Rob Williams’ subsequent evolution – CelticsBlog

Robert Williams stepped out of the Auerbach Heart and into his automobile. He didn’t know why, however he bought on I-90 and began driving west. He couldn’t put his finger on what was pulling him that course, away from civilization, in direction of the abyss. He shuddered barely enthusiastic about the vacancy he was about to come across in western Massachusetts, however he couldn’t cease. By way of the woods of Charlton and Palmer, all he may suppose was, “not less than I’m not on Route 2.”

As he handed Chicopee, he realized he’d arrived at his cease. He bought off the Mass Pike and on Interstate 91 South in Springfield. Rob Williams had entered the street of everlasting development. As he handed the Mass Mutual constructing and dodged randomly positioned site visitors cones, he realized the place he was headed: the James Naismith Corridor of Fame. As he exited the freeway and approached the Corridor, he out of the blue observed a creeping fog billowing off the Connecticut River. The parking zone was empty, and a gentle breeze was the one supply of noise. It was if Rob discovered himself in an alternate dimension.

Picture by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE through Getty Photos

He left his automobile and thoroughly ambled to the Corridor, the fog parted making a makeshift hallway, as if directing him to enter. As he approached its portal, one thing translucent met him on the entrance, however it didn’t open the door, it got here by means of it. A semi-transparent white apparition glided towards Rob floating simply above the bottom. It seemingly had glasses resting on its sq. face and what regarded like hair, but it was all nonetheless one way or the other part of its being. It wore what regarded like an ethereal enterprise go well with and tie, however as an alternative of legs, its torso melded right into a wispy path, virtually like smoke from a cigarette. The highest half was see-through lawyer, however the backside half was all ghost.

“Who… what… who’re you?” Rob’s voice stumbled, a cocktail of worry, confusion, and fascination.

“Who am I and what am I are two very totally different questions,” the ghost replied in a slight New York accent. “What I’m is the Ghost of Commishmases Previous. Who I’m, nicely, they name me The Stern One, or just Stern for brief.”

“What is going on?” Rob responded, his confusion mounting.

“You want to enter the Corridor, Lord of Time. However as of but, you aren’t prepared. I do, nevertheless, have a approach.”

Immediately, all the fear and confusion rushed out of Robert Williams. All he may take into consideration was the one purpose he’s had his whole life: get into the Corridor of Fame. “How!? I’ll do something!” he blurted out.

“You should be skilled. You don’t but possess the talents of those that reside in these hallowed partitions. I’ve organized three mentors that you could be be taught from. Every possesses a talent that, if imbued with, you’ll have an opportunity at enshrinement. Would you want to fulfill them?”

“Sure, completely,” Rob giddily answered.

“There’s, after all, one catch,” the ghost slyly remarked.

“What’s it?”

“You could solely select one, Lord of Time.”

“Why?”

“What do you imply, why? These are the principles. , Jayson didn’t ask any questions when he was right here,” Stern replied.

“JT got here right here?” Rob requested with a tinge of curiosity.

“Sure, after all. How do you suppose he began randomly making pull-up 3’s at a historic price three years in the past? Do you comply with the phrases? I’ll current you with three mentors, every able to offering you mastery of a talent, however you might solely select one.”

“Deal,” Rob eagerly replied.

Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photos

The First Mentor – The Warmth Grasp

A big ball of flame appeared earlier than Stern and slowly reworked into the form of a human.

“The Warmth Grasp has arrived, BAM!”

The flaming humanoid aggressively growled as he completed molding right into a molten individual. “I’m right here to show you the perfect weapon in basketball, Timelord: the deal with. You’ve heard of scorching sauce. now get to know the Warmth Grasp. BAM!”

“Does he say Bam after each sentence?” Rob requested Stern.

“No, generally I finish sentences with different stuff like ‘ADEBAYOOOOO!’” the Warmth Grasp interrupted.

“Alright, man. No matter. I’m simply right here to be taught, apparently.”

