POLL - Which top 6 guy is 6th man?

[smokeablount]

Last night may have been the last relevant pre season game for the starters. Al came off the bench. Previously, Jrue came off the bench.

Someone has to start the year off the bench and over the course of the year, one of our 6 guys will find themself in that role more than the others. Who do you think it should be?

If you want to specify in the comments, which of the 6 SHOULD come off the bench to produce the best lineups, but also, who do you think WILL in reality?

[BitterJim]

I think White comes off the bench when everyone is healthy and no one is resting, but I think he'll still start more games than he comes off the bench

[aefgogreen]

I think it's Horford  - that way they don't have to change the starting 5 if playing a back-to-back. 

[Celtics2021]

Kudos to whoever read my mind and picked Tatum to be contrarian.

[Roy H.]

I think it's Horford, particularly with Joe being coach.

[dannyboy35]

  I don’t think Jrue is a possibility. I think he’d be a good guy about it but I wouldn’t  mess with his comfort level like that. He’s an all star. Keep him starting and finishing , plus the best players will run stuff the crispest and he’s new so that’ll only help him along.
  I voted Al because I think for the most part teams can worry about matching up with US. When everybody can shoot, I’d go with best 5. This top 6 is so good it doesn’t really matter.
   If Al said he is much better starting because it helps his flow , maybe White trades off with him. With no back to backs for Al, I figure it will usually be the other 5 anyways , though.

[A Future of Stevens]

The vote for Tatum is hilarious.

[smokeablount]

The vote for Tatum is hilarious.

I guess it’s partially on me, for listing Tatum as an option.

I went Al. I like the White/Jrue backcourt, and then Horford/PP/Sam off the bench is your natural 8 man playoff rotation.

[Silas]

Big Al.  Among other things, it should be easier for Joe to manage his time on the floor. 

[Donoghus]

Big Al.  Among other things, it should be easier for Joe to manage his time on the floor.

Al Jefferson is back on the team? 

[jbpats]

Honestly i think it's a matchup based decision - bigger teams we need to start horford, smaller teams he comes off the bench in favor of White.

I think our best 'true' 6th man however is Derrick White, he just has the best ability of our group to impact the game on both ends of the court. I think I am basing this off of who has more potential to have a bigger impact off the bench in terms of White vs. Horford seeing they are the only true options in my mind.

[Roy H.]

Ideally we'd have another solid rotation-level big.  Then Horford would start and White would be the super sub.

But, we don't have that player.  Use that TPE, Brad and Wyc.

[Silas]

Big Al.  Among other things, it should be easier for Joe to manage his time on the floor.

Al Jefferson is back on the team? 

We should be so lucky!

[SHAQATTACK]

Write in vote

Donald Trump.












Lol

[ozgod]

I picked Derrick, but I really think it will depend on matchups. I just like having 2 bigs to stretch the floor will help Tatum and Brown a lot to start the game. I don't think the team would be worse if we sat Al and played Derrick though.

I know everyone's worried about Kornet anchoring the 2nd unit. I think it will ultimately be less of an issue than we might think - who starts to me has less ultimate relevance than which lineups play the most. I think irrespective of who starts they will have one of Al or KP with Kornet or whoever the big they may choose to go with. Chemistry also comes into it - who plays better with who, who adapts to each other's movements on the court better. Like back in 2018 when we were trying to shoehorn Cryrie, Tatum, Brown, Al, Gordon, Rozier, Mook and Smartacus into our starting lineup, Gordon and Jaylen ended up being on the bench but they were in the top 5 in terms of PT and usually finished games more often than not. It will be interesting to see the minutes played and net ratings of different lineups a month into the season. I tried looking at them on NBA.com and they don't have lineup data for the preseason availab.e