make long closeouts when necessary. There might not be a Tucker type for him to defend in the Heat’s starting lineup, though.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra started Kevin Love in Game 3 of the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks, and Love has remained in that spot ever since. Love hasn’t shot a great percentage on catch-and-shoot 3s since signing with the Heat (35.8% in the playoffs, 32.9% in the regular season), but he’s not the kind of guy you leave open — he has a quick release, shoots at a high volume and went 5 for 11 from deep in the game that ended Milwaukee’s season. Unless Mazzulla is comfortable putting Williams on Jimmy Butler and giving the superstar a cushion — if so, Williams should watch how Anthony Davis defended Butler late in the 2020 NBA Finals — then the only other options in the Heat’s most recent starting five are either shooters (Gabe Vincent, Max Strus) or a skilled big man who can pull Williams away from the basket as a screener and a high-post hub (Bam Adebayo).
But …
… is Miami going to change its starting lineup?
If the Heat were only concerned about scoring, then this would be simple: Love stays in the starting lineup, so Boston essentially has to choose between putting Williams on him (and risking a barrage of 3s) or Butler (and hoping Williams stays down on pump fakes and out of foul trouble) or Adebayo (and not…
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