Baynes needs to be part of the starting five

[RodyTur10]

I believe the Celtics should keep starting Baynes like last season. He's a top 5 center defensively and he brings necessary toughness on the boards. 

Baynes balances the squad and Theis has proven to be a reliable back up. Why fix something that's working? Just to appease one of your starplayers?

[nickagneta]

You only start Baynes against teams with really big players at the 4 and 5. And even then, if the starting five of Horford, Tatum, Hayward, Brown and Irving turns out to be a devastating offensive group with good to excellent defense, maybe you start them every game and make the other team to adjust to you.

I can see Baynes getting some starts but not many. This team's future is based on the Horford, Tatum, Hayward, Brown and Irving grouping. I think you have to play them as much as possible together.

[gouki88]

It's not a case of fixing something that wasn't broken. It's a case of starting a better player, and rolling out a better starting lineup. It's that simple

[Donoghus]

It really should be matchup dependent.

Some games? Sure.

[RodyTur10]

It's not a case of fixing something that wasn't broken. It's a case of starting a better player, and rolling out a better starting lineup. It's that simple

But does starting a better player make the team better?

Especially Horford will have a much easier time with Baynes on his side to cover him than that Horford has to cover for Hayward. Horford is an elite defender against PF's but not so much against centers (and the majority of the NBA teams play with a real center).

[moiso]

Was Horford really that much worse guarding centers than power forwards?

[gouki88]

It's not a case of fixing something that wasn't broken. It's a case of starting a better player, and rolling out a better starting lineup. It's that simple

But does starting a better player make the team better?

Especially Horford will have a much easier time with Baynes on his side to cover him than that Horford has to cover for Hayward. Horford is an elite defender against PF's but not so much against centers (and the majority of the NBA teams play with a real center).

In this case, yes. Hayward has much more defensive versatility than Baynes, and allows us to play that switch heavy defence that Brad loves with more fluidity. And on offence, the difference with Hayward will be astounding, once he shakes off the rust.

Horford only really struggles against centers like Drummond and DJ, from memory. The real big, strong, athletic monsters

[billysan]

It doesnt matter to me as long as we win. I'm confident Brad will put the best available lineup on the floor.

That said, it will be fun to watch the strategy battles between our coach and the opposition. Who will change lineups around to match the other? I think as long as we push the ball hard and run we can negate any size difference that is a potential problem.

Morris, Smart, Rozier and Theis are our most athletic coming off the bench. Baynes may not see a lot of minutes in some games anyway. If we let other teams slow the pace we are going to be in trouble IMO. Remember pace and space is our game.

[Greyman]

It really should be matchup dependent.

Some games? Sure.

This is what Stevens has shown us in the past. There could be games when Smart or Morris start. I expect Horford, Tatum, Brown, Hayward and Irving to start most games but not all.

[Moranis]

Against Toronto, sure absolutely.  Baynes makes a lot of sense against that lineup going against Jonas while Horford takes on Ibaka.  Against Philadelphia, nope, Baynes has no real shot at guarding Embiid over the long haul and Tatum would do fine on Saric. 

So, sure a few matchups (and it is a few) it makes sense to start Baynes, but against most teams, Tatum will be the better start and better fit. 

[smokeablount]

Against Toronto, sure absolutely.  Baynes makes a lot of sense against that lineup going against Jonas while Horford takes on Ibaka.  Against Philadelphia, nope, Baynes has no real shot at guarding Embiid over the long haul and Tatum would do fine on Saric. 

So, sure a few matchups (and it is a few) it makes sense to start Baynes, but against most teams, Tatum will be the better start and better fit.

Someone didn't watch round 2 of the playoffs. 

[smokeablount]

I need to see Hayward at full strength.  Our starting 5 last year was very good, but this year's should be better with Hayward instead of Baynes.  However, I need to see it first.

[Moranis]

Against Toronto, sure absolutely.  Baynes makes a lot of sense against that lineup going against Jonas while Horford takes on Ibaka.  Against Philadelphia, nope, Baynes has no real shot at guarding Embiid over the long haul and Tatum would do fine on Saric. 

So, sure a few matchups (and it is a few) it makes sense to start Baynes, but against most teams, Tatum will be the better start and better fit.

Someone didn't watch round 2 of the playoffs.

23/14/3.6, man Embiid sure was shut down.

