Guess the starting 5

[Gant]

If there are no more changes to the opening roster, who will start? Joe Mazzulla is routinely hard to forecast on this subject.

Everyone agrees Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are locked in. Neemias Queta is almost definite at center.

That leaves two more spots with two viable candidates each. Payton Pritchard or Anfernee Simons at not-point guard. Chris Boucher or Sam Hauser at "power" forward. Two new guys, two returnees. Both choices look 50/50ish.

[brackdan70]

Pritchard and Boucher seems the likely outcome.
I’d kind of like to go Pritchard and Minott though with Simons, Hauser, Boucher off the bench crew.
Deeper bench of Gonzales, Scheierman, Walsh, Garza, Tillman if healthy.

[Hal14]

I don't think Boucher starts. Dude is 32 yrs old, getting older..only averaged 17 MPG last season, only 14 MPG the year before that.

He might start some games in a pinch but I doubt he is in our preferred starting lineup.

He was a minimum contract signing..we signed him *after* we signed Minott and Garza.

Boucher is on a minimum contract at age 32, Hauser is in his prime, making like $11 mil a year.

Hauser is in his 5th year with the team.

Hauser starts, Boucher off the bench.

I think some folks are getting confused about what the PF position is in 2025. Some teams run double big lineups but only if that is clearly, without any doubt their best possible players at the 4/5 spots. Like Gobert and Towns. That's 2 star players, so you have to start them both. Same with Mobley and Allen. Rob and Al were clearly 2 of our best players so they had to start.

Most of the time, it doesn't make sense though to start double bigs. Because then your team isn't as fast, you're probably lacking in shooting, ball handling, perimeter defense, etc.

Sabonis and Turner in a double big lineup didn't work. Neither did any combination of Theis/Time Lord/Tristan Thompson. Neither did Horford/Embiid, etc. Towns/Robinson has been meh..

That's why in recent years we've seen guys like Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Keegan Murray, OG Anunoby, Kawhi Leonard, Josh Hart, Cam Johnson, Jayson Tatum, Dorian Finney-Smith play the 4. Marcus Morris, Jalen Williams, Cam Johnson, etc.

Before IND acquired Siakam, Nesmith was starting for them at the 4.

In today's NBA it's fine to play someone like Jaylen Brown or Hauser at the 4.

The 4 is not what it used to be. Guys who played PF in previous eras like Malone, C-webb, Amare, Duncan, KG, Dirk, Zach Randolph, Elton Brand, Boozer, etc. would be 5's in today's era. Or they'd be in a double big lineup..but again, double big lineups are pretty rare - there's only like 4 or 5 teams in the league at any given time who play them a significant amount of the time. And those are typically teams who start double bigs simply because both bigs are *clearly* 2 of their team's best players. But most teams don't have roster construction like that - including the Celtics right now.. right now, Queta and Boucher are roughly our 7th/8th best players. Doesn't make sense to start them both imo.

[Celts17Pride]

I think it will be Pritchard and Boucher. You never know with Joe Mazzulla. I don't see Hauser starting. A lineup of PP/White/Brown/Hauser/Queta would be so weak in the front court and the rebounding would be horrendous. Like I said, with Joe Mazzulla who knows?

[31to6]

put me down for Pritchard and Boucher, and for calling SG 'shooting guard'

But I also think that the lineup might not be particularly stable this season -- can imagine a lot of trial and error aka tinkering aka people flipping out about the HC because Tatum's hurt and we let four other rotation players go

If I were coaching, I'd say whoever earns it in camp earns it. I predict that's Pritchard, Boucher, and Queta, but who's to say it's not Simons, Hauser, or Garza? Then by halftime of the first game I might change my mind and that's fine -- it's all about development and maybe by the end of the season Max Shulga is our starting PG and dogs and cats are living together

[threrf23]

I'd go Hauser over Boucher.

Hauser is our on/off star. He pairs well with either Jay (in this case, Jaylen). He contributes w/o requiring usage and is the type of guy you want in the starting lineup to play off of your other first stringers.

Boucher doesn't add much on the boards, relative to Hauser. Actually he does, but not that much esp considering that Hauser should be hitting his prime and may prioritize rebounding more in a starting PF role. And, relative to foul efficiency, Boucher doesn't add much, if anything, in terms of stocks (per 36, Hauser has 0.65 blocks/steals per foul over the past two seasons, versus 0.62 for Boucher, who albeit is a better shot blocker). It's not clear that he is a better defensive presence.

