Poll

Who's Your Crunch-Time 5

Kyrie Irving
33 (19.6%)
Jayson Tatum
30 (17.9%)
Al Horford
34 (20.2%)
Marcus Morris
2 (1.2%)
Marcus Smart
31 (18.5%)
Jaylen Brown
25 (14.9%)
Gordon Hayward
13 (7.7%)
Terry Rozier
0 (0%)
Aron Baynes
0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 34

Author Topic: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?  (Read 1934 times)

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Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« on: March 18, 2019, 01:49:04 PM »

Offline Big333223

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This will depend on match-ups sometimes but in general, who do you want closing games for the Celtics right now and heading into the playoffs? Vote for you 5,

The way I see it, Kyrie and Al need to be on the floor. That leaves 3 spots for Smart, Tatum, Brown, Morris, and Hayward (Rozier and Baynes might get in on specific match-ups but aren't as good as the other 5).

I want Smart on the floor when it matters. Hayward is too up and down, I don't trust him. Morris has been terrific this season and has had some clutch moments for the Celtics last season and this season but both JB and JT are more talented and I think they've proven they can be trusted.

Kyrie, Smart, Brown, Tatum, Al. It's a small lineup, but those are the guys I want out there with the game on the line.
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Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2019, 02:00:12 PM »

Offline Monkhouse

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Irving- Offensive clutch scorer
Smart- There is no else that I would rather have on the floor in crunch time for cruical defensive possessions.
Brown - Our best 3 & D wing player
Tatum -  Some might say putting Tatum at the 4 is probably not a good idea, but who's really going to shut down Tatum defensively at the 4 besides a select few
Horford- Engine of our offense and orchestrates our defense

Baynes - 6th man, nothing like having a big boy on defense to help you settle and slow down runs.
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Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2019, 02:02:55 PM »

Offline PhoSita

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Irving, Smart, Hayward, Tatum, Horford

Could swap out Hayward for Brown or Baynes depending on the matchup.

Maybe use Morris if he's hot, but I'd prefer not to have him taking shots away from Kyrie, Tatum, or Horford in crunch time.


Kyrie, Tatum, Horford are the guys who should have plays run for them, in that order.


Smart and Hayward are the best of the remaining players on the roster in terms of being able to defend multiple positions, see the floor well, and make accurate passes.
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Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2019, 02:13:21 PM »

Offline rondofan1255

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Irving Smart Brown Tatum Horford

Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2019, 02:16:25 PM »

Offline GreenEnvy

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Obviously depends on situation and matchup, but:

Irving
Smart
Hayward
Tatum
Horford
CELTICS 2024

Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2019, 02:16:50 PM »

Offline nickagneta

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Kyrie has to be there to be the scoring closer. Then the three best defenders that also bring offense, that I want on the floor are Horford, Smart and Brown.

That leaves the last piece needing to be a big or small ball PF.

Baynes is great against teams with 2 bigs who like to pick and roll with those bigs.

Morris is great if they have more of a small ball 4 in the game. He also matches up best defensively against players like LeBron, Giannis, Tobias Harris, Siakam, etc.

Hayward, if he is 100% is probably the right choice but he hasn't been 100% all year so for now, he probably isn't right.

But Tatum is the guy that NEEDS to be on the court to develop his total game during  the most important part of the game. Heck, you don't want New Orleans thinking Tatum isn't even good enough to close games for Boston. So Tatum is that last guy.

Kyrie/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford

Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2019, 02:40:10 PM »

Offline slamtheking

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Kyrie has to be there to be the scoring closer. Then the three best defenders that also bring offense, that I want on the floor are Horford, Smart and Brown.

That leaves the last piece needing to be a big or small ball PF.

Baynes is great against teams with 2 bigs who like to pick and roll with those bigs.

Morris is great if they have more of a small ball 4 in the game. He also matches up best defensively against players like LeBron, Giannis, Tobias Harris, Siakam, etc.

Hayward, if he is 100% is probably the right choice but he hasn't been 100% all year so for now, he probably isn't right.

But Tatum is the guy that NEEDS to be on the court to develop his total game during  the most important part of the game. Heck, you don't want New Orleans thinking Tatum isn't even good enough to close games for Boston. So Tatum is that last guy.

Kyrie/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford
I agree it's situational.  I think the core players at the end must be Kyrie and Al no matter what.  after that, depending on the situation, the other 3 would consist of Smart, Brown, Tatum, Hayward, Morris and Baynes. 

agree that if Hayward was closer to his old self, he'd be a definite at SF but that's not the situation this year. 

If the team's ahead, go with Smart and Brown and the best match up against the other team playing catch up.  if the team's behind, probably looking at Tatum, Brown and either Hayward or Morris depending on matchups.

Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2019, 03:02:26 PM »

Offline apc

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I got Kyrie, Smart, Al- no matter what.
Brown is #4 based on his recent play.
Next is depends on situation (Baynes if we need a real big, tatum or Morris if they are hot) 

Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2019, 03:33:19 PM »

Offline More Banners

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I'm solid on 4: Kyrie, Smart, Al, and pretty solid on Brown for versatility and that extra year of experience that makes me think he might be 1% more likely than Tatum to make the right play. But Gordon is my solid 4th because I'm most confident in him of the bunch making the right play; and he can psss.

Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2019, 04:05:49 PM »

Offline Csfan1984

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Sub off and defense
Irving, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Horford
Smart, Brown, Tatum, Morris, Horford

Anything goes no T.O. left
Irving, Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford


Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2019, 06:47:12 PM »

Offline Chief

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Defense-

Marcus
Brown
Morris
Horford
Baynes

Switch Morris and Baynes if they go small

Offense

Kyrie
Smart
Brown
Tatum
Horford
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Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2019, 09:43:32 PM »

Offline gouki88

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Sub off and defense
Irving, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Horford
Smart, Brown, Tatum, Morris, Horford

Anything goes no T.O. left
Irving, Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford
Is that Tatum in the defensive lineup??
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PG: Terry Porter (90-91) / Steve Francis (00-01)
SG: Joe Dumars (92-93) / Jeff Hornacek (91-92) / Jerry Stackhouse (00-01)
SF: Brandon Roy (08-09) / Walter Davis (78-79)
PF: Terry Cummings (84-85) / Paul Millsap (15-16)
C: Chris Webber (00-01) / Ralph Sampson (83-84) / Andrew Bogut (09-10)

Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2019, 10:28:25 PM »

Offline droopdog7

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Far as I’m concerned there are only three must guys in the closing five; Kyrie, Al, and Smart.  Two more spots between Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Morris, and Baynes.

Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #13 on: March 18, 2019, 10:30:28 PM »

Offline gouki88

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Far as I’m concerned there are only three must guys in the closing five; Kyrie, Al, and Smart.  Two more spots between Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Morris, and Baynes.
I'd probably go Brown and Hayward for the most part, unless there's a match-up specific problem requiring Baynes.
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PG: Terry Porter (90-91) / Steve Francis (00-01)
SG: Joe Dumars (92-93) / Jeff Hornacek (91-92) / Jerry Stackhouse (00-01)
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PF: Terry Cummings (84-85) / Paul Millsap (15-16)
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Re: Who's Your Crunch-Time 5?
« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2019, 10:33:04 PM »

Offline Somebody

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I'm not sure, but it sure as heck isn't the Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. Brad's rolling out atm.
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