The stat is incredible: Lou Williams will have waited until he was 36 to start a playoff match! It was not planned and he explained it to ESPN’s microphone, just after the meeting: “I only learned about it an hour before the game. We were told that Trae was dead, and my energy had to be focused on another role. I know it’s a cliché but when one player can’t play, another has to take over. “
This role was indeed very different. From a free electron out of the bench, Lou Williams has passed to that of playmaker. A real playmaker, the one who runs the shop.
Huge pressure when Trae Young was therefore absent, and it was necessary to equalize in the series. And he was perfect in this role: 21 points, 8 assists and only one stray bullet! The whole to 7 on 9 with the shots. It was not known that Lou Williams could be so sober in the game.
“Everyone did a little more than usual”
These are all the Hawks who have raised their level like Bogdan Bogdanovic, or young Onyeka Okongwu and Cam Reddish. “Everyone played with confidence, everyone played at a high level” underlines Lou Williams. “We’re going to go back to Milwaukee with this in stock, and we’ll have to keep that with us. “
Game wise, Lou Williams basically played pick-and-roll with Clint Capela. It is obviously not the same style as Trae Young who hits 3-pointers from very far or with “floaters”, but his teammates seemed comfortable with the way he played. We also saw Kevin Huerter lead the game, with Lou Williams who could regain his game without the ball. The Hawks managed the absence of Trae Young perfectly, and this well before the sad and (possible) serious injury of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“We all have confidence in our qualities, and tonight, it was one of those matches where everyone played well, and everyone did a little more than usual. Starting with me trying to fill the void left by Trae’s absence. “
“Did you see what he can do?” Was he thinking of retiring? But he can still play! “
What to fill his coach who had therefore tried a bet tonight. “Lou did a great job leading the attack and setting the tempo” concludes Nate McMillan. “We got the ball around really well, and we did everything we talked about. We needed it, and it started with our backs. When Lou came here, I told him he would take over the role of Rondo, that of a mentor for Trae. (…) Lou is an experienced full-back. He really understood what we needed. He saw the moment ahead of him, and he did a good job as a leader. “
What Bogdan Bogdanovic confirms: “When we saw that we had Lou in the starting five, we were super confident! Did you see what he can do? Was he thinking of retiring? But he can still play! “
| Lou Williams | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2005-06 | PHL | 30 | 5 | 44.2 | 22.2 | 61.5 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| 2006-07 | PHL | 61 | 11 | 44.1 | 32.4 | 69.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 4.3 |
| 2007-08 | PHL | 80 | 23 | 42.4 | 35.9 | 78.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 11.5 |
| 2008-09 | PHL | 81 | 24 | 39.8 | 28.6 | 79.0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 12.8 |
| 2009-10 | PHL | 64 | 30 | 47.0 | 34.0 | 82.4 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 14.0 |
| 2010-11 | PHL | 75 | 23 | 40.6 | 34.8 | 82.3 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 13.7 |
| 2011-12 | PHL | 64 | 26 | 40.7 | 36.2 | 81.2 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 14.9 |
| 2012-13 | ATL | 39 | 29 | 42.2 | 36.7 | 86.8 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 14.1 |
| 2013-14 | ATL | 60 | 24 | 40.0 | 34.2 | 84.9 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 10.4 |
| 2014-15 | TOR | 80 | 25 | 40.4 | 34.0 | 86.1 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 15.5 |
| 2015-16 | LAL | 67 | 29 | 40.8 | 34.4 | 83.0 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| 2016-17 * | All Teams | 81 | 25 | 42.9 | 36.5 | 88.0 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 17.5 |
| 2016-17 * | LAL | 58 | 24 | 44.4 | 38.5 | 88.4 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 18.6 |
| 2016-17 * | HOU | 23 | 26 | 38.6 | 31.8 | 86.7 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 14.9 |
| 2017-18 | LAC | 79 | 33 | 43.5 | 35.9 | 88.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 22.6 |
| 2018-19 | LAC | 75 | 27 | 42.5 | 36.1 | 87.6 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 20.0 |
| 2019-20 | LAC | 65 | 29 | 41.8 | 35.2 | 86.1 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 18.2 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 66 | 22 | 41.0 | 39.9 | 86.7 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 11.4 |
| 2020-21 * | LAC | 42 | 22 | 42.1 | 37.8 | 86.6 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 12.1 |
| 2020-21 * | ATL | 24 | 21 | 38.9 | 44.4 | 87.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 10.0 |
| Total | 1067 | 25 | 42.0 | 35.1 | 84.1 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 14.3 | |
