How Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams fit with Boston — and each other

In an offseason the place the Celtics are retooling their roster for the longer term, Brad Stevens used the NBA Draft to strengthen a transparent organizational pivot: prioritize motion, versatility, and defensive depth.

When the Celtics misplaced to the Knicks within the second spherical of the playoffs this previous season, their lack of ball motion and tempo was obvious. Numerous occasions, the Celtics had stagnant offensive possessions the place the ball by no means entered the paint and even missed transition alternatives by bringing the ball up the ground far too intentionally.

Watching the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Indiana Pacers — two fast-paced, movement-heavy groups — battle it out within the NBA Finals solely amplified the necessity for Boston to change its strategy. The league’s elite groups are youthful, quicker, and deeper. Brad is aware of that if the Celtics wish to proceed contending for championships till Tatum and Brown retire, they should evolve not simply their roster, however their philosophy:

This stylistic evolution is strictly why the Celtics drafted Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams. Let’s break it down.

Hugo Gonzalez

Gonzalez thrived off the ball. Coming from a Actual Madrid workforce stacked with veterans and former NBA expertise, he not often had the ball in his palms — however when he did, he made it rely. He was consistently making backdoor cuts, filling open area, tipping in rebounds, and hammering down putback dunks.

He performs with intuition and barely misses a chance to make a sensible learn or hustle play. Gonzalez is an extremely savvy participant and brings a aptitude of the European sport that emphasizes tempo, stream, and reads over isolation.

The match right here is apparent. Gonzalez will likely be surrounded by Boston’s stars who dominate the ball, permitting him to do what he does finest — create with out it. His off-ball motion will inject some much-needed selection into the Celtics’ offense, lifting them out of their stagnant lulls.

Along with his offensive upside, Gonzalez has an equally excessive motor on the defensive finish. When watching Gonzalez’s tape, I used to be shocked at how persistently he picked up ball handlers 94 toes from the basket. He’ll assist restore among the protection the Celtics misplaced within the offseason whereas additionally complementing a fast-paced, defensively centered fashion of basketball.

Amari Williams

Subsequent is Williams, who matches the Celtics’ system — and Gonzalez — simply as naturally.

Williams was broadly considered the perfect passing massive on this draft class. With a 7’0”, 260-pound body, he has the scale to command the paint and the basketball IQ to dissect a protection like a quarterback. At Kentucky, he usually anchored possessions from the put up or the excessive elbow, discovering cutters with intelligent bounce passes and spraying passes to open shooters.

Even higher, he gained’t sluggish Boston down. In right this moment’s NBA, many conventional bigs get performed off the ground in fast-paced matchups, like Isaiah Hartenstein within the NBA Finals. However Williams can sustain within the open flooring. If he’s not ending in transition, he’s normally the one who initiated it. One in all my favourite performs of Williams faculty profession was this full-court dime:

Defensively, he has actual potential as a paint anchor. With a 7’6” wingspan and robust vertical instincts, Williams has the instruments to anchor the paint in his minutes off the bench. His shot-blocking instincts ought to generate loads of fast-break alternatives for Boston’s guards.

Rookie Synergy

Collectively, Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams could possibly be a dynamic pairing off the bench for Boston. With Williams working surgically from the excessive put up and Gonzalez reducing from each angle, there’s actual chemistry potential between these two rookies.

Defensively, their abilities mesh completely. Gonzalez’s skill to strain ball handlers full courtroom pairs nicely with Williams’ rim safety, giving the Celtics extra choices to disrupt offenses and generate transition probabilities.

As they develop, this duo might grow to be important to Boston’s subsequent installment within the Tatum and Brown period.

Though there may be lots to be unsure about with Boston, one factor is obvious: Brad Stevens has a plan — and Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams match seamlessly into his imaginative and prescient.