An NBA Finals Autopsy: How Injuries Impacted Celtics Stars Jayson Tatum, Robert Williams III

The Warriors hoisted their fourth Larry O'Brien trophy in eight seasons on Thursday night to put a period on what has been a somewhat torrid NBA season. 

Following behind the truncated and rushed 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons this year saw contending and pre-season favorites Lakers, Nets, Bulls, and Bucks, among others, to falter because of significant injuries. 

Despite pushing their way to the Finals, the runner-up Celtics dealt with injuries to three of their starters throughout their playoff run. 

We will likely find out the extent of the injuries suffered by Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams III in the coming days and weeks, according to the ProBasketballDocs, and we have already begun to hear the severity of Williams' lingering left knee soreness from Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. 

There is no question, however, that Tatum's shoulder slowed him down, and the numbers back it up: After going down with a right shoulder stinger in Game 3 of the East Finals, Tatum averaged 23.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 40.7% from the field. 

The most common Tatum point total set in the playoffs was 28.5 and in the 10 games after the shoulder injury, Tatum went over only twice and was under 28.5 in all six Finals games. In the three games that he scored 28-or-more points during that stretch, Tatum scored 18, 24, and 21 in the first half, respectively. 

For reference, the 24-year-old went over 28.5 in three of his four contests with the Nets and averaged 28.2 points on 45% shooting in the first 13 playoff games. 

Williams, meanwhile, will certainly benefit from the offseason as he has struggled through the postseason while dealing with the after-effects of his March meniscus surgery.

After returning in only three weeks, Williams III reportedly had to have his left knee drained multiple times and undergo what he called “boring and repetitive” treatment in between games while dealing with soreness that would pop up suddenly. 

The 24-year-old was held to a minutes restriction in the first few rounds of the playoffs but was unleashed in the Finals: in games 3-6, Williams III averaged 8.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.0 steals in 30.1 minutes while posting a net plus-37. 

He also played the series without draining his knee, Williams III said, because there was “no point," as it would just fill up with fluid again. 

While he will contend with wear-and-tear arthritis throughout his career, Williams III should be as close to full health as he has ever been when the 2022-23 season begins. 

Marcus Smart, meanwhile, missed games with a quad contusion, foot sprain, and ankle sprain, but appeared to suffer no ill-effects when he was on the floor. Those injuries are somewhat a function of the style of play that won him the 2022 DPOY.