{"id":52670,"date":"2023-08-20T17:03:08","date_gmt":"2023-08-20T21:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=52670"},"modified":"2023-08-20T17:03:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T21:03:08","slug":"celtics-rotation-battles-al-horford-vs-robert-williams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/08\/20\/celtics-rotation-battles-al-horford-vs-robert-williams\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics Rotation Battles: Al Horford vs. Robert Williams"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Celtics<\/strong><\/a> have one of the best rosters in the league and are poised to contend for a title again. With the blockbuster Kristaps Porzingis<\/a> <\/strong>trade, the Celtics core was shaken up a little this off-season and there are some questions<\/a> about exactly how Porzingis will fit in Boston. However, there are still four clear starters:\u00a0Derrick White<\/a><\/strong>, Jaylen Brown<\/a><\/strong>, Jayson Tatum<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> and Kristaps Porzingis.<\/span><\/p>\n

This leaves the starting center position next to Porzingis open between Al Horford<\/a><\/strong> and Robert Williams<\/a><\/strong>. The two players have different skill sets but are both starting-caliber big men. However, who will be the starting five is an important question for the Celtics as the season approaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Celtics Rotation Battles: Al Horford vs. Robert Williams<\/h2>\n

The Case for Al Horford\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Al Horford is a rock-solid veteran big man. Last year, in his 16th season, Horford appeared in 63 games and started in all of them. Horford has a great basketball IQ and feel for the game that allows him to make a strong impact on both ends of the floor. Horford shot 44% from three on 5 attempts per game which was good for the 2nd<\/a> best three-point percentage in the league. Horford’s floor spacing and shooting abilities are immensely valuable to Boston. Additionally, Horford is a willing playmaker who constantly makes the extra pass within the offense; he can also be used as a high-post passer. Horford isn\u2019t an elite defender by any means. However, his IQ and instincts make him a net positive on that end of the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pros and Cons of Horford<\/h4>\n

The major advantage to starting Horford is floor spacing. By starting Horford, the Celtics would have the ability to run a starting lineup with five high-level 3-point shooters. Head coach Joe Mazzulla loves to run 5-out lineups and heavily values the three-ball, making Horford a perfect fit in this system. Horford’s playmaking abilities also help the offensive upside. This lineup has the potential to make Boston the top offense and 3-point shooting team in the league.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The main downside to starting Horford is his age. At 37, there\u2019s a chance Horford\u2019s game could begin to decline. Similarly, many people view the Porzingis trade as insurance for Horford\u2019s age and possible decline. The Celtics could have more upside with the fast-paced and more athletic starting five. However, despite these concerns, Horford feels like the natural choice for the starting center spot. Horford is a perfect fit with Mazzulla\u2019s style and has a ton of experience with this Boston team. Additionally, even though Horford is aging, he is still playing at a high level and has been remarkably durable throughout his career. But how does Horford\u2019s game and value compare to Robert Williams?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Case for Robert Williams\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Robert Williams is a talented young center. Williams had an injury-riddled season last year in which he appeared in 35 games and started in 20 of those games. However, when Williams played, he was impactful on both ends of the floor. Williams is an elite and extremely versatile<\/a> defender. Rob is a great shot blocker and rim protector. Additionally, Williams is switchable and can guard multiple positions if needed. If Williams isn\u2019t stationed in the paint, he has the ability to roam around the perimeter and wreak havoc—similar to what Jaren Jackson Jr<\/a><\/strong>. does for the Grizzlies<\/a>. Furthermore, Williams is a great rebounder. Offensively, Williams is a rim runner and lob threat while being an efficient interior scorer on low usage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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(THREAD!\ud83c\udf40) You've probably heard about Robert Williams playing "free safety" to protect the rim. Here's what we mean:<\/p>\n

The premise: Put Rob on the corner shooter, NOT the big man. The wings switch into Nurk, allows him to ditch the corner spacer and block the shot. pic.twitter.com\/aiukLIP0fJ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Matt Esposito (@MattEsposito_) February 18, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n