Defering to coach Joe Mazzulla, Boston’s Jayson Tatum makes it known he’d prefer Robert Williams III start

For now at least, the plan seems to be for the Celtics center to come off of the bench as he slowly ramps up his playing time.

Whether Boston Celtics big man Robert Williams III starts or comes off the bench as he works his way back into the Celtics’ rotation after an extended absence due to recovery from a cleanup surgery has become something of a contentious topic, and one that even star Boston forward Jayson Tatum can’t seem to get away from.

The St. Louis native has feelings on the subject that he revealed after the Celtics’ too-narrow win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday evening, stating (via NBC Sports Boston) that Timelord “got subbed out in I think it was the fourth (quarter) … and I asked him, ‘Yo, are you still on a minutes restriction?’ and he was like ‘No.'”

“I was like, ‘Well get your (expletive) back in the game!'” added Tatum with a smile on his face.

“Whether he starts or comes off of the bench, I just want him on the floor, I want him healthy, and I want to be on the floor with him as much as possible,” the Duke alum explained.

“I’m going to start, so I’d like Rob to start, but whatever is best for the team,” he added in defense to interim Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who has hinted at a reluctance to move Williams off of the bench, at least so far.

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