Guess the starting 5

[Celts17Pride]

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

Unless he is moved before Oct 22nd, which is still my bet.

[flintsky21]

I think Hauser is starting over Boucher for the same reason why Pritchard is starting over Simons. You want to both reward and give bigger roles to guys who have been here and will be here for the forseeable future over guys who may not be here after a year (Simons, Boucher). You also want Pritchard and Hauser to continue developing and strengthening their chemistry with Brown and White and see if a starting role and bigger minutes would help them take that leap to the next level.

[jmr07019]

Matchup dependent. Against Cleveland (Mobley and Allen), Atlanta (Porzingis and Okongwu), Milwaukee (Giannis and Turner), Orlando (Carter Jr, Banchero, Wagner) you need two bigs so Boucher will start next to Queta. No other eastern conference teams demand the Celtics play two bigs to start but if Embiid is healthy you may want more size. Knicks could go Robinson and Towns to start a game and the Celtics would need to start two bigs in that scenario as well. Hauser (or Minott) could start over Boucher against other teams.

In Jaylen Hauser lineups Jaylen is definitely the pf. I don’t mind Jaylen banging with guys like Siakim or Banchero in the playoffs but don’t want him doing it all season.

Last spot goes to either Simons or Pritchard. I’m hoping it an open competition and Simons wins the spot but I would understand favoring the guy who has been on the team for years.

[darrendaye]

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

What REALLY helps is Simons showing all the ways he can benefit a team and how well he would mesh with the core. I counter suggesting excelling in a 6th man role just opens the door wider IMO. He's going to get 30+ minutes regardless.

[return2glory]

Will people stop calling Boucher as big or a center? Like come on. He weighs 201 lbs. If he is a center than Pritchard is a PF. Because Pritchard weighs more than Boucher. Let that sink in. And I don't want to hear about wing span.

[jmr07019]

Will people stop calling Boucher as big or a center? Like come on. He weighs 201 lbs. If he is a center than Pritchard is a PF. Because Pritchard weighs more than Boucher. Let that sink in. And I don't want to hear about wing span.

What block percentage and defensive rebounding percentage because those stats paint him as a big.

[Shak_Celts]

New guess after Boucher add. JB, DW, and Queta are the locks IMO. I think Pritchard. 5th will probably be Boucher but I think Hauser, Luka, and Baylor have a chance, especially Hauser.

PP
DW
JB
CB
NQ

Not a fan of Pritchard starting but I won’t beat that dead horse.

S/N: From memory, but shaky, Joe always favors guys who have been here, unless you are no doubt starters before coming. I remember the question of whether Jrue was coming off the bench, I think they even let JT, JB, Al, Jrue, White, and KP decide as a group. Has Joe made any controversial decision yet? I think he loves to stick to a preseason gamelan no matter what happens, as far as lineup and rotation. (When health permits)

[Celts17Pride]

New guess after Boucher add. JB, DW, and Queta are the locks IMO. I think Pritchard. 5th will probably be Boucher but I think Hauser, Luka, and Baylor have a chance, especially Hauser.

PP
DW
JB
CB
NQ

Not a fan of Pritchard starting but I won’t beat that dead horse.

S/N: From memory, but shaky, Joe always favors guys who have been here, unless you are no doubt starters before coming. I remember the question of whether Jrue was coming off the bench, I think they even let JT, JB, Al, Jrue, White, and KP decide as a group. Has Joe made any controversial decision yet? I think he loves to stick to a preseason gamelan no matter what happens, as far as lineup and rotation. (When health permits)

I think Pritchard starting is necessary for the future. I believe the Celtics view Pritchard as part of the future. The Celtics need to know if PP can handle being the starting point guard or if they need to go out and get another one. The only way you find out is to make him the starting point guard. Big year for PP.

[Shak_Celts]

New guess after Boucher add. JB, DW, and Queta are the locks IMO. I think Pritchard. 5th will probably be Boucher but I think Hauser, Luka, and Baylor have a chance, especially Hauser.

