2 min read • April 16, 2022
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The Celtics will begin an uber-interesting first round series with the superstar-driven Nets without defensive anchor Robert Williams.
Williams, who was heading towards a place on the all-defensive team, has not played since suffering a torn left meniscus on March 27. The 24-year-old underwent a partial repair surgery on March 30, and said after the surgery he felt “immediate relief.”
The Celtics gave him a return timeline of 4-to-6 weeks, and the ProBasketballDocs predicted at the time that he would likely return at full capacity for the Eastern Conference Finals, if the Celtics advanced, which would be right at the six week mark.
Despite the heightened optimism of an earlier return and reports of his quickly-increasing workout regimen, the Docs are unwavering in their belief of a return late in the playoffs.
Williams could return at the back half of the second round, but would not be back to full health until the Eastern Conference Finals, which are expected to start between May 15-18.
Despite not officially ruling him out for the series, head coach Ime Udoka said Boston doesn't expect Williams to take the floor against the Nets.
Even before the meniscus tear, Williams has dealt with knee issues in his short career.
The 6’8” defensive dynamo suffers from chronic left knee tendinitis and right patella tendinopathy dating back to his time at Texas A&M. The ailment is caused by Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome, a condition that limits the blood flow in his legs and dropped his draft stock in 2018.
After a tumultuous first 2 seasons, he has managed the issue well in the last 2 years, playing in 61 games and a career-high 29.6 minutes, 10 points, and 9.6 rebounds per this season as a key force behind the Celtics’ second-half push to the No. 2 seed.
Without Williams, Boston will start Daniel Theis and Al Horford on the frontline and turn to Grant Williams for more minutes off the bench. Theis is averaging 12.8 points and 6 rebounds since being inserted in the starting unit on April 1 and will go to-to-toe with Andre Drummond and Nic Claxton.
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