Al Horford Starting at Center Instead of Aron Baynes

[kololoco]

Horford at the 4 was always a stupid idea.

Am I being too optimistic if I think that there is a big chance that by February the starting line up will be Kyrie, Brown, Hayward, Tatum and Horford? Morris is solid, but you know his limits. Tatum and Hayward could fill in the 4 and run the other team out of the building. You lose some rebounds and streangth but sans the Warriors no one has so much fire power in one unit. And Brown-Hayward-Tatum are all long and solid athletes, I don't think that even the defence would be the worst.

[CelticsLV]

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

[chakdaddy]

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

I've been dismissing the idea of Baynes starting out of hand assuming that only he and Horford can play 5 and one needs to be on the court most of the time. Therefore if Baynes must play when Horford is on the bench...playing them simultaneously adds up to an awful lot of minutes for Baynes. Unless Theis or Morris get spot 5 duty.

[chakdaddy]

Can someone direct me to where Al Horford has complained about playing Center for the Celtics? I know he mentioned something about it before free agency, how he'd like to play PF more l, but I feel like he gets a lot of heat for a single comment.

He's a professional, anyway. He'll do whatever is asked of him.

Pretty sure he only mentioned wanting to play PF in his early days with the Hawks and that his opinions have changed.

[CelticsLV]

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

I've been dismissing the idea of Baynes starting out of hand assuming that only he and Horford can play 5 and one needs to be on the court most of the time. Therefore if Baynes must play when Horford is on the bench...playing them simultaneously adds up to an awful lot of minutes for Baynes. Unless Theis or Morris get spot 5 duty.

I fully expect someone like Ojeleye, Morris, Yabusele or Theis to play spot minutes at C. Ojeleye was bodying up Zubac during SL like a boss.

[Edug27]

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

I've been dismissing the idea of Baynes starting out of hand assuming that only he and Horford can play 5 and one needs to be on the court most of the time. Therefore if Baynes must play when Horford is on the bench...playing them simultaneously adds up to an awful lot of minutes for Baynes. Unless Theis or Morris get spot 5 duty.

I fully expect someone like Ojeleye, Morris, Yabusele or Theis to play spot minutes at C. Ojeleye was bodying up Zubac during SL like a boss.

Ojeleye is all of 6'6. Let's hope he's not out there playing Center in an NBA game.

[Gant]

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

I've been dismissing the idea of Baynes starting out of hand assuming that only he and Horford can play 5 and one needs to be on the court most of the time. Therefore if Baynes must play when Horford is on the bench...playing them simultaneously adds up to an awful lot of minutes for Baynes. Unless Theis or Morris get spot 5 duty.

I fully expect someone like Ojeleye, Morris, Yabusele or Theis to play spot minutes at C. Ojeleye was bodying up Zubac during SL like a boss.

I think they'll try it, but the results might be ugly. We'll see. If these guys can drain the 3 with regularity it could work for short minutes. It still would have been nice to keep Zizic just to have a true big man to plug in when needed.

There should be another move, probably minor, to address this though.

[VeryMuchWoke]

Markieff plays the small-ball 5 in Washington. I don't see why we wouldn't be using Marcus at the 5, despite the fact that he is 1" shorter, and his game is more perimeter oriented.

[FlatearthZorro]

Markieff plays the small-ball 5 in Washington. I don't see why we wouldn't be using Marcus at the 5, despite the fact that he is 1" shorter, and his game is more perimeter oriented.

Not so fast. He'll get at least 10 games suspension the way it's going so far. We gonna have to look towards guys like Theis and even Tatum to play big time minutes till he returns which somewhat excites me. Theis will probably get minutes at the 5.

[Fencer reregistered]

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

Pedigree? We traded an excellent starter for him; his twin brother starts; he was taken in a draft slot suitable for starters. Stuff like that?

[UHar_Vinnie]

Well, Duh?

Where does RealGM get headlines like this? must have been a very slow news day.

Well, stated another way, "Hortford will not be starting at PF" or "The Celtics will be starting someone other than Hortford at the 4."

[UHar_Vinnie]

I've been dismissing the idea of Baynes starting out of hand assuming that only he and Horford can play 5 and one needs to be on the court most of the time. Therefore if Baynes must play when Horford is on the bench...playing them simultaneously adds up to an awful lot of minutes for Baynes. Unless Theis or Morris get spot 5 duty.

I fully expect someone like Ojeleye, Morris, Yabusele or Theis to play spot minutes at C. Ojeleye was bodying up Zubac during SL like a boss.

