The Boston Celtics' most impactful player of the NBA Finals—in terms of plus-minus, at least—is finally close to full health as they look to force a Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors.
During a Thursday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that Boston's high-flying, shot-blocking center is “close to 100% healthy” for his team's do-or-die Game 6.
"I'm told Robert Williams is close to 100% healthy & I would expect him to play big minutes tonight" ~@ShamsCharania#PMSLive #AllAbout18 pic.twitter.com/1BcBC5fGPJ
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 16, 2022
Williams, who's battled injuries throughout his four-year career, underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on March 30th. He missed the first two games of the Celtics' first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets before making a surprise return, stamping his imprint on Boston's playoff run ever since despite managing pain in his knee on a daily basis.
Article Continues Below“I honestly take it day-by-day,” the 24-year-old told Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports earlier this week. “I can be feeling good right now, and then the next couple of hours it’s pretty sore. I try to take it day-by-day as much as I can.”
Williams has been especially effective in the NBA Finals, his length, quick-twitch athleticism and incredible timing as a shot-blocker routinely frustrating the Warriors at the rim and occasionally beyond the arc. Though his per-game numbers against Golden State are largely pedestrian, Williams has been a true bellwether for the Celtics as they fight for a championship.
Boston has outscored the Warriors by 31 points in Williams' 126 minutes of play, per NBA.com/stats. None of the other players in Ime Udoka's top-seven have a positive plus-minus entering Game 6.
Needless to say, Williams' presence looms extremely large for the Celtics. If he's able play north of 30 minutes Thursday night without feeling persistent discomfort in his surgically repaired knee, it will go a long way toward Boston forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 back in San Francisco on Sunday.