PP
DW
JB
CB
NQ

Not a fan of Pritchard starting but I won’t beat that dead horse.

S/N: From memory, but shaky, Joe always favors guys who have been here, unless you are no doubt starters before coming. I remember the question of whether Jrue was coming off the bench, I think they even let JT, JB, Al, Jrue, White, and KP decide as a group. Has Joe made any controversial decision yet? I think he loves to stick to a preseason gamelan no matter what happens, as far as lineup and rotation. (When health permits)

I think Pritchard starting is necessary for the future. I believe the Celtics view Pritchard as part of the future. The Celtics need to know if PP can handle being the starting point guard or if they need to go out and get another one. The only way you find out is to make him the starting point guard. Big year for PP.

I think it’s harder to replace an excellent bench player, who accepts that role than it is to replace a starting PG. I’m not even sure it can’t be White. Everybody wants to start, including Pritch, but he is one of few who will suck it up and perform no matter where he is.

I don’t know if he can do it, I just know the past has changed my mind with time to think and not just fan out. We started people who should have stayed on the bench, we waited too long to realize that. I have looked at the amazing thing it would be if he can do it (playoffs), I’m hoping for it! He only makes 7m now, the owners would love it! I simply feel people aren’t truly thinking about if he can’t. What do you do with him then?

He’s not going back to the bench, no way! He will kill it in the regular season, guaranteed! You can’t bottle that back up! It would be crazy to have to trade him when he’s already as good as you’ll get from the bench.


I get it, starting or bench he’s going to get the minutes. The difference to me is, it’s easier to faze out a bench guy in the playoffs when it’s not working, Joe isn’t going to pull back on a starter without injuries. Heck, he pulled back some on Porzingis only because he performed like the walking dead, but he shouldn’t have played him at all! He is more keen on forcing the starters if the bench guys doesn’t play well. You gotta be dead as a starter for him to go in a different direction.

The same people who want more size are some of the same ones that want Pritch to start.

I want them to get another starting PG, but once you go Pritch, you aren’t going back! I promise I’ll be hoping for it to work, there is no reason to not like Pritch! He goes all out, every chance he gets!! If it doesn’t work well in the playoffs, I guarantee I won’t be doing an “I told you so,” because I’ll be gutted! I don’t want to be right!! If it works out I’ll definitely be saying how wrong I was! That won’t be me losing an argument, that will be me winning as a fan!

I’m not going to bring it up again. I have said my peace, many times. From here, if he’s starting, I’m only putting out balls to the wall energy to his success as the starter. Going to let the doubt disappear. I’m sure his regular season play will help me forget anyway. I’m leaving this in the offseason.

[playa-hater]

New guess after Boucher add. JB, DW, and Queta are the locks IMO. I think Pritchard. 5th will probably be Boucher but I think Hauser, Luka, and Baylor have a chance, especially Hauser.

PP
DW
JB
CB
NQ

Not a fan of Pritchard starting but I won’t beat that dead horse.

S/N: From memory, but shaky, Joe always favors guys who have been here, unless you are no doubt starters before coming. I remember the question of whether Jrue was coming off the bench, I think they even let JT, JB, Al, Jrue, White, and KP decide as a group. Has Joe made any controversial decision yet? I think he loves to stick to a preseason gamelan no matter what happens, as far as lineup and rotation. (When health permits)

I think Pritchard starting is necessary for the future. I believe the Celtics view Pritchard as part of the future. The Celtics need to know if PP can handle being the starting point guard or if they need to go out and get another one. The only way you find out is to make him the starting point guard. Big year for PP.

I think it’s harder to replace an excellent bench player, who accepts that role than it is to replace a starting PG. I’m not even sure it can’t be White. Everybody wants to start, including Pritch, but he is one of few who will suck it up and perform no matter where he is.