“And you bought so much to be taught Timelord. Quite a bit. Let’s have a look at this play once you had been enjoying some crew that employs the best-looking heart within the league, the Miami Warmth.” Immediately, a display seems, floating within the air as if mounted to the fog.

The Warmth Grasp spoke up first after the play completed. “Have a look at this man! You get the ball, protection is scrambling, you have got an open nook shooter, and also you don’t even have a look at the ring! You simply toss it out to your safety blanket, Jayson Tatum, and he will get up a foul three. I’m positive he loved it, however you ruined an important motion by not even pretending to be a menace. Let me present you ways I’d do it.”

“Oh, child! That was slick. Generally all it takes is one dribble to get the protection to commit. Had you taken one exhausting dribble to the center of the ground, I guess that drags within the weakside assist and BAM, simple cross to the nook shooter. You simply aren’t comfy placing your deal with to the take a look at and dribbling in direction of strain, and that’s a straightforward solution to stress the protection in another way than handoffs and standstill passing. You’re good at these issues, Rob, however studying the deal with will create a brand new dimension and new angles. It additionally in all probability makes these different forms of performs extra lethal as a result of they’ve bought to respect you could assault off the bounce.”

Rob opened his mouth to talk, however The Warmth Grasp jumped in once more. “And look, man, you begin getting the fundamentals down, you’ll be able to construct on it — would possibly even have the ability to do stuff like this.”

“Rob, you bought the imaginative and prescient, and you bought the passing expertise. You add the deal with and also you would possibly simply be in your solution to the All-Star Sport. ADEBAYOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Stern turned to The Warmth Grasp, “thanks for that… animated … presentation Warmth Grasp. Now, for those who don’t thoughts, the Lord of Time has two extra mentors to fulfill.”

“I’m out, BAM!”

The Second Mentor – The Younger OG

Because the Warmth Grasp disappeared into the ether, a human began to emerge from the wall of mist surrounding Rob and The Stern One. Rob first noticed the tip of his good nostril, subsequent got here probably the most attractive set of eye lashes he’d ever seen, and behind them, a 6’10” man.

“Al?! The OG?!!?” Rob requested excitedly.

“The OG? Why are you calling me that, Robert?”

“Al, it’s me Rob. We’re on the identical crew,” Rob responded because the confusion washed over him.

“HA!” The Younger OG responded glibly. “I’m on the Atlanta Hawks. You play with 36-year-old Al Horford. I’m 27-year-old Al Horford. I’m positive you’re acquainted with my work.”

“I’ll be sincere, man. I used to be like 13 once you had been 27,” Rob replied.

“Come on, man. Don’t make me really feel outdated,” Stern and Al mentioned in unison after which shared a startled look.

After a beat, Al continued, “Robert, I’ve unhealthy information, no person is guarding you until you’re, like, three ft from the rim. You could have immense items, higher than mine aside from my lovely eyes. But, at occasions, defenses can fully ignore you. That’s not proper and we have to repair it.”

“Are you gonna educate me to shoot threes!?” Rob excitedly blurted.

“Heavens no. That may be completely unrealistic,” Rob guffawed as he thought-about the absurdity of calling one thing unrealistic given the state of affairs he was in, however he allowed Al to proceed.

“You could begin extra primary. I’m right here to show you the inspiration of basketball: the midrange jumper. You begin making midrange photographs, defenses can’t assist off you, and that improves your recreation and your teammates. Proper now, defenses pay you no thoughts for those who aren’t rolling to the rim or within the dunker spot.”

“Awww, man. I keep in mind this play. I handed it off JT’s rattling leg.”

“Have a look at how a lot area Bam is affording you. He’s ten ft away clogging up every little thing your teammates try to do! You need to have completed what I’d have in that place. Pop the middy.”

“Right here I’m, in the same place on the ground to you. My man, Marcin Ghost Hat, had to assist on the rim and it’s a straightforward kick from Teague to me. I’m simply as open as you’re, and as an alternative of losing that area, or stalling the offense by resetting, I shot the ball.”

