BOSTON — Some young players come into the NBA thinking they know everything.
Robert Williams looks around the Celtics locker room and knows enough to know a lot better than that.
During any given timeout since the rookie has joined the rotation with Al Horford out with knee pain, multiple players and assistant coaches have been there to intercept Williams on his way to the bench for a word on this or that. But instead of bristling at the constant counsel, Williams has embraced it and sought out the advice himself.
"They are the No. 1 resource," he said of his veteran teammates prior to Friday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks at TD Garden. "They have been through it all. You have a number of guys who have been on playoff teams, or championships teams. So it's always good and always the right thing to do, to ask them what they prefer, what they need out there.
"It's mandatory learning. There isn't time for mistakes. That's why I go to those guys and go ask them what they're looking for."
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Williams was at it again during the day off from practice on Thursday.
"He really wants to be good," Stevens said. "Things that he didn't do as well Wednesday night he's in working on before our film session. He's talking with some of the older players about how to handle certain situations after the film session. That's really good.
"He's worked hard. If that continues, I don't see how he's not successful."
With Horford expected to miss at least the next couple of games with patellofemoral pain syndrome, and Aron Baynes on a minutes restriction coming back from an ankle sprain, Williams figures to remain an important part of the frontcourt mix, at least in the short term.
He made the most of the chance in his first two opportunities with seven points, 11 rebounds and three blocks — including two on Most Valuable Player candidate Anthony Davis — in 25 minutes against New Orleans on Monday. He then had six points, six rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes of Wednesday night's overtime win in Washington.
"Just keeping a next-man-up mentality," he said of the sudden minutes surge. "Focusing on getting in there, doing what they're asking me to do, what needs to be done by me."
And, perhaps most importantly to him, what he can be doing for his teammates.
"Trying to learn how to make things easier for our scorers as far as screens I'm setting," he said. "How to get out of them quicker. What angles they need. I feel like me helping them out is opening the floor.
"It's great energy. Even if it's a bad criticism, or just a little tip, it's energy. It's good to hear them in my ear. It's a positive thing."
And the best piece of advice he's received from a veteran teammate this season?
"Sleep," he said. "Get sleep, man. It's a long, long season — long season. That has definitely been the best advice."
'Time Lord' stays
One thing Williams is not quite so positive about is his "Time Lord" nickname that has made the transition from Celtics social media circles to the mainstream with his added playing time.
"It's catching on," he said with a shrug. "That's all I can say. I can go with [Celtics president of basketball operation Danny Ainge's suggestion] — 'Lob Williams' over 'Time Lord.' "
Yet, it appears "Time Lord" may be here to stay, and even got a reach out on Twitter from Timex.
"Hey, man, that's a different story," he relented when it came to a potential endorsement. "It's definitely sticking."
Horford still out
Stevens said Horford will remain out through at least this weekend with knee soreness but declined to discuss a timetable for the five-time All-Star's return.
"There is a target time frame but we're not going to really talk about it," Stevens aid. "Because we don't necessarily want to be quick in this. We've got to be right in this. A few games, then he'll be reassessed to make sure he feels 110 percent."
Stevens said before the game Baynes remains restricted to between 12 and 15 minutes as he recovers from a sprained ankle. He played 16 minutes on Wednesday with Daniel Theis in foul trouble before Stevens went small to end regulation and through overtime.
0 comentários:
Postar um comentário