With second-year center Robert Williams III cleared to play against the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens’ decision about who to start against the Philadelphia 76ers in their season opener just got a little bit tougher.
Point guard Kemba Walker, swingman Jaylen Brown, forward Jayson Tatum and forward Gordon Hayward are likely four of Stevens’ starters, with the quartet starting for Boston throughout the preseason while Stevens rotates starting centers.
The pivot will be the most fluid position in that sense.
Consequently, Williams’ return likely puts Stevens in a position of whether to start him, 7-foot-0 rookie center Vincent Poirier or 6-foot-8 center Daniel Theis — who looked to be Stevens’ preferred starter by preseason’s end — against 7-foot-0 center Joel Embiid.
Veteran center Enes Kanter could always start but with four mouths to feed aside from his own in the first unit and his defensive shortcomings, it seems unlike.
Williams himself is 6-foot-9 and has slimmed down since last season, raising questions about how well he’d defend a big, strong player like Embiid down low.
However, he’s the team’s best rim-protector and the Sixers will certainly look to attack the rim in both halfcourt and in transition.
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