With Defense Key to Celtics Staying a Step Ahead of Heat, Joe Mazzulla Confirms Robert Williams Sticking in Starting Lineup

With their season on the line, the Celtics held the Sixers below 90 points in two-straight games.

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With their season on the line, the Celtics held the Sixers to 86 points in Game 6 in Philadelphia. In their winner-take-all matchup last Sunday, a team with this season's MVP, Joel Embiid, and past recipient, James Harden, could only muster two more points in a 112-88 loss.

It's not a coincidence that Boston elevating its play on the defensive end coincided with Robert Williams rejoining the starting lineup, beginning with that Game 6 victory in the City of Brotherly Love.

"I'm glad that Joe made that adjustment, and we did it -- because -- what a difference," Al Horford expressed after that win Thursday night.

"When Rob's not in there, I kind of have to, I feel like a lot falls on my shoulders, and when he's out there, I know that he's got my back, and I can be a little more aggressive, and I can do different things."

While discussing the Time Lord's two-way impact, Marcus Smart conveyed following Game 6, "To have Rob in there, he changes the game a lot. Being able to have a lob threat, a rim threat, to be able to protect the rim on the other end, he's huge for us, and I was proud to have him on the court."

As this author has detailed throughout this season, as much as it's about complementary basketball, the Celtics are at their best when their defense is at the forefront of their identity.

Starting Williams, which Joe Mazzulla confirmed Tuesday at the Auerbach Center he'll continue to do, leans into that.

The former Texas A&M Aggie's the x-factor for the defending Eastern Conference champions, empowering the other four defenders he's on the floor with and giving the green light to those guarding the ball to play more aggressively, knowing he's behind them protecting the rim.

And for Boston to beat the Heat to advance to the NBA Finals for the second-straight year, its defense has to be the driving force.

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The Celtics are the more talented team, and Miami's missing Tyler Herro, who broke his hand in the first round against the Bucks. But the Heat will muck the game up, make Boston fight for its spacing, and Erik Spoelstra spins the dial defensively as well as any head coach in the NBA.

Miami wants to make it a rock fight. Avoiding playing into the Heat's hand, parlaying stops into operating with pace, also paramount to the Celtics' success, is how the defending Eastern Conference champions can stay a step ahead and consistently create favorable opportunities offensively.

Tuesday, Jaylen Brown told Inside The Celtics the following about Boston's defense being what sets the tone on its mission to get back to the Finals and finish this season as NBA champions.

"As a unit, our defense has gotta be great. We've gotta be able to set the tone defensively. That's gotta be our barometer. That's gotta be our identity: playing hard, being the tougher team, and I think we'll be fine. I think that we've gotta each take the challenge individually. Miami's a team that likes to hunt mismatches and try to expose wherever your weakness is; they're a veteran, experienced team, and we've got to be ready for that."

Williams starting and being on the floor as much as possible will help the Celtics put Brown's words into action and avoid stumbling as their on the doorstep of another opportunity to play for an NBA title.

Further Reading

The Celtics are Motivated to Win a Championship for Al Horford, 'The Guy We've Followed All Season'

NBA Announces Full Series Schedule for Celtics-Heat Eastern Conference Finals

Al Horford Discusses Series-Long Battle with Joel Embiid: 'I Had to Put My Imprint in the Series'

Celtics React to Jayson Tatum's Historical Game 7 Performance: 'There's Nothing They Could Do'

Jayson Tatum Discusses His Relationship with Celtics Fans: 'I Love Being Here'

Jaylen Brown Salutes TD Garden Crowd After Game 7: 'It Was Amazing'

Jayson Tatum Discusses Historic Game 7 Performance: 'That's When I Play My Best'

Here's What Stood Out in Game 7 Win vs. Sixers: Celtics Save Their Best Performance for When They Needed it Most

Jaylen Brown Discusses Whether Making an All-NBA Team Provides Clarity About His Future

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Earn All-NBA Honors; Here's What That Means for Them and the Celtics