Ojeleye is all of 6'6. Let's hope he's not out there playing Center in an NBA game.

It's either him or Smart . . . .

Hey, grandpa told me that Bill Russell was only 6'7" barefooted, and 6'9" in the pumps.

[Parliament10]

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

Yeah. Agreed.
We're not starting Morris. Not with Baynes on the Bench.

I've been dismissing the idea of Baynes starting out of hand assuming that only he and Horford can play 5 and one needs to be on the court most of the time. Therefore if Baynes must play when Horford is on the bench...playing them simultaneously adds up to an awful lot of minutes for Baynes. Unless Theis or Morris get spot 5 duty.

I think that Theis, is going to be our 2nd Unit Center.

I fully expect someone like Ojeleye, Morris, Yabusele or Theis to play spot minutes at C. Ojeleye was bodying up Zubac during SL like a boss.

All these guys will get a Crack at it. But, again, Theis seems like the best 2nd Unit Center option, for now.

I think they'll try it, but the results might be ugly. We'll see. If these guys can drain the 3 with regularity it could work for short minutes. It still would have been nice to keep Zizic just to have a true big man to plug in when needed.

There should be another move, probably minor, to address this though.

Yeah. We definitely are gonna miss Žižić.

We need another Bigman now.
IDK what's going on with TRob.

[Edug27]

I fully expect someone like Ojeleye, Morris, Yabusele or Theis to play spot minutes at C. Ojeleye was bodying up Zubac during SL like a boss.

Ojeleye is all of 6'6. Let's hope he's not out there playing Center in an NBA game.

It's either him or Smart . . . .

Hey, grandpa told me that Bill Russell was only 6'7" barefooted, and 6'9" in the pumps.

Bill Russell isn't Bill Russell in today's league.

[BfB]

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

Amir was able to shoot the three with enough success to at least punish teams who completely ignored him. I think it's possible that Baynes gets the early nod to "save" Horford from "centers", but I wouldn't bet the farm on it just because it happened last year.

The best potential title contending lineup BOS currently has on its roster is Horford/Brown/Tatum/Hayward/Irving - I think it's more likely Brad works toward that than anything else.

I do think Tatum will have to show a lot to get the starting nod, but if he isn't a total knob out the gates, Morris/Smart make a ton of sense as the focal points of the 2nd unit.

I said this in a previous thread, with only 6 "veteran" players, I think Brad will try to bring a couple of them off the bench to try and limit the need to run Horford/Hayward/Irving's minutes up as the "only guys" that can keep the offense going.

Baynes/Morris/Smart make for a nice, solid veteran trio to bring off the bench if Brown/Tatum aren't worthless defensively in TC. Brown/Tatum are going to be more effective offensively playing as 4th/5th options in the starting lineup than the are likely to be as focal points off the bench.

Conversely, Morris/Smart can do a lot more offensively as focal points off the bench than they will as 4th/5th options as starters.

In either scenario, I don't see Brad sacrificing skill for size, if he can get away with it. There is SO much offensive talent, I think he'll bet on that first and fall back on maximizing defense/rebounding lineups at the expense of balance thereafter.

But again...there is so much we don't know


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[Fidel Sarcasmo]

I've been dismissing the idea of Baynes starting out of hand assuming that only he and Horford can play 5 and one needs to be on the court most of the time. Therefore if Baynes must play when Horford is on the bench...playing them simultaneously adds up to an awful lot of minutes for Baynes. Unless Theis or Morris get spot 5 duty.

I fully expect someone like Ojeleye, Morris, Yabusele or Theis to play spot minutes at C. Ojeleye was bodying up Zubac during SL like a boss.

Ojeleye is all of 6'6. Let's hope he's not out there playing Center in an NBA game.

If Semi is 6'6" than Tatum is 6'6" cause those two side by side in several pics are the same height.

[London2Boston]

I know what the report means, but the wording still makes me laugh. The latest breaking news is that Supposedly we plan on starting Kyrie Irving at Point Guard over Shane Larkin.

[Avalanche]

I still think Kyrie/Brown/Hayward/Morris/Horford is the way to go

The switch-a-bility at the 2-3-4 will be awesome, spaces the floor, mostly good size but still weak on the boards

Jaylen becomes 3 and D with the starters and can increase his role when line-ups stagger

Smart and Tatum become the main 1-2 punch off the bench with Baynes coming in to anchor the second unit D

[djFan71]

Man, I usually agree with you Parl, but I think I disagree down the line here.

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

Yeah. Agreed.
We're not starting Morris. Not with Baynes on the Bench.

