The Boston Celtics have to stave off elimination tonight at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers in order to force Game 7 and head coach Joe Mazzulla is making a big change to try and get a spark.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Celtics plan on starting Robert Williams at center while sending guard Derrick White to the bench. It will be Williams’ first start for the Celtics this postseason.
Williams has been decent in spot duty, averaging 6.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game over 11 playoff games. He’s been rock solid inside the paint with an 88.6-percent conversion rate. He appeared in only 35 regular season games this year.
White was having a pretty good postseason until they started playing the 76ers. After averaging over 17 points per game against the Hawks in the First Round, he’s averaged just over 10 points per game against Philadelphia.
Just in: Celtics expected starting lineup change in tonight’s potential elimination Game 6 vs. 76ers, sources tell me and @JaredWeissNBA. pic.twitter.com/bAk7H6Ru6Z
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 11, 2023
The Boston Celtics went out to a 2-1 lead before suffering back-to-back losses including one at TD Garden on Tuesday. They’ve scored over 100 points per game, but the defense just hasn’t been up to the challenge of taking on the 76ers’ stars.
Will this move be enough to see the Celtics through to Game 7?