Camila Sosa
For a Boston Celtics that captured the top spot in the Eastern Conference for the first time this season yesterday after being out of the NBA play-in tournament, fortune isn’t on their side at present: Robert Williams III, their breakthrough pivot, could miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee during the win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
How Much Time Will Robert be Absent?
This morning the diagnosis of the 24-year-old was confirmed after being subjected to different medical tests, and it is expected that he will be out indefinitely depending on the type of rupture suffered in addition to his level of recovery through the first phases of rehabilitation in the affected area. In case he has to go through the operating room, his season will be officially over.
At the very least, Williams is expected to be out on any activity for several weeks, and if the breakup isn’t oversized and he can recover quickly, he could return to the court with the Celtics in the event that the team goes as far as the Eastern Conference finals or a little earlier into the postseason. However, with this loss, Boston loses one of its most important men within the team, basically the defensive pillar of the painting next to the Dominican Al Horford.
If surgery is required, the center would not only be out for the rest of the current season, he could even lose time in the upcoming 2022-2023 NBA season, and the Celtics are expected to follow up on the injury in the coming days.
Averaging 10 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.2 blocks in 61 games this season, Time Lord has been one of the factors that caused Boston’s great resurgence in the second half of the season, having won 24 of its last 28 games and being at the top of the Eastern Conference today with a 47-28 record. His growth since receiving a permanent position in the starting lineup has transformed Ime Udoka’s team into the best defensive one in the entire league.
During his absence, Al Horford, Daniel Theis and Grant Williams will have to raise their performance so that the team does not suffer a major fall and lose the opportunities to remain among the contenders to reach the NBA Finals. Boston also signed forward Juwan Morgan on a ten-day contract to take the place left by Robert, but his tenure on the team is not certain and they could look for another player in case that was needed.
Williams III has had time lost due to injuries in each of his seasons as a professional so far, being the current campaign in which he has accumulated more presences. He received a four-year, $48M contract extension by the end of 2021, which will begin from the next harvest. Are the Celtics still candidates in the East despite losing Robert Williams III?