Maybe the save Al start of Baynes, but I'm with BfB on the skill lineup. Even if the Jays don't get the nods, I think it's some combo of 2 of the 4 Jays & Marcuses.

I've been dismissing the idea of Baynes starting out of hand assuming that only he and Horford can play 5 and one needs to be on the court most of the time. Therefore if Baynes must play when Horford is on the bench...playing them simultaneously adds up to an awful lot of minutes for Baynes. Unless Theis or Morris get spot 5 duty.

I think that Theis, is going to be our 2nd Unit Center.

I fully expect someone like Ojeleye, Morris, Yabusele or Theis to play spot minutes at C. Ojeleye was bodying up Zubac during SL like a boss.

All these guys will get a Crack at it. But, again, Theis seems like the best 2nd Unit Center option, for now.

Semi-automatic that Ojeleye is out there more than Theis, esp. if you have Baynes in the 2nd unit above. Brad drooled over him. But, at the same time, Theis is a great unknown, so who knows?

I think they'll try it, but the results might be ugly. We'll see. If these guys can drain the 3 with regularity it could work for short minutes. It still would have been nice to keep Zizic just to have a true big man to plug in when needed.

There should be another move, probably minor, to address this though.

Yeah. We definitely are gonna miss Žižić.

I think including Zizic in the trade tells you how little Danny\Brad are concerned about traditional bigs.

We need another Bigman now.
IDK what's going on with TRob.

OK, this I agree with, even given the above. If things stay as they are, the last spot on a big makes sense to me. I wouldn't be surprised to see it left open for a while, though. Roster\trade flexibility. No real need for one unless Al gets hurt.

[CelticsLV]

Nah, we will use Baynes just like Amir and he will start at C while Horford at PF. When opposing centers are fresh at the start of the game you need someone else fight with them and save Horford for death lineups. We won 54 games last season while starting Horford at PF so i don't see any reason to suddenly start small. Something could be switched during playoffs like Brad did against Bulls when starting big didn't work out for us well and he entered Green as our starting PF while switched Horford to C. Warriors never start with Dray at C either. They start with Pachulia and will use Dray as C when needed.

I don't understand where people get this idea that we will start Morris.

Amir was able to shoot the three with enough success to at least punish teams who completely ignored him. I think it's possible that Baynes gets the early nod to "save" Horford from "centers", but I wouldn't bet the farm on it just because it happened last year.

The best potential title contending lineup BOS currently has on its roster is Horford/Brown/Tatum/Hayward/Irving - I think it's more likely Brad works toward that than anything else.

I do think Tatum will have to show a lot to get the starting nod, but if he isn't a total knob out the gates, Morris/Smart make a ton of sense as the focal points of the 2nd unit.

I said this in a previous thread, with only 6 "veteran" players, I think Brad will try to bring a couple of them off the bench to try and limit the need to run Horford/Hayward/Irving's minutes up as the "only guys" that can keep the offense going.

Baynes/Morris/Smart make for a nice, solid veteran trio to bring off the bench if Brown/Tatum aren't worthless defensively in TC. Brown/Tatum are going to be more effective offensively playing as 4th/5th options in the starting lineup than the are likely to be as focal points off the bench.

Conversely, Morris/Smart can do a lot more offensively as focal points off the bench than they will as 4th/5th options as starters.

In either scenario, I don't see Brad sacrificing skill for size, if he can get away with it. There is SO much offensive talent, I think he'll bet on that first and fall back on maximizing defense/rebounding lineups at the expense of balance thereafter.

But again...there is so much we don't know


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

What does skill has to do with the starting line up? Olynyk was way more skilled than Amir and was considered a good positional, team defender. Why didn't we start Olynyk and Horford then? You know why? Because to take pressure off Horford and letting Amir do the dirty work against opposing centers while Olynyk came off the bench to provide the spark on offense. Our bench was severly lacking offense.

If you put Morris as your starter then our bench is left with unproven and incapable scorers. Smart/Rozier/Tatum/????/Baynes and Horford has to spend a ton of energy battling centers.

Morris was actually filling in as a shot creator for Detroit. He wasn't very efficient just like Turner but the very fact that he can create his own shot is very valuable. When you trot out those all bench lineups and they can't get anything on offense, having a guy like Morris is very useful. How many times this board was melting down when bench couldn't get it done and the number one complaint was that we didn't have a capable shot creator off the bench.

I agree that our best lineup would be Morris/Horford at PF/C but you don't always put out your best lineups to start the game.