It could also matter on the glass, where Theis and Horford - or whoever switches onto their guys - will be giving up plenty of size against Andre Drummond. That could matter against Durant, Irving and all the teammates they set up with golden opportunities. But while Theis can replicate the style Williams plays, he doesn’t do it with the same oomph. They are 14-2 in games during which Theis and Horford have shared the court for at least one stint. The Celtics have allowed six more points in the paint per 100 possessions with Theis on the court than they have with Williams.

While the team’s best lineups have not dropped off without Williams, some of the details show where Brown’s coming from. Still, that’s beefed up by plenty of time against bad teams and shorthanded teams. Over 109 minutes for that combo, the Celtics have pummeled opponents by 33.2 points per 100 possessions. They’re so far ahead of other defenses that they’re like Usain Bolt, with plenty of time to crane their necks and look who’s behind them.īy the numbers, the Celtics have defended better with Theis and Horford on the court. When he’s on the court with Horford, the Celtics have guarded at a level no other team can match. Nobody else on the team - and maybe in the league - is quite like Williams. He provides a back-line bounciness that Boston just can’t replace.

He gives the perimeter defenders confidence to be more aggressive.

The Celtics don’t have the same margin for error without Williams. So what do we think of Brown’s statement? But we know it’s not quite the same, even if Horford has been a great defender this year and Theis is a solid replacement for Williams. We can attack Theis and Horford in the paint.” Kevin Durant tried to walk it back by saying, “That’s caffeine pride talking,” - brilliant phrase by KD there - and that they can do the same things as Williams. Weiss: After beating the Cavs Tuesday, Bruce Brown said, “Them not having Robert Williams is huge. Is Bruce Brown right about the Celtics’ frontcourt? If you can’t tell, we’re a little excited for this matchup. Our roundtable features Celtics beat writers Jay King and Jared Weiss and their counterpart covering the Brooklyn Nets, Alex Schiffer. It will pair the NBA’s best defense against the NBA’s best player. It will test whether the Nets have enough around their two stars. It will challenge Boston’s postseason readiness after an epic midseason turnaround. It will pit Ime Udoka against several players he coached last season. It will set up Kyrie Irving to compete against his former team, one year after he stomped on the Celtics logo. It will give us Kevin Durant versus Jayson Tatum. With all due respect to the Cavaliers (this means we’re about to disrespect the Cavaliers), Celtics-Nets will be a far more juicy series.

Williams ratchet set