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[tweet]https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/640184119033397248[/tweet]

http://www.celticslife.com/2015/09/how-many-different-players-might-start.html

By my count, there are 10 names who have a legitimate chance to be in Brad Steven's starting lineup when the Celtics tip off the season in Philadelphia on October 28. Here they are in reverse order of size (roughly), as well as the abbreviated case for each:

Isaiah Thomas - Probably the best player on the team.

Marcus Smart - C's best defender, currently considered to be the future of the franchise.

Avery Bradley - The longest-tenured Celtic and a starter three years running.

Evan Turner - Mr. Triple-Double was likely the club's MVP last year.

Jae Crowder - The glue guy, a hard-working hustle player you always want on the floor.

Jared Sullinger - Highest ceiling of all the bigs with the most talent on offense.

David Lee - Only one on the roster ever to play in an All-Star Game.

Amir Johnson - Boston's "major" free-agent signing, best big overall.

Kelly Olynyk - Seven-footer who can shoot, stretch the defense.

Tyler Zeller - Nobody else is really a center, only guy who can guard opposing centers.

It'll be no easy task for Stevens to cut this list in half...

I agree with the Tweet, our best line-up is:

IT - Smart - Crowder - Amir - Zeller

With Bradley first off the bench.

The only reason to have Turner start, is to help Smart with the ball handling.
Definitely by the Break, the team should be without Turner.
Smart - It - Rozier, need to be able to handle it.

I'd say Smart - Bradley - Turner - Amir - Zeller probably.

Smart/Bradley/Turner/Sullinger/Zeller to start the season, with Amir replacing Sullinger if conditioning is still an issue.

My preference is IT, Smart, Jae, Sully and Amir. However, I could get down with the tweet as well.

IT
2016 Brooklyn 1rst round pick
2016 Dallas first Round pick
2017 Brooklyn swap pick option
2018 Brooklyn 1rst round pick


Would be my choices.

Mad excited to attend opening night!

My problem is that there's a difference between our "best" lineup and what we should probably do.

celticfan42487 wrote:IT
2016 Brooklyn 1rst round pick
2016 Dallas first Round pick
2017 Brooklyn swap pick option
2018 Brooklyn 1rst round pick


Would be my choices.

If that's the 2015/2016 line-up might want to bump Dallas to 6th man for the 2016 Boston first rounder.

If we could somehow move Bradley and/or Turner to the bench, that would be great. My preference for starting bigs would be any combination of Healthy, Slim Sully/Amir/Zeller.

Best starting lineup?
PG: Thomas
SG: Smart
SF: Crowder
PF: Sullinger
C: Johnson

It's small ball with Amir at C, but I think his defense is almost on par with Zeller when it comes to defending centers, but is a better overall player. I think it gives the best mix of offense and defense.

That's the lineup I think would be the best on the court, but I think for the long term benefit of the franchise I'd go with:
PG: Smart
SG: Bradley
SF: Turner
PF: Sullinger
C: Zeller

I don't want Thomas coming out as a starter when I see him as our future 6th man. I don't think it's a good precedent to set and I think it'd be hard to take that role away from him if he does well, even if it's the best thing for the team. Additionally Smart would really benefit from competing with the starters and getting extra minutes to work on him being a PG. He can always switch to SG because he has that combo guard body and defensive skillset, but he needs minutes at PG if there is any chance of developing him as such.

As such Bradley is obviously the next choice for SG and I think it'd be good for his development, but also to showcase him in case of trade as I think with his contract he could be solid bait. Turner mans SF partly because Smart needs the help, but also because I feel the same way about Crowder as I do about Thomas and I think he should be that glue/hustle guy off the bench. This is Sully's last chance, he's got the biggest upside of the bigs, we need to put him out there. And Zeller just makes sense at C.

This lineup could actually work out better than the one I mentioned above because I think the 2nd unit we'd trot out would be stellar: Thomas-Young or Hunter- Crowder- Lee or Olynyk- Johnson. That should beat most any team's.

How about to end games?

PG Thomas
SG Smart
SF Turner
PF Lee
C Johnson

One complication this roster deals with is loyalty and developmemt. Any team with the intention of winnings soley would have these guys in.

Also stating Johnson is your best big on the roster is a stretch considering the Raptors didn't want him and played Patterson and J Johnsom over him in the 4th.

People wanna start Smart but Thomas is a much better player.

It's a real wash to say Crowder who isn't a very refined player is better then Turner.

Sullinger homerism to suggest a guy who averaged like 12-13 points in the last few years has a better offense then Lee a 2x all-star putting up 20.

I would really like to see Thomas/Smart/Crowder/Amir/Sully

With the forwards' limited playmaking, Thomas and Smart will both get their fair share of running the show, it's potent on both ends of the floor, efficient, versatile and probably our best overall 5

I expect to see Smart/Bradley/Turner/Amir/?

Thomas/Smart/Crowder/Amir/Sully

It's a bad place to be in - with no guys good enough to command the starting spots - and our best player seemingly a guy best for the bench.. ainge needs to do some quantity for quality deals if possible..

I could easily see..

Smart/Bradley/Turner/Johnson/Lee as starters.. Not saying this is a better lineup (its not without Thomas) just saying that Stevens is in bit of a pickle here..

I wonder internally how the Cs feel about Bradley/Turner/Lee/KO/Sullinger.. My guess is all of these guys are on the block and not seen as part of the future..despite the relative youth (outside of Lee).

IT, Smart, Crowder, Sully, Amir. That's a talented lineup with a nice mix of offense and defense, and most importantly I think they would fit very well together.

Turner needs to be glued to the bench more often than he plays this season if we actually want to improve.

With Sullinger on the outs, being out-of-shape. I wonder what people think now, as to the Starting Lineup?

I didn't pick Sully in the first place. But, he's definitely NOT in the Starting Lineup, as of now.
In fact, with PJ3 and Turner, both showing a good deal of value, I'd be inclined to trading Sullinger now, or waiving, iff necessary.

I did want IT to Start, but it seems far better, that he be our 6th-man.
I didn't hear too much, from the Scrimmage, if Smart can take the PG duties alone. If he can, then that reduces the need for Turner.
This is probably our best Defensive lineup, and will most likely Start.

Smart / Thomas / Rozier
Bradley / Young / Hunter
Crowder / Turner / Mickey
Amir --- / Lee --- / PJ3
Zeller / Olynyk / Jerebko / (Sullinger)

Just bought my ticket!!!

jmr07019 wrote:Just bought my ticket!!!

Down to get a beer at halftime?

^ ya let's do it

PG: Smart
SG: AB
SF: Turner
PF: KO
C: Amir

Thomas
Smart
Crowder
Jerebko
Johnson