Rob nodded absentmindedly and responded. “You’re proper, you’re proper, however a midrange shot from me isn’t precisely the perfect shot the offense can generate. I don’t wish to miss and waste the possession.”

“You additionally don’t know for those who’ll get a greater look than that in a possession, and hey, for those who hit a couple of, then Bam has to start out creeping out of the paint and protecting you. That opens up area for cutters you could hit along with your passing and imaginative and prescient. And Rob, I’m going to say this slowly. IT. DOESN’T. MATTER. IF. YOU. MISS. If you wish to be taught this weapon, you’ll have to fail, and there’s no motive you’ll be able to’t. You shot 72% from the road final yr and are at 70% this yr. I shot 183 midrange jumpers in 2013-14, you’ve taken 3 this yr. You’ll be able to shoot, and I can get you to start out really making an attempt it. Ultimately, you would possibly even begin to unfold your proverbial wings and start making them slightly additional out.”

“I hope you select me, Lord of Time. I hear my future self fairly enjoys your organization,” Al mentioned as he disappeared again into the mist.

The Third Mentor – The Lithuanian King

As younger Al Horford pale away, a purple floating palanquin with 4 purple beams capturing straight up into the sky slowly got here into Rob’s view from the mist. Because the palanquin settled and lowered itself, a big, burly man with a crown and scepter climbed off it and began to face. Rob may see his blonde hair barely poking out of the again of the crown that rested comfortably on his head. His brownish, reddish, blondish beard dominated his options. As soon as totally on his ft, he spoke. “Domo says arigato, Mr. Rob-ato.”

“Huh? Doesn’t arigato imply ‘thanks?’” Rob replied.

“I wasn’t conscious of that. Nonetheless, I’m positive you understand who I’m, however in case you don’t, permit myself to introduce myself. Austin Energy reference, did you get it?”

“I’ve by no means seen it.”

“Oh dude, severely? You’ve bought to. Anyway, the place was I?” the King rediscovered his formality and carried on. “Aww proper, as you’ve in all probability observed, I’m Lithuania, clearly, however you’re in all probability unaware that I’m additionally a King.”

“You’re the King of Lithuania?” Rob requested.

“Not fairly, I’m Lithuania and a King, however I presently reign in Sacramento,” the King mentioned with an air of condescension.

“Received it, so what are you going to show me?”

“I possess a set of expertise that’s been handed down in my household for generations.”

“A set of expertise, like in Taken?” Rob interrupted.

“I’ve by no means seen it,” the King sheepishly replied.

“Oh dude, severely? You’ve bought to.”

Workers Picture By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald

“As I used to be saying, I possess a set of expertise that’s been handed down for generations. I can educate you the post-up recreation. I’ll admit that you simply’ve proven a twinkle of capability on this side of the sport, however you’re not practically as developed as you need to be given how absurdly athletic you’re. You don’t even must have tons of strikes like I do, however you do want to have the ability to punish smaller defenders. You don’t even qualify on the NBA’s play kind monitoring for put up ups! Have a look at this easy transfer I exploit right here, you’ll be able to positively be taught issues like this and create comparatively environment friendly offense all by your self.”

“Like I mentioned, you’ve punished small defenders within the put up prior to now, however it’s few and much between, and I wouldn’t name it suave.”

“Think about what you are able to do if each time you get a guard switched on to you. You could possibly persistently punish it. And if they carry assist, you can begin selecting out shooters and cutters along with your passing and imaginative and prescient. It might fully remodel your recreation and assist buoy the offense once you aren’t enjoying with Tatum. To not point out you’ll be able to leverage your capability within the handoff recreation to get to advantageous positions on the court docket, like I do on this play.”

“That is what I can give you Robert.”

After The King had completed speaking, it was Stern who spoke first. “So, Lord of Time, which mentor shall you select?”

Author’s observe: give me Bam’s deal with.