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Bruce Brown might have to face Robert Williams III.
There is a chance that the Boston Celtics center could return for the team's first-round game against the Brooklyn Nets.
The sixth game of the series would be about a month after Williams had surgery on his knee.
The thought from the beginning was that he could return within a month.
After the Nets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-108 in the play-in game, Brown looked ahead to the series with Boston.
He told reporters that they need to be physical with them because they don't have Robert Williams. It's huge that they don't have Robert Williams.
The comments did not sit well with Kevin.
He said that they respect their opponents and don't need to talk about what they're going to do to them. Bruce is how I like him. He comes in and keeps the same energy throughout the entire season. Let's go out there and hoop.
In support of Brown, there is no doubt that Williams was a crucial part of a Boston defense that gave up the fewest points per 100 possessions this season.
The Celtics had a defensive rating of 103.4 with Williams on the court. The number went up when he sat. He shot 73.6 percent from the field and had a plus-minus of 6.1 for the season.
Despite what Brown had to say, the Celtics defense did not drop off a cliff with Horford or Theis on the floor. The pair averaged about two blocks per game, which was less rim protection than Williams.
But he was not willing to underestimate either of them.
He said thatHorford and Theis can do the same things as Williams.
The Celtics will be happy if Williams makes it back in the first round. Brown will be less enthusiastic.
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