Robert Williams III, also known lovingly from his teammates and around the league as the "TimeLord" has been nothing but fantastic for the Boston Celtics over the last 2-3 years. In the 2021-2022 season, Rob cemented his role as the starting big man for the Celtics after Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka funneled through various rotations that did not work as they expected. After a tremendous season last year, Rob was awarded with being put on the "All NBA Defensive Second Team", a significant honor. After playing through a knee injury in last year's finals against the Warriors, Rob underwent corrective knee surgery which made him unavailable for the first quarter of this season. All things considered, Rob made a speedy recovery and returned to a healthy and available status this December.
In the first couple of games back from injury, Rob came off the bench expectedly in hopes of slowly ramping back up his stamina and feel for the game. From the start he looked like his normal bouncy, highly athletic self. However his timing was off and general defensive capabilities looked rusty. Again, all of this can be expected after not playing for months while recovering from a major surgery. All of that changed however after Rob's first two games back into the rotation. Later in December he was once again blocking shots, dominating the boards, and catching alley-oops. In his last outing vs the Clippers on Thursday, we even saw him putting the ball on the floor and driving through the lane off the dibble, which looked to be a new item in his bag. Put simply, he quickly once again looked like the Rob Williams fan favorite that we know and love. Late in December after a string of excellent showings, the question has become: Why is Rob Williams not back in the starting lineup yet?
Enter: Derrick White. With Rob out recovering from surgery, an opportunity came about for Derrick White. Now, Derrick is no stranger to being a starting player. Before the Boston Celtics, he was a starter for the Spurs and a big contributor to that organization. When he came to Boston, he knew he would be slotted in the rotation behind the DPOY and Celtics veteran, Marcus Smart. When asked about taking on this new bench role, Derrick told the Media he was more than satisfied with that, as all he cared about was winning.
Since joining the Celtics from a trade last year made by Brad Stevens, Derrick has been a consistent contributor to the Celtics team. He had massive performances in last year's playoffs and has remained a go-to-guy within Joe Mazzulla's rotation this year.
So, with Rob playing back in true Rob Williams form, why has Derrick remained in the starting position with Rob continuing to come off the bench? Well, the answer might take you by surprise. Playing on a team with multiple NBA All-Stars and continuing to prove yourself as a key player on a championship caliber team is no easy feat. With Rob not playing, the Celtics desperately needed a boost defensively. Derrick raised his hand (probably) and said look no further. One of the main reasons for White's success is his versatility on defense. He has the ability to guard both big and small players effectively, which makes him a valuable asset for the Celtics.
In addition to his defensive prowess, his ball-handling and finishing around the rim have been crucial for the team's success. White has also emerged as one of the best three-point shooters on the team, while ranking third in the league in total plus/minus rating. Again, put simply? "Ball don't lie". His presence on the court is consistently great for the Celtics. It's important to note that this is not a reflection on Williams' abilities as a player. He has proven to be a valuable asset for the Celtics in the past and will likely continue to contribute to the team's success in the future. However, White's strong performance has made it difficult for Williams to reclaim his starting position at this time.
One continuous trend within this Celtics organization is the level of humility this team has with their own egos as NBA players. At any point in time, Rob could cause a chain reaction in the locker room by expressing his disdain for no longer starting and watching Derrick take his spot. Incredibly though, this has not happened. When asked, Rob professionally states that he will continue to do what is best for the team, as he has always done.
It's always difficult when a player is coming off an injury and trying to regain their spot in the starting lineup. It can be even more challenging when their teammate is performing at such a high level. However, this is the nature of professional sports and competition. Players are always fighting for their spot on the court and it's up to the coach to make the tough decisions about who will start and who will come off the bench.
In this case, it seems that White's strong play has earned him the starting spot for now. However, it's important to remember that the Celtics are successful because of the way they play together as a team. Both Williams and White understand this deeply and will have important roles to play for the Celtics as the season progresses. Whether they start or come off the bench, both players will have the opportunity to contribute to the team's success.
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