The Short and Long-Term Impact of Robert Williams' Return to the Celtics Lineup

A top-10 finisher in the league's Defensive Player of the Year voting, Williams' impact goes beyond his play at that end of the floor.

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When the initial diagnosis was that Robert Williams' return from a torn meniscus injury would be at least four weeks, most fans and media assumed there was little to no chance of him suiting up in this first-round series.

And that assumption was based on the facts, most of which showed Williams was a slow returner when it came to bouncing back from injuries.

But as we've seen all season, this is a different Robert Williams in terms of his play and impact.

And apparently, that holds true when it comes to this particular injury, which has healed to the point where, barring an unexpected last-minute setback, will play in tonight's pivotal Game 3 tilt against Brooklyn.

Boston comes in with a 2-0 series lead, with a win tonight all but guaranteeing they will move on to the next round of play.

I have been bullish from the very beginning on Boston making light work of the Nets because, from top to bottom, Boston has a better team and is better coached.

And that didn't factor in an earlier-than-expected return from Williams which will surely bolster an already strong defensive group.

But the impact of Williams' return goes beyond what he provides defensively. There's no question that what he provides at that end of the floor has tremendous value for the Celtics.

But because he's so athletic and plays above the rim better than anyone on this Celtics roster, his return should also strengthen a Boston offense that has been good in spurts not as consistent as they were near the end of the season with Williams in the lineup.

When Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown or Marcus Smart are attacking off the dribble, Williams' presence puts added pressure on the defense. Not only is he more than capable of catching lob dunks, but he's also an exceptional offensive rebounder who can put back misses.

And while there's a lot of attention paid to what he does from an athleticism standpoint, Williams' court vision from the center position is among the team's best, all players included.

In the short term, his return should be enough for Boston to make light work of the Nets and move on to the next round of the playoffs.

And that's where Williams' true impact will be felt.

If Boston advances as expected, they will likely have to face the Milwaukee Bucks who hold a 2-1 series lead over Chicago.

Milwaukee is dealing with a significant injury of its own to a key player, with Khris Middleton out with a sprained MCL injury to his left knee. He has already been ruled out for the remainder of their series against the Bulls. And should the defending champion Bucks advance to the next round they are expecting to not have Middleton available for some if not all of that series.

That means the Bucks would be without its best shot-maker, which means Boston's perimeter defenders should be even more impactful in limiting dribble-drive penetration.

And having Williams back makes an already formidable defense that much tougher on all levels of play.

But for now, the focus has to be on Brooklyn if you're the Celtics.

And that focus just got a little sharper with the return of Williams who has shown tremendous growth all season in all areas - including bouncing back from an injury.