In addition to backup/situational PF minutes, Boucher can be in the running for starting center, he gives us an energetic lob catcher that can sort of play the old Timelord role (and hit some shots in addition).

[darrendaye]

I'd go Hauser over Boucher.

Hauser is our on/off star. He pairs well with either Jay (in this case, Jaylen). He contributes w/o requiring usage and is the type of guy you want in the starting lineup to play off of your other first stringers.

Boucher doesn't add much on the boards, relative to Hauser. Actually he does, but not that much esp considering that Hauser should be hitting his prime and may prioritize rebounding more in a starting PF role. And, relative to foul efficiency, Boucher doesn't add much, if anything, in terms of stocks (per 36, Hauser has 0.65 blocks/steals per foul over the past two seasons, versus 0.62 for Boucher, who albeit is a better shot blocker). It's not clear that he is a better defensive presence.

In addition to backup/situational PF minutes, Boucher can be in the running for starting center, he gives us an energetic lob catcher that can sort of play the old Timelord role (and hit some shots in addition).

I'll throw a slight wrinkle just to test where you're at. Would you rather play Hauser at PF or Brown, not factoring wear and tear, just who defensively do you project would hold up better?

[threrf23]

I'll throw a slight wrinkle just to test where you're at. Would you rather play Hauser at PF or Brown, not factoring wear and tear, just who defensively do you project would hold up better?

Assignments can differ from game to game I guess? I think Hauser fits better at PF because it requires less quickness, but factoring wear and tear, some matchups might be a bit much for him.

I really just think that Hauser should be starting alongside Jaylen. I wouldn't necessarily even mind starting Jaylen at the big guard and letting Pritch/Simons play a two headed 6MOY.

On that subject...IMO Simons is perennial 6MOY material. Let him feast on opposing reserves.

Pritchard of course is also 6MOY material, considering he won the award last year. But he's not the all around offensive talent that Simons is and while (not) familiar enough with Simons to sign off on criticisms and say he is not too multifaceted, I know that we can count on Pritch to provide the type of leadership and hustle and all around game that goes well in the starting lineup.

[djFan71]

I think you go Pritchard. But, 4 is just a hole no matter how you slice it - we don't have a true one beyond Boucher. And I agree with others that you don't suddenly jump him to starting/heavy min. But... maybe you do, lol. I guess I go with Minott, Walsh or X - whoever shows best in camp.

Pritchard / Simons
White / Baylor*
Brown / Hauser
Minott* / Boucher
Queta / Garza

Baylor* is one of he, Hugo, Walsh
Minott* is he or Walsh, maybe X.

I kinda like Simons and Baylor together to have complementary play-making as neither is primary. But both can do some things. Hauser, Boucher and Garza give them tons of spacing. Just hope everyone hits enough shots that the other end don't matter, lol.

Brown and backup (s)wings with Hauser/Baylor/Minott/Walsh/Hugo are all fairly interchangeable positionally (not role) and you'll probably see lineups with more than 2 of them out there plenty of times.

[Gant]

Hauser got 5.2 rebounds per 36 minutes last year, slightly more than Pritchard. Boucher's rebounds per 36 were 9.4 last season.

[return2glory]

F: Hauser
F: Brown
C: Queta
G: White
G: Pritchard

Simons and Boucher as our 6th and 7th men.

Two of the following 6 players have to play better than expected for Boston to have a good season:
Garza, Baylor, Hugo, Minott, Tillman and Walsh. If 3 of these 6 guys have strong seasons, Boston is going to be fun to watch.

I feel like Queta and Pritchard are going to surprise people around the league.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

Celtics will roll out the How The Mighty Have Fallen starting unit of PP - White - Brown - Hauser - Queta... Straight to 37 Beautiful Wins.

[darrendaye]

I'll throw a slight wrinkle just to test where you're at. Would you rather play Hauser at PF or Brown, not factoring wear and tear, just who defensively do you project would hold up better?

Assignments can differ from game to game I guess? I think Hauser fits better at PF because it requires less quickness, but factoring wear and tear, some matchups might be a bit much for him.

I really just think that Hauser should be starting alongside Jaylen. I wouldn't necessarily even mind starting Jaylen at the big guard and letting Pritch/Simons play a two headed 6MOY.

