Boston Celtics are dealt a significant loss with the injury to Robert Williams.
Over the past couple of months, the Boston Celtics have been the best team in the Eastern Conference. They’ve been so hot that they’ve managed to take control of the No. 1 seed in the East standings.
They’re rounding into shape as a legit contender and are going to be a team no one will want to face in the playoffs. Though, if they are going to make a deep playoff run, they’re going to have to overcome a loss to one of their key starters.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Celtics starting center Robert Williams is feared to have suffered a meniscus tear in his knee. If so, he will be out indefinitely. And with the playoffs around the corner, this is not ideal for a team that is currently playing its best basketball of the season.
Williams has started every game he’s been available for the Celtics this season and is having the best season of his career thus far, averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks per game on 74 percent shooting from the field.
Aside from the strides he’s made to fit offensively with the Celtics, he has played a vital role for the team on the defensive end of the floor. Williams has a 103.4 defensive rating and the team overall has a 10.0 net rating when he’s on the floor.
If Williams is indeed lost for the season, which could very well be the case considering how little time remains between now and the start of the playoffs, he will leave a huge vacancy at the center position.
The good news is that the Celtics have some depth in the frontcourt, especially after the team reacquired Daniel Theis at the NBA Trade Deadline.
The Celtics are currently playing at an extremely high level and might be the best team in the East right now, but there’s no question that the loss of Williams will hurt.