The Boston Celtics had a turbulent season last year. After trying to find a permanent third star in Kemba Walker, it was visible that the former Charlotte Hornets guard was not up to the task. Thus, he was traded after the season ended and center Al Horford was brought back to be a veteran presence on this young team. The season ended with a 4-1 loss in the first round of the Playoffs to the Brooklyn Nets. That was somewhat symbolic, due to the fact that it showed the disconnect between where the Celtics are and where they want to be, which is the top of the East.
Coming into this season, with a new coach in Ime Udoka and Brad Stevens being moved from coach to President of Basketball Operations, this might be a transition year for the Celtics. Everyone, more or less, is aware that this is the reason for either Bucks, Nets, Lakers, or Clippers to win the title, and the solid, middle-of-the-pack teams like the Celtics do not have a lot of chance to seriously contend. Thus, in a transitional year, some Celtics players might look to have a breakthrough year.
Celtics Breakout Season For Robert Williams
Robert Williams
Robert Williams should be the first name of any list for breakthrough seasons on the Celtics. Timelord, as he is colloquially known in the NBA circles, has been showing a ton of potential ever since he entered the league in 2018. The way he entered the league was not incredibly promising, as he missed the Celtics introductory press conference and missed the team airplane, but everyone was absolutely raving about the potential this soon-to-be 24-year-old has.
He came in with an NBA-ready body, a filled-out frame, and tons of athleticism and energy. Of course, questions were and still are raised about his focus and concentration on the game. The gaffes with the press conference and team airplane are the only excesses in his Celtic career, but he had that reputation before the Celtics decided to use the 27th pick on him and confirmed it only a couple of days after the draft. His focus on the court is also a problem, as he cannot fulfill his full potential if he is not concentrated on everything that is going on at all times.
However, that is the only major problem that this player has. It is possible that Udoka, a former player who spent time in some good rosters during his career, can help in this part of his development. Former players usually better resonate with current players that have these kinds of mental issues. With all credit to Brad Stevens, of course, Udoka was a part of the league as a player and can understand when there is a mental block or a mental issue that the player simply cannot solve. Thus, his addition might be key for the proper progression of this excellent prospect.
It is clear that Williams will need to take this step-up, as he is part of a very thin rotation of big-men for the Celtics. Of course, Horford and Enes Kanter are there, but it is widely expected that Horford will be playing at the four most of the time. Williams should be working very hard right now to make sure he is the starting center for this team, keeping the Turkish center on the bench. He can do that by finally stepping up offensively, where most of the frustration has been with him.
Defensively, even the Williams we have seen up until now has been fairly good. He has around 1.5 blocks per game for his career, which is not too bad for the 14.7 minutes per game he averages in his three years. Now, in the fourth season and with an expected jump in minutes, the defensive part will remain there, but he will need to shoot better than 62.3% at the free-throw line and will need to be a part of the offense more than 5.0 shots per game he averaged last season.
Additionally, he just signed a $54 million extension that keeps him in Boston for four more years after this season. If that much trust is placed in you, where the franchise is saying that you are a part of the future, the only response simply must be a breakout season.
Obviously, even if he has a breakout season, the Celtics are still objectively behind all the teams mentioned at the start. However, if Williams can join the core of Tatum and Brown, and become a valid contributor on both ends for the Celtics, the franchise does not have to worry about its future. After all, all the teams in question will fade away at a certain point and the Celtics might be there to lead the East after Brooklyn and Milwaukee fall off.
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