How about starting Jerebko?

[rondohondo]

He matches up physiclally with Bzemore , and can spread the floor. Move Jae to pf to guard Millsap

IT               / rozier
Smart         / hunter
Jerebko      / turner
Crowder     / KO or Mickey if KO can't go
Amir          / Sully

Like our bigs coming off the bench, like Crowder guarding Millsap and Jerebko guarding Bazemore .

Turner provides ball handling for the 2nd unit . Hopefully either Hunter or Rozier can provide some offense .

[TheSundanceKid]

If we want to stop our slow starts I think we have to play only one of Sully/Amir in the starting line up.

With Bradley injured I would replace him with Smart. He's a great help defender which is something we need on this team. Too many times were cuts by Bazemore successful because no one rotated to him once he beat his man. I guess you would want Smart on Teague and IT on Korver to begin with.

So yes I like your line up. I think it's inevitable that we go small and rely on our young guys this series. Sink or swim time.

[Who]

I don't like Jerebko on Bazemore. Bazemore is too quick for him.

[rickyfan3.0...]

I was thinking the same thing, but Jerebko on Millsap and Crowder on Bazemore.

[TheSundanceKid]

I don't like Jerebko on Bazemore. Bazemore is too quick for him.

Thing is Crowder was losing him constantly in the first half. Hopefully Crowder picks it up next game but as it stands I don't see much difference between the 2 guarding Bazemore.

[Who]

I don't like Jerebko on Bazemore. Bazemore is too quick for him.

Thing is Crowder was losing him constantly in the first half. Hopefully Crowder picks it up next game but as it stands I don't see much difference between the 2 guarding Bazemore.

Which is why Crowder should guard Millsap. Not Bazemore. Crowder fared much better on both ends of the floor when pitted against the slower bigger Millsap.

Boston needs more defensive quickness on the floor.

[jpotter33]

We might as well match up with them anyways, so why not just go IT, Smart, Turner, Crowder, Amir? Some guys are just going to have to play bigger minutes with Rozier helping in spot minutes in the guard rotation and JJ, Kelly, and Sully taking the rest of the 3-5 minutes.

I think going small against this team is the only way to try and steal the series from them. We saw how ineffective our two traditional big lineup was against them, so you might as well start with the small-ball and avoid getting in such a big hole again.

[Hemingway]

I think it will be IT, Smart, Jae, Amir and Sully. IT, Smart and Crowder will play as much as possible and when Turner comes in we go small. If KO is out we have to go small more as we really only have 2 serviceable bigs in Sully and Amir. Basically Amir and Sully man the 5, IT Smart and Crowder play nearly the whole game and Turner and Jerebko rotate in for that last spot. If there is foul trouble we go with Zeller and Rozier depending on who is in foul trouble.

Sink or swim time.

[alldaboston]

I'd rather just increase the minutes of our main guys, rather than giving guys like jerebko and Zeller/rookies more minutes.

[ssspence]

We might as well match up with them anyways, so why not just go IT, Smart, Turner, Crowder, Amir? Some guys are just going to have to play bigger minutes with Rozier helping in spot minutes in the guard rotation and JJ, Kelly, and Sully taking the rest of the 3-5 minutes.

I think going small against this team is the only way to try and steal the series from them. We saw how ineffective our two traditional big lineup was against them, so you might as well start with the small-ball and avoid getting in such a big hole again.

I think you're on to something, but I don't see starting Smart and Turner together -- very high risk to me if the first quarter goes poorly. I have no problem with pushing Crowder back to the 3, with JJ starting at the 4, and the rest of your line-up intact. Then bring Turner off the bench, and play him long minutes for the remainder of the game.

[the TRUTH]

Starting Jerebko isn't a bad idea with Bradley out. I see Jerebko as very similar to Walter McCarty back when he played for Boston. They're both relatively average at just about everything else, but they're streaky shooters with size that spread the floor and can be very dangerous when they get hot. If Stevens does decide to start Jerebko, I think he needs to be on a relatively short leash. If his shot isn't on early in the game, then I think him being on the floor hurts the team. But as long as his shot is on, he can be a valuable asset playing big minutes.

[mctyson]

He matches up physiclally with Bzemore , and can spread the floor. Move Jae to pf to guard Millsap

IT               / rozier
Smart         / hunter
Jerebko      / turner
Crowder     / KO or Mickey if KO can't go
Amir          / Sully

Like our bigs coming off the bench, like Crowder guarding Millsap and Jerebko guarding Bazemore .

Turner provides ball handling for the 2nd unit . Hopefully either Hunter or Rozier can provide some offense .

I don't think Jerebko has the endurance, though a Rozier/Smart/Crowder/Jerebko (Sully/Amir) 5 is probably our best defensive unit now with AB out.