I don’t know if he can do it, I just know the past has changed my mind with time to think and not just fan out. We started people who should have stayed on the bench, we waited too long to realize that. I have looked at the amazing thing it would be if he can do it (playoffs), I’m hoping for it! He only makes 7m now, the owners would love it! I simply feel people aren’t truly thinking about if he can’t. What do you do with him then?

He’s not going back to the bench, no way! He will kill it in the regular season, guaranteed! You can’t bottle that back up! It would be crazy to have to trade him when he’s already as good as you’ll get from the bench.


I get it, starting or bench he’s going to get the minutes. The difference to me is, it’s easier to faze out a bench guy in the playoffs when it’s not working, Joe isn’t going to pull back on a starter without injuries. Heck, he pulled back some on Porzingis only because he performed like the walking dead, but he shouldn’t have played him at all! He is more keen on forcing the starters if the bench guys doesn’t play well. You gotta be dead as a starter for him to go in a different direction.

The same people who want more size are some of the same ones that want Pritch to start.

I want them to get another starting PG, but once you go Pritch, you aren’t going back! I promise I’ll be hoping for it to work, there is no reason to not like Pritch! He goes all out, every chance he gets!! If it doesn’t work well in the playoffs, I guarantee I won’t be doing an “I told you so,” because I’ll be gutted! I don’t want to be right!! If it works out I’ll definitely be saying how wrong I was! That won’t be me losing an argument, that will be me winning as a fan!

I’m not going to bring it up again. I have said my peace, many times. From here, if he’s starting, I’m only putting out balls to the wall energy to his success as the starter. Going to let the doubt disappear. I’m sure his regular season play will help me forget anyway. I’m leaving this in the offseason.

Strongly agree with Bold.

[darrendaye]

My stance with Pritchard includes the expectation he is back to 6 man in 26-27. I also expect him to not be here in 27-28.

[redslastlaugh]

I agree on this starting five.
I also think Brad will try to flip Boucher to a contender at the deadline too, so a further guess (beyond the starting 5) would be Boucher to Denver for Hunter Tyson and a 2032 Nuggets second.

New guess after Boucher add. JB, DW, and Queta are the locks IMO. I think Pritchard. 5th will probably be Boucher but I think Hauser, Luka, and Baylor have a chance, especially Hauser.

PP
DW
JB
CB
NQ

Not a fan of Pritchard starting but I won’t beat that dead horse.

[ParticleMan]

if we really still have simons i think he starts. he is on another level from pritchard offensively. it will be about whether he can be passable on D, the way pritch is. but we've seen the staff turn some pretty poor defenders into passable, don't see why they can't do the same with simons.

also hauser is better both offensively and defensively than boucher. we will have a small lineup and rebounding will be a problem but that's true pretty much no matter what till tatum comes back and we find a real C (unless neemi surprises but he has never been a strong rebounder).

[Hal14]

if we really still have simons i think he starts. he is on another level from pritchard offensively. it will be about whether he can be passable on D, the way pritch is. but we've seen the staff turn some pretty poor defenders into passable, don't see why they can't do the same with simons.

also hauser is better both offensively and defensively than boucher. we will have a small lineup and rebounding will be a problem but that's true pretty much no matter what till tatum comes back and we find a real C (unless neemi surprises but he has never been a strong rebounder).

Agree with most of that but Queta has been a pretty good rebounder.

For a center, a TRB% of 15+ is good, 18+ is very good.

Last season he was at 14.9 which isn't so great but year before that he was at 19.8. A lot of his mins have also come during garbage time too, so gotta take the numbers with a grain of salt, to some extent. But eye test tells me he is pretty active on the boards, he's big, strong, athletic so rebounding shouldn't be too much of a problem for him.

If Hauser starts, Joe will have to tell him he needs to hit the boards more as well. I don't think it'll be an issue, especially if his back is feeling better than it was last season.

