Post by San Antonio on Jan 2, 2016 6:05:31 GMT
HOT ROD WILLIAMS IS BECOMING A CULT FAVORITE IN SAN ANTONIO
SAN ANTONIO — It is happening subtly, but it is definitely happening: Hot Rod (John) Williams is becoming a bit of a cult favourite with the crowd at the Alamo Dome. Unmistakably, there was a buzz on Wednesday when he checked into the game, his first coming off of the bench since making his way over to Texas from Brazil in a trade executed on the final days of training camp. Fans in Brazil didn't have much to cheer for when their super star Earl Monroe went down early last season. In the interim, the fans became attached to the eminently likeable Hot Rod.
It totally made sense, too. William's aggressiveness on the glass — of players that have played more than him this year, only Joel Embiid and Hank Gathers grab more rebounds per minute on the team — and his shot-blocking at the rim stand defiantly in contrast to the Spurs’ interior issues of recent past. He has even started channeling ABCA Legends Hall of Famer Darell Imhoff, blowing a kiss towards the opposing bench to celebrate a swat.
“Listen: He’s an easy guy to cheer for,” said Brazil's Stan Van Gundy, William's long-time coach during the centre’s first ABCA stop. “He’s a worker. He’s got great character. He cares about his teammates. He has a way to play that’s both effective for him and helps your team win.”
The fans were still at in on Friday, when the Spurs beat REAL Madrid 117-107: public address announcer Henry Seth introduced Hot Rod Williams with some extra oomph, and the crowd responded in kind. And you can sense that there are the beginnings of a controversy creeping in: Some feel that The Spurs are more or less undersized when Hank Gathers is in the lineup at power forward, maybe they should let the high flyer try to prop up the second unit.
Let’s debunk that quickly. Gathers caught a series of lob passes in the first quarter that led to either crowd pleasing dunks or free throws that his teammates would not have even thrown had Hot Rod been in his place. As good as Williams has been at protecting the rim and earning the Spurs extra possessions, his presence severely limits the San Antonio guards’ options when they try to penetrate the paint or engage in the pick-and-roll. Williams is shooting 47 percent from the field. No other regular rotation big man is below 50. His defensive contributions have not quite made up for that.
And that is OK. Williams was brought to San Antonio to do exactly what he is doing — play 15 to 20 minutes of high-energy basketball with an emphasis on defence. When Gathers or Embiid have needed a breather, Williams has stepped in adequately, although his flaws are still apparent.
“He had an opportunity to get his confidence,” Spurs coach Wes Unseld said of William's play. “I think the game is slowing down for him a little bit now. He’s catching the ball better. He’s finishing better in traffic. I think that just comes from opportunity. He understands he is an elite defender. The league is now understanding that.
“I think he understands now too who he is and what he is. He’s a rebounder and a defender. He doesn’t have to worry about scoring. He’s an opportunity scorer. We are excited to have him on our team.”
Van Gundy said that early in his career, Williams — like most young players — tried to expand his role a little bit. There is none of that now. He knows exactly why he is on the floor.
Friday night was a mixed one for Williams, who collected nine points and 3 rebounds, but he still had his moments. He drew a loose-ball foul on rising star Jerry Lucas in the fourth quarter, and then the two exchanged words — an inevitability, given their similarly aggressive styles. Hot Rod Williams then clapped to himself, revving up the crowd in the process. The matchup between those two relentless agitators was positively balletic, with Williams getting the unanimous decision.
“Man, I was just getting hyped all game, getting back into the game. Even though it doesn't count for anything,” Williams said. “I was just being excited and trying to find a way, and trying to find a way to get my teammates moving.”
“It is very welcomed when you can understand what he’s saying,” Marques Haynes added of William's defensive communication. “I think that the way he approaches the game and our team and defence is how we all should do it. Honestly, when it comes to defence, he’s our anchor. He’s our backup, but when he comes in the game he’s really focused and we rely on him to clean up a lot.”
He stayed in to finish the game, too. That should not necessarily happen on a nightly basis, but is a fine solution as Gathers, who had 24 points and 9 boards, helps out in other areas of the court. Williams punctuated the game with a two-handed stuff of REAL guard Joe Dumars, and finished with three blocked shots. In Hot Rod Williams, Officialgp acquired a useful role player. It does not have to be more complicated than that.
