BAHH GOD THAT'S ROBERT WILLIAMS MUSIC!!!
Elsa. Getty Images.WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't even pretend, when I saw that Celts injury report on my timeline I shrieked like a child. What's sad about that is we all knew Rob was coming back tomorrow after the way the team talked about his return while on on their West Coast trip. Woj went on TV and said he was medically cleared and that he just had to wake up one day and decide he wanted to play.
While it would have been cool to see him against maybe the Warriors, Clippers, or Lakers, I can't hate on his return finally happening in front of his own fans at the Garden. We're the ones who have been waiting so goddamn long for him to come back anyways, he deserves to get the crazy ovation that's coming his way tomorrow night.
As a quick reminder, this is what the Celtics are now inserting into their roster

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Giphy Images.It's hard for me to decide what my favorite part is of Rob being back. I can't wait to see the most unstoppable opening play in NBA history return to the Celts offense
I can't wait to see the first P&R set and Lob to Rob which he then immediately dunks into the center of the earth. I can't wait to see him block shots. I can't wait to see him thread the needle with a beautiful bounce pass through traffic as he hits a cutter. I can't wait to see him and Tatum unleash their postgame celebration handshake. I can't wait to see the first 3PA Rob blocks as he then leads a fastbreak despite being a center. I can't wait to see him be automatic from the FT line. I can't wait to stop getting killed on the offensive glass by everyone the Celts play. I can't wait to see the 9th best defense in the NBA suddenly turn into the best defense in the NBA literally overnight. It's all going to be so incredible.
Now even though Rob is now back, I would still advise this team to be cautious as shit. Put him on the Al Horford load management plan for a few months. I'm weary of him playing back to backs for at least a few weeks until he can get his conditioning back up to where it needs to be. He played around 29.6 minutes last season, but for a while, I'd like to see him be in the 15-20 minute range. 25 minutes if Joe is feeling frisky or the game warrants it.
When it comes to the starting lineup, I see no reason why Joe shouldn't unleash the group that was the best starting unit in basketball last year. I know he's been going with 5 out when Al plays, but I don't think we should forget how dominant the Smart/Jaylen/Tatum/Al/Rob lineup was last year. Eventually, maybe Al moves to the bench and Grant starts, but I at least want to see the original group get the first crack at it.

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It goes without saying that the ONLY thing that matters now is keeping Rob healthy. If some sort of freak injury happens so be it. But what I don't think we should do is think the Celts are somehow rushing Rob back. Why would they do that as the best team in the NBA right now? This tells me he's not only medically cleared, but mentally cleared. He's ready. He's heathy. He's back.
It was a long 80 or so days, but the wait is over. Get to me tipoff already.