[Shak_Celts]

if we really still have simons i think he starts. he is on another level from pritchard offensively. it will be about whether he can be passable on D, the way pritch is. but we've seen the staff turn some pretty poor defenders into passable, don't see why they can't do the same with simons.

also hauser is better both offensively and defensively than boucher. we will have a small lineup and rebounding will be a problem but that's true pretty much no matter what till tatum comes back and we find a real C (unless neemi surprises but he has never been a strong rebounder).

Agree with most of that but Queta has been a pretty good rebounder.

For a center, a TRB% of 15+ is good, 18+ is very good.

Last season he was at 14.9 which isn't so great but year before that he was at 19.8. A lot of his mins have also come during garbage time too, so gotta take the numbers with a grain of salt, to some extent. But eye test tells me he is pretty active on the boards, he's big, strong, athletic so rebounding shouldn't be too much of a problem for him.

If Hauser starts, Joe will have to tell him he needs to hit the boards more as well. I don't think it'll be an issue, especially if his back is feeling better than it was last season.

This isn’t really the convo, but I expect a lot more from Hauser this season. This has to be a rebound season and I’m not talking about the boards! Come on Hause Money!!

[JustASportsFan]

My guess would be Simons and PF by committee based on game by game matchups. As I see it right now, no one PF really stands out to me. My hope is that someone will emerge and be a consistent contributor as the season goes along. With Simons, his current contract situation and the fact that he's been a starter for the past 3+ seasons would seem to make it rather difficult to not start him. I think you run the risk of having a disgruntled player if you don't start him, which would make it harder to get a good return for him assuming the idea of trading him is still in play. Plus, I feel that you can better hide his lack of defensive prowess among the starters.

My preference would be to still have Pritchard come off the bench. Make him the leader of the 2nd unit. He is now the 3rd most tenured Celtic and I think that with his work ethic and experience of knowing how to succeed as a bench player, he can help mold that 2nd unit in his image. With all the new faces coming in this season, I feel that would be a better fit for the team.

[CentralLogic]

I have Scheierman replacing Tatum for the year, Pritchard replacing Jrue Holiday as a Starter, Boucher and/or Garza basically fulfilling KP's role, Shulga replacing Pritchard's back-up role as shooter and solid defender, and Amari having a breakout year similar to Scheierman's late-year outburst; he'll slog away in the G-League for awhile to learn better positioning and aggressiveness, but will ultimately take over the starting Center role, after having developed a decent 3-point shot (they did it for Horford and White, why not Amari?).

OK, so what does that look like?

Beginning of the year :

Starters:

(you can run a 5-out offense with this group, with Scheierman and White as ball-handlers)

Pritchard
White
Brown
Scheierman
Boucher/Garza

Rest of first-off-the-bench rotation:

Shulga
Simons
Hugo/Minott
Hauser
Queta/Amari

(you still have 3 40% shooters coming off the bench in Hauser/Simons/Shulga ... not bad!)

Also, the Shulga-Hugo-Amari lineups were elite defensively (mid 90's def rating) in Summer League; adding the offensive punch of Hauser/Simons is only going to jack up their net rating ... to maybe something respectable? We shall see.

Late in the year starters:

Pritchard
White
Brown
Scheierman
Amari (if he develops an outside shot, plus better positioning, aggressiveness, etc)

[Parliament10]

I have Scheierman replacing Tatum for the year, Pritchard replacing Jrue Holiday as a Starter, Boucher and/or Garza basically fulfilling KP's role, Shulga replacing Pritchard's back-up role as shooter and solid defender, and Amari having a breakout year similar to Scheierman's late-year outburst; he'll slog away in the G-League for awhile to learn better positioning and aggressiveness, but will ultimately take over the starting Center role, after having developed a decent 3-point shot (they did it for Horford and White, why not Amari?).

OK, so what does that look like?

Beginning of the year :

Starters:

(you can run a 5-out offense with this group, with Scheierman and White as ball-handlers)

Pritchard
White
Brown
Scheierman
Boucher/Garza

Rest of first-off-the-bench rotation:

Shulga
Simons
Hugo/Minott
Hauser
Queta/Amari

(you still have 3 40% shooters coming off the bench in Hauser/Simons/Shulga ... not bad!)