On that subject...IMO Simons is perennial 6MOY material. Let him feast on opposing reserves.

Pritchard of course is also 6MOY material, considering he won the award last year. But he's not the all around offensive talent that Simons is and while (not) familiar enough with Simons to sign off on criticisms and say he is not too multifaceted, I know that we can count on Pritch to provide the type of leadership and hustle and all around game that goes well in the starting lineup.

The reasons I prefer Pritchard over Simons include some pro-Simons viewpoints as well. Mainly, I'd want Simons on the court for every non-Brown minute and also I want to tilt the ball-handing more in his favor for as many minutes as possible, some Pritchard avoidance too. But pro-Prichard is the chemistry already in place, including no defensive uncertainties, and paramount is syncing with the other 2 ballhandlers, Brown and White.

My issue with Hauser is that while he certainly plays with toughness, I don't view him as a guy who is built to take that much contact. He's already dealing with a back issue. That said, I'd sub Hauser in and drop Brown to PF at first line change.

[Celts17Pride]

Celtics will roll out the How The Mighty Have Fallen starting unit of PP - White - Brown - Hauser - Queta... Straight to 37 Beautiful Wins.

I have 38-39 wins, that starting front court will get crushed.

[Bad-Thoma]

Pritch and Minott with Minott playing the 4. We've got plenty of O even without JT but the frountcourt D is potentially a weakness and Minott can help there. No matter who starts in the front court it's probably going to be a "by committee" situation.

My hot take is Tillman is going to play a bigger role than we expect, he was hurt last year and disappeared but the fact that he wasn't dumped along with a late second rounder etc to shave salary makes me think he might still have something to offer.

[Fierce1]

Pritch and Minott with Minott playing the 4. We've got plenty of O even without JT but the frountcourt D is potentially a weakness and Minott can help there. No matter who starts in the front court it's probably going to be a "by committee" situation.

My hot take is Tillman is going to play a bigger role than we expect, he was hurt last year and disappeared but the fact that he wasn't dumped along with a late second rounder etc to shave salary makes me think he might still have something to offer.

If Tillman plays a bigger role and is productive, Cs will be 45-50 wins.

This is of course factoring in Simons as part of the equation.

Tillman helping on defense and Simons providing offense will definitely increase the number of wins.

[31to6]

I am going to try to stop saying "Minott can't play 4". Per bballref he logged 35% of his time in MIN (463 minutes played over 3 seasons) there, and 3% at center. His rebound % is 10, so that's not exciting, but damned if his efficiency and impact across the board don't look pretty positive overall. Brad Stevens doesn't not miss! And a year ago I would've thought we were **** if we were going to spend so much of August 2025 talking about Josh Minott playing major minutes for us -- but here we are. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/minotjo01.html

[hugepatsfan]

I wouldn't over complicate things to start.

Brown/White obviously two starters.

Someone has to play center and Queta the clear leader of the pack there. That's three.

Pritchard/Hauser/Simons clearly our next best players on paper right now. Boucher may be a different kind of guys for the front court, but clearly not better than Hauser as a player. With White in there, only one of Pritchard/Simons can start. So just let that battle play out. My guess is Pritchard wins.

So Pritchard/White/Brown/Hauser/Queta to start the year. If someone else steps up and/or that lineup doesn't work, tinker with it. But I'm not reinventing the wheel to start. I'm just gonna play my 5 best players.

FWIW, the 4-man combo of Pritchard/White/Brown/Hauser played 168:51 together last year which was our 17th most used 4-man combination. Net rating was a +1.8. Obviously the C spot will be weaker this year, but it's not like that group flopped.

Now granted, +1.8 net rating meant it ranked #18 out of top 20 4-man combos last regular season (that's all BRef lists). So compared to our best lineups last year that was a weak pairing, but still a positive net rating. Kind of illustrate how far we've fallen after the trades and Tatum injury to where our worst lineups last year that were "only" slightly positive now look like our best.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Go big or home. Yes they will score around 40 point a game but they will kill it in the rebounding department.


PG Minott
SG Boucher
SF Garza
PF: Queta
C-Arami Williams

Likely the starting lineup though:

PG: White
SG Simons
SF: Brown
PF-Boucher
C-Queta

[Gant]

If trading Simons at some point is still the goal, starting Simons would help with that.