Celtics lose major defensive piece just before the playoffs start

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 23: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics rebounds during the second quarter of the game against the Utah Jazz at TD Garden on March 23, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Boston Celtics center Robert Williams will be out for several weeks with a meniscus tear, making it more difficult for Boston to hold the No. 1 spot.

A 134-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves cemented two things for the Boston Celtics: that this was the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference, and that the Celtics had the best-ranked defense in the NBA. With one injury, all of that could be at risk as the Celtics advance to the playoffs.

During their March 27 win, Celtics center Robert Williams appeared to suffer a knee sprain, although Williams still went on to score 8 of 13 shots, which led fans to believe that the sprain was nothing major.

Here's what Robert Williams III was able to do AFTER he sprained his knee last night. Got 8 of his 13 points and looked pretty good overall. Hopefully that injury is nothing major, and he won't miss much time (if any). pic.twitter.com/prQxTnPRgd
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) March 28, 2022

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, MRI scans on March 28 confirm that Williams suffered a meniscus tear and will miss several weeks at the least. Wojnarowski also provided context as to how this affects Boston, who is technically leading the Eastern Conference despite a tied 47-28 record with the Miami Heat.

Williams was injured in Sunday night’s victory — Boston’s 24th in 28 games — and underwent an MRI today. Williams is first among 169 players who’ve defended 500-plus shots as the closest defender, per Second Spectrum tracking. Only Williams has held opponents sub-40 % shooting.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 28, 2022

Boston has been on a wild winning streak, winning 24 of their last 28 games this season. Without Williams, the Celtics are all but guaranteed to lose their No. 1 seeding as they compete with the Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers, who are all tied with 28 losses each.

Boston Celtics experience bad luck with Rob Williams knee injury

Although March famously celebrates the “luck of the Irish” during St. Patricks Day, the Celtics are notoriously unlucky when it comes to injury the past five years.

One Twitter user replied to Wojnarowski with the following observation: Boston has experienced a significant loss due to injury every season since 2018.

2018: Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward were injured
2019: Gordon Hayward was still injured
2020: Kemba Walker was injured
2021: Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker were injured
2022: Robert Williams is injured

Without Williams, it seems that “Grant Williams is the most likely candidate to slide into the starting lineup alongside Al Horford,” according to Lance Legere for FanSided’s Hoops Habit.

More. The impact of the Robert Williams injury for the Boston Celtics. light

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