Grant Williams should see regular minutes during the Celtics’ playoff run.
Not just every once in a while. Not just against certain teams. Not only when other players are in trouble. every night in every position. He does not need to play more than 30 minutes, but he needs to play at least 15-20 minutes.
As he showed again on Wednesday in a dominant 121-87 win at Boston, Game Two on 76, Williams has a knack for contributing to something good and turning it into something great.
Williams scored 12 points on four three-pointers, added four assists and four rebounds and finished +22 in 29 effective minutes. He took smart shots, didn’t hesitate to take the extra pass and helped set the tone defensively whenever he saw Joel Embiid ahead of him.
“At his best, he just brings a level of physicality and poise to our team,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazola said.
Love this one from Mazola. Watch him wave to send Grant Williams a powerful side angle (cutting Danny Green).
It’s not a common cut, surprise Sixers. wide open 3. pic.twitter.com/Y7eSndJgCg
– StephNoh May 4, 2023
Mazzola also noted that the Celtics need Williams to shoot the ball at a high clip and not miss open looks. He was aggressive, but not overly aggressive, in Game 2.
Four of Williams’ eight shots came from the corner and four from the stretch wing. Mazzulla is all about spacing, and Williams’ floor spaces are at a very high level. When Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derek White and Malcolm Brogdon beat their man in the dribble, it is often Williams who benefit.
He has a simple shooting motion and doesn’t think much of it – get up if a defender is flying by; Shoot away if it’s open.
On a night when Tatum wasn’t having it, Williams and company were ready to step up.
“That’s what we’ve been saying all year,” Brogdon said. “It’s our strength, our depth. Guys like me, Derek, and Grant play behind our stars.”
Williams shot nearly 40 percent from 3 in the regular season and hit a league-best 64 percent in the playoffs (9-of-14). There is enough sample size to safely say that when he does get an open look, he often makes it with a decent high clip.
It’s more than just shooting him, too. Little plays like this go a long way, as the Sixers have to pick their poison.
If he had thrown the ball, he would have taken it. Once he sees the double, he makes a quick and sound decision and finds White for 3. Williams simplifies the game and does the correct reading regularly.
His defense was fine too. Williams has a knack for guarding James Harden, Tobias Harris and Embiid. Not many players in the league can say that. It’s not that he’s going to stop them every time. He is able to stop them at crucial moments.
At one point during the broadcast, Reggie Miller mentioned that the 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 Williams were fighting the 7-foot-1 Embiid. He may have been exaggerating to prove a point, but the 6-foot-6 Williams is a bit taller than Miller gives him credit for.
Having said that, he gives up six inches or so to the most valuable player in the league and holds his own. To be clear, Embiid is clearly not 100 percent, and it was a small sample size, but Williams showed it belonged. Obviously, Embiid was so afraid of him that he Had to flip To take any shot (just kidding).
Williams also made a hustle when the Celtics needed it and set his teammates up for success.
It’s now clear that Williams has earned his spot in the rotation for the series. If he continues to play like this, he should be a regular throughout the playoffs.
Perhaps Mazzola was playing the long game – knowing that being on the bench would piss him off and make him save his best when it mattered most. Either way, Williams makes it very difficult to get him off the field.
He is someone Mazzola must trust – completely, and without any misgivings whatsoever.