Patrick Williams Returns Just in Time for Another Celtics Beatdown

Patrick Williams has officially declared himself available to play Friday after dealing with an adductor injury. The Chicago Bulls forward is back in the lineup, which is great news for a team that currently defends like a turnstile at a subway station.

Williams returning is the kind of update that sounds massive until you look at the actual math. The former number four overall pick averaged a flat 10.0 points and 3.9 rebounds last season, which is less franchise cornerstone and more guy who does cardio in the corner.

"Patrick Williams (adductor) said he'll be available to play Friday."

Still, Chicago desperately needs warm bodies who can theoretically play defense. The Bulls just gave up 133 points to the New York Knicks on Thursday and got absolutely nuked by the Boston Celtics 134-99 earlier this week.

That 35-point beatdown against Boston is exactly who they play again on Friday night. Throwing a guy fresh off a groin issue into a road matchup against a Celtics team that just embarrassed them feels like a cruel social experiment.

You also have to factor in the sheer volume of the Patrick Williams injury log. A quick glance at his medical history shows everything from wrist surgeries to foot problems to ankle sprains. Trusting his body to hold up for a full season is like trusting a gas station sushi roll.

For the sickos looking at the prop market, his return completely scrambles the rotation minutes for guys like Julian Phillips, who had been soaking up second-half starts. But betting on Williams to hit an over in his first game back against a buzzsaw Boston squad requires a level of bravery usually reserved for bomb squad technicians.

We will see how many minutes head coach Billy Donovan actually lets him play. If the Celtics jump out to another massive lead by halftime, expect Williams to get a very comfortable seat on the bench to ice that adductor.