Also, the Shulga-Hugo-Amari lineups were elite defensively (mid 90's def rating) in Summer League; adding the offensive punch of Hauser/Simons is only going to jack up their net rating ... to maybe something respectable? We shall see.

Late in the year starters:

Pritchard
White
Brown
Scheierman
Amari (if he develops an outside shot, plus better positioning, aggressiveness, etc)

I can see the Development of this. Except, why not have Queta refine his Game, over Amari?
Let them both get better. Queta practices 3's. I'd like to see him improve all around.

[hugepatsfan]

Matchup dependent. Against Cleveland (Mobley and Allen), Atlanta (Porzingis and Okongwu), Milwaukee (Giannis and Turner), Orlando (Carter Jr, Banchero, Wagner) you need two bigs so Boucher will start next to Queta. No other eastern conference teams demand the Celtics play two bigs to start but if Embiid is healthy you may want more size. Knicks could go Robinson and Towns to start a game and the Celtics would need to start two bigs in that scenario as well. Hauser (or Minott) could start over Boucher against other teams.

In Jaylen Hauser lineups Jaylen is definitely the pf. I don’t mind Jaylen banging with guys like Siakim or Banchero in the playoffs but don’t want him doing it all season.

Last spot goes to either Simons or Pritchard. I’m hoping it an open competition and Simons wins the spot but I would understand favoring the guy who has been on the team for years.

I think matchup dependent starting lineups is more of a message board concept than real life. Players generally like routine and rhythm.

Also, what's more of a challenge for the big man duos you mentioned... their PF needing to defend a crappy (relatively speaking) big man like Boucher or them having to step out of their comfort zone and guard a guy like Hauser? By adjusting to them to put Boucher in you're just giving them a matchup they can play their game against and be way better than their opponent. With Hauser, at least you're asking them to step out of their comfort zone. If Hauser is the starter, I'd expect that to be consistent night to night.

[Shak_Celts]

Matchup dependent. Against Cleveland (Mobley and Allen), Atlanta (Porzingis and Okongwu), Milwaukee (Giannis and Turner), Orlando (Carter Jr, Banchero, Wagner) you need two bigs so Boucher will start next to Queta. No other eastern conference teams demand the Celtics play two bigs to start but if Embiid is healthy you may want more size. Knicks could go Robinson and Towns to start a game and the Celtics would need to start two bigs in that scenario as well. Hauser (or Minott) could start over Boucher against other teams.

In Jaylen Hauser lineups Jaylen is definitely the pf. I don’t mind Jaylen banging with guys like Siakim or Banchero in the playoffs but don’t want him doing it all season.

Last spot goes to either Simons or Pritchard. I’m hoping it an open competition and Simons wins the spot but I would understand favoring the guy who has been on the team for years.

I think matchup dependent starting lineups is more of a message board concept than real life. Players generally like routine and rhythm.

Also, what's more of a challenge for the big man duos you mentioned... their PF needing to defend a crappy (relatively speaking) big man like Boucher or them having to step out of their comfort zone and guard a guy like Hauser? By adjusting to them to put Boucher in you're just giving them a matchup they can play their game against and be way better than their opponent. With Hauser, at least you're asking them to step out of their comfort zone. If Hauser is the starter, I'd expect that to be consistent night to night.

Yeah, they won’t be doing matchup based starters, unless the starter they usually have is out. We can’t get Joe to change a rotation when it’s critical, he’s certainly not doing it now.


I will give Joe credit for changing the way we play in games at times where he wouldn’t in the past. Constable, for one, would point out adjustments he’d make where we would have had to beg him to make them quicker, the season prior. So maybe he could do something out of the box this season, but I doubt it will be matchup based, without injuries. Joe is very predictable, I won’t speculate why again.