Robert Williams (Merged Threads)

[Emmette Bryant]

Well I'd say if there's any one person who could identify a knucklehead, it would be Greg Dickerson

[hwangjini_1]

I read somewhere that he's been at the Celtics practice facility every morning at 6 am.  Hopefully, he can make a second year jump.

hopefully, but it seemed to me that his biggest problem is mental, not physical. he had trouble playing defense within the team's defensive schemes.

we shall see. he will get minutes this year for sure.

To be fair, playing NBA defense as a rookie center is quite difficult, as is playing point guard on offense, because you have responsibility for everyone as the communicator, and not just yourself, so there’s much more the think about and be aware of..  I didn’t expect much of him last year, because he was a rookie big.  Hopefully this year he will take a step forward.  That he’s taken on that role of telling his teammates where to be, even in only a summer league practice, is a positive sign.

yes, i did not mean to imply that TL is hopeless. rather that the earlier post mentioned physical development when i thought it was the mental development that was most in need.

good points as ever salty.

[CBS_Take a Report]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V2bhhgzFRTw

[jpotter33]

https://twitter.com/dangercart/status/1146204820564525058?s=21

If Brad gives Robert Williams a real opportunity we won’t be worried about the center position by mid-season.

I’m with Dangercart on this one. Set him free, Brad! I think he’s starting by the end of the season so long as he gets the opportunity from Brad.

[rollie mass]

Robert Williams jumps the passing lane sending the ball skidding forward he catches up to the ball while
 on the run somehow keeps dribble alive and then finishes with a euro steps in traffic for a layup.
That one play had so many components and didn't look like ragged a hustle play but a Celtic play
First defensive awareness.
Reaction time and using wingspan to defect ball forward.
Agility to regain control of dribble at half court while sprinting and finish in traffic.
Quickness and agility catching up to ball .
Using his wingspan while keeping low to regain control of dribble while sprinting forward
Finishes like a small forward with a contested euro step.
I had to watch that on replay as i thought that must have been another player
That kind of play just flashed his potential beyond a lob dunk or spiking a blocked shot but a new level of coordination and athleticism .

 

[Fierce1]

If Rob Will can become like Clint Capela then the search for the next Celtics big man is over.

Right now Celts are still one move away from being a legit contender.

I think the Celts are better off trading for a player like Bradley Beal than for a big like Capela.

[trickybilly]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

Tacko's defense was actually pretty good all night. I hope he gets a 2-way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

[Surferdad]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

Tacko's defense was actually pretty good all night. I hope he gets a 2-way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

Yes, there's currently some "irrational exuberance" surrounding Rob Williams.  He has a long way to go on both sides of the ball.  He clearly doesn't not have a grasp of team defense yet.  On the other side, his mid-range jumper is not reliable and he has no post game at all.  Any notion of him starting at center is just wishful thinking.

[Sophomore]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

Tacko's defense was actually pretty good all night. I hope he gets a 2-way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

Yes, there's currently some "irrational exuberance" surrounding Rob Williams.  He has a long way to go on both sides of the ball.  He clearly doesn't not have a grasp of team defense yet.  On the other side, his mid-range jumper is not reliable and he has no post game at all.  Any notion of him starting at center is just wishful thinking.

He also doesn't show much physicality. Looks like he's trying to avoid contact most of the time.

Pelle, on the Sixers, to me was a better defender.

[Sophomore]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

Good illustration with that clip. Ouch. I often have the impression he's out of position and late to react; this is a good breakdown of a (too typical) play.

One positive I'd offer is that his passing was usually crisp - didn't hold the ball too long - and often was a good basketball play. He made one or two nice pocket passes to cutters.

[moiso]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

Tacko's defense was actually pretty good all night. I hope he gets a 2-way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

Yes, there's currently some "irrational exuberance" surrounding Rob Williams.  He has a long way to go on both sides of the ball.  He clearly doesn't not have a grasp of team defense yet.  On the other side, his mid-range jumper is not reliable and he has no post game at all.  Any notion of him starting at center is just wishful thinking.

He also doesn't show much physicality. Looks like he's trying to avoid contact most of the time.

Pelle, on the Sixers, to me was a better defender.

For someone who is supposedly working so hard he was still huffing and puffing at almost every stop in the action.

[trickybilly]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

Good illustration with that clip. Ouch. I often have the impression he's out of position and late to react; this is a good breakdown of a (too typical) play.

One positive I'd offer is that his passing was usually crisp - didn't hold the ball too long - and often was a good basketball play. He made one or two nice pocket passes to cutters.

Yes, agreed. It's bizarre to me that his passing vision is actually very good - was last year too. Literally the least advertised part of his game coming out of college.

He is still very slim, and you're right - he just doesn't have a feel for when to engage contact on defensive end.

Agree with Surferdad that he simply is not a starting option at this point... we go with Theis or Kanter. [That's not to say that he couldn't figure things out quickly without having coaching staff completely occupied with all last year's bullEdited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. drama, working a million sets to ensure everyone is fed.

[Surferdad]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

Tacko's defense was actually pretty good all night. I hope he gets a 2-way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

Yes, there's currently some "irrational exuberance" surrounding Rob Williams.  He has a long way to go on both sides of the ball.  He clearly doesn't not have a grasp of team defense yet.  On the other side, his mid-range jumper is not reliable and he has no post game at all.  Any notion of him starting at center is just wishful thinking.

He also doesn't show much physicality. Looks like he's trying to avoid contact most of the time.

Pelle, on the Sixers, to me was a better defender.

For someone who is supposedly working so hard he was still huffing and puffing at almost every stop in the action.

Significant concern.  His game depends a lot of his athleticism, but if he's going to get winded so quickly he won't stay on the floor.  I'm a bit disappointed to see more holes in his game this summer, not less.

[playdream]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

Tacko's defense was actually pretty good all night. I hope he gets a 2-way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

People will find any opportunity to bash this young man

Yes it's a obvious bad play on TL, but it's rare and for a guy who barely played last season in his first SUMMER game of the season it's totally acceptable

[playdream]

Well, there was a lot of nice basketball from RWill, but it seriously blows my mind that he won that Defensive Player of the year award.

Check out his awareness starting at 6.46 - three bad moves: doesn't check his man when the handoff happens (although isn't in too bad position - lucky), late to the drive contest - just literally ball watching, then late to recover and stupidly tries to snatch a steal that wasn't there, loses position. Still needs a LOT of work. Also, his offensive rebounding effort comes and goes.

Tacko's defense was actually pretty good all night. I hope he gets a 2-way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5g_3SsB7k

Yes, there's currently some "irrational exuberance" surrounding Rob Williams.  He has a long way to go on both sides of the ball.  He clearly doesn't not have a grasp of team defense yet.  On the other side, his mid-range jumper is not reliable and he has no post game at all.  Any notion of him starting at center is just wishful thinking.

He also doesn't show much physicality. Looks like he's trying to avoid contact most of the time.

Pelle, on the Sixers, to me was a better defender.

For someone who is supposedly working so hard he was still huffing and puffing at almost every stop in the action.

Significant concern.  His game depends a lot of his athleticism, but if he's going to get winded so quickly he won't stay on the floor.  I'm a bit disappointed to see more holes in his game this summer, not less.

You think it's easy to move like that with what he got? he just been through his first year, give the kid some time smh