How about these +- numbers.

Game 1 - Baynes -1 in 29 minutes, Boston +17 in the other 19 minutes
Game 2 - Baynes -16 in 21 minutes, Boston +21 in the other 27 minutes
Game 3 - Baynes -8 in 23 minutes, Boston +11 in the other 25 minutes
Game 4 - Baynes -9 in 19 minutes, Boston -2 in the other 29 minutes
Game 5 - Baynes -6 in 25 minutes, Boston +8 in the other 23 minutes

Embiid btw had the best +- of the Sixers starters (Redick was near him, no one else was close). 

No matter how you slice it, Boston won in spite of Baynes, not because of Baynes.  He was awful in that series because he can't guard Embiid.  Not at all. 

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Against Toronto, sure absolutely.  Baynes makes a lot of sense against that lineup going against Jonas while Horford takes on Ibaka.  Against Philadelphia, nope, Baynes has no real shot at guarding Embiid over the long haul and Tatum would do fine on Saric. 

So, sure a few matchups (and it is a few) it makes sense to start Baynes, but against most teams, Tatum will be the better start and better fit.

Someone didn't watch round 2 of the playoffs.

23/14/3.6, man Embiid sure was shut down.

How about these +- numbers.

Game 1 - Baynes -1 in 29 minutes, Boston +17 in the other 19 minutes
Game 2 - Baynes -16 in 21 minutes, Boston +21 in the other 27 minutes
Game 3 - Baynes -8 in 23 minutes, Boston +11 in the other 25 minutes
Game 4 - Baynes -9 in 19 minutes, Boston -2 in the other 29 minutes
Game 5 - Baynes -6 in 25 minutes, Boston +8 in the other 23 minutes

Embiid btw had the best +- of the Sixers starters (Redick was near him, no one else was close). 

No matter how you slice it, Boston won in spite of Baynes, not because of Baynes.  He was awful in that series because he can't guard Embiid.  Not at all.

I agree that we are probably overrating Baynes' abilities on the basketball court. He is a fine rotation player that provides IQ and toughness, but he is not an Embiid-stopper.

That said, regardless of stats, Baynes did make several key plays against Embiid in that series. Those plays may not have advanced stats to back it up, but they caused or prolonged runs for the Cs.

You want guys on your bench that know how to make timely plays like that.

[Moranis]

Against Toronto, sure absolutely.  Baynes makes a lot of sense against that lineup going against Jonas while Horford takes on Ibaka.  Against Philadelphia, nope, Baynes has no real shot at guarding Embiid over the long haul and Tatum would do fine on Saric. 

So, sure a few matchups (and it is a few) it makes sense to start Baynes, but against most teams, Tatum will be the better start and better fit.

Someone didn't watch round 2 of the playoffs.

23/14/3.6, man Embiid sure was shut down.

How about these +- numbers.

Game 1 - Baynes -1 in 29 minutes, Boston +17 in the other 19 minutes
Game 2 - Baynes -16 in 21 minutes, Boston +21 in the other 27 minutes
Game 3 - Baynes -8 in 23 minutes, Boston +11 in the other 25 minutes
Game 4 - Baynes -9 in 19 minutes, Boston -2 in the other 29 minutes
Game 5 - Baynes -6 in 25 minutes, Boston +8 in the other 23 minutes

Embiid btw had the best +- of the Sixers starters (Redick was near him, no one else was close). 

No matter how you slice it, Boston won in spite of Baynes, not because of Baynes.  He was awful in that series because he can't guard Embiid.  Not at all.

I agree that we are probably overrating Baynes' abilities on the basketball court. He is a fine rotation player that provides IQ and toughness, but he is not an Embiid-stopper.

That said, regardless of stats, Baynes did make several key plays against Embiid in that series. Those plays may not have advanced stats to back it up, but they caused or prolonged runs for the Cs.

You want guys on your bench that know how to make timely plays like that.

I like Baynes.  I'm fine with him starting against teams like Toronto, as I said.  I'd also add in Detroit, Cleveland, and Miami (off the top of my head), just based on match-ups and what not, but he is a bench guy that even when he starts doesn't get starter minutes for a reason.  That is his role. 

I've seen the elevation of Boston's bench players on this site reach pretty epic proportions lately.  We should all be scaling that back a great deal.