What is our best line up for the Playoffs

[Vermont Green]

White-Hauser-Brown-Tatum-Horford, at least in round 1.  Miami plays a lot of zone — punish that with Hauser’s 3s.

I think that lineup could still beat MIA but it is a bold take.  That would be a "Other" vote in the poll. 

This led me to a thought.  What if Hauser bulked up and gained some weight/muscle.  He is taller than Grant.  Could he be a PF/Swing type?  He is listed at 6'-7", 217 lbs (Grant is 6'-6", 236).  Their wingspans are listed as about the same (Hauser at 6'-9.25"), Grant actually 0.5" more wingspan.

If Hauser could defend PFs and rebound (box out) even adequately, he would be a lethal weapon with his shooting.  I think he has otherwise shown enough athleticism to play that role.

[Moranis]

I don't remember a title team that didn't have a clear #1 lineup.  The idea of changing your lineup or rotation each series seems odd to me.  Why not just play your best lineup/rotation and make the other team adjust?

Players like Walton or Ginobili may have been one of the best 5 players on their team but they played off the bench.  These teams didn't change that based on who the other team was.  They stuck to their rotation.  I think whatever lineup/rotation that the Celtics settle on, they should stick with it.  There are variations around the edges of the core rotation of course but I feel you need a core rotation that is stable.

Is it?  What is Milwaukee's best lineup this year?  Even before Adams went down, what was Memphis' best lineup.

Not sure what you are disputing.  MIL did not settle in to a top line up due to injuries to Middleton.  Memphis has similar issues due to Adams but also Jackson.  But both teams would have been better for it if they had been able to have a more consistent core line up rotation.  SAC had that this year and that was a big part of their regular season success.

I'm saying those are other great teams that have some lineup uncertainty.  It happens every year and some of them win titles.  Roy already mentioned GS, they do it a lot.  The 20 Lakers had 4 guys start every game, but tinkered with the lineup a great deal depending on matchup for that 5th spot and the guys 5, 6, and 7 in mpg started 1 game collectively.  Even the Jordan Bulls altered the starting lineup in some years as Rodman didn't start every game in the playoffs, despite being healthy (the final year, he started just 9 of 21 games).

[BitterJim]

Adjusting the lineup to match up with the Bucks or whoever wins the West is one thing, but there is absolutely no way that this team should be adjusting their lineup to deal with the 7 seed. We're way better than them, and should play to our strengths and force them to match up with us

[Goldstar88]

Brogdon is better than both Smart and White. Shouldn’t one of the lineup options include him.

[Atzar]

White, Brogdon, Brown, Tatum, Horford.  That's my favorite lineup.

Don't trust Smart, given how he has played over the last couple of months.  Usage is up, assists are way down, efficiency has dropped, and he's picking up techs for stupid crap.  Not the way I want him to play with this group.  Unfortunately I do expect that he'll start and play heavy minutes. 

Rob will play as much as he can realistically handle and should contribute, but against Philly and Milwaukee it's important to have Horford in the starting lineup. 

Grant or Hauser as matchups dictate.  Grant can help against Giannis but I think I'd otherwise prefer to give Hauser some run in the eighth slot. 

[Vermont Green]

White, Brogdon, Brown, Tatum, Horford.  That's my favorite lineup.

Don't trust Smart, given how he has played over the last couple of months.  Usage is up, assists are way down, efficiency has dropped, and he's picking up techs for stupid crap.  Not the way I want him to play with this group.  Unfortunately I do expect that he'll start and play heavy minutes. 

Rob will play as much as he can realistically handle and should contribute, but against Philly and Milwaukee it's important to have Horford in the starting lineup. 

Grant or Hauser as matchups dictate.  Grant can help against Giannis but I think I'd otherwise prefer to give Hauser some run in the eighth slot.

That unit played 48 minutes this season, generated a +0 overall, really not that good, for whatever reason.  19 min total in the 4th qtr and also +0.  Not a huge sample size, of course.

I don't see them changing Brogdon's role.   

[Atzar]

White, Brogdon, Brown, Tatum, Horford.  That's my favorite lineup.

Don't trust Smart, given how he has played over the last couple of months.  Usage is up, assists are way down, efficiency has dropped, and he's picking up techs for stupid crap.  Not the way I want him to play with this group.  Unfortunately I do expect that he'll start and play heavy minutes. 

Rob will play as much as he can realistically handle and should contribute, but against Philly and Milwaukee it's important to have Horford in the starting lineup. 

Grant or Hauser as matchups dictate.  Grant can help against Giannis but I think I'd otherwise prefer to give Hauser some run in the eighth slot.

That unit played 48 minutes this season, generated a +0 overall, really not that good, for whatever reason.  19 min total in the 4th qtr and also +0.  Not a huge sample size, of course.

I don't see them changing Brogdon's role.

I don't care about lineup +/- given how small the sample is.  I simply think that is our five best players and they're all flexible enough to make it work.  I do acknowledge that Smart will be in the starting/closing lineup whether I like it or not, lol. 

Actually a point of frustration for me that we didn't see the lineup much this season, particularly as it became clear that White had elevated his level of play while Smart was either banged up or ineffective.  I feel that Mazzulla should have given it an extended look. 

[boscel33]

White, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Williams

Those have been the 5 best players on the team all year (when healthy).

Yeah, I'm on board with this one!

[Goldstar88]

Brogdon, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Timelord

[gouki88]

White-Hauser-Brown-Tatum-Horford, at least in round 1.  Miami plays a lot of zone — punish that with Hauser’s 3s.

Hauser would eat off of Tatum and Horford passing in the high post. I like the idea. Brogdon and Smart as super subs

[Neurotic Guy]

White has been the superior player this season over Smart and it isn't even close (plus he's played a lot more). White should get more playing time, particularly in the 4th.

White, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Williams is the best lineup. If you want Brogdon out there instead of Horford/Timelord due to matchups or circumstances, that's fine too. Brogdon has shown he can hold his own against opposing PF/C as well.

This.. exactly. Really no other answer. TP

Yes. This is where I’d be on this.

White, Jays, Al, Rob

White, Brogden, Jays, Al/Rob

[SHAQATTACK]

Many minutes as Time Lord can stay on the court .

Best line has Rob , White and Brogdon with Brown and Tatum .

Smart causes too much negative offensive issues , kills the flow too often  .He needs his eyes checked or his shooting license revoked.

[Vermont Green]

White, Brogdon, Brown, Tatum, Horford.  That's my favorite lineup.

Don't trust Smart, given how he has played over the last couple of months.  Usage is up, assists are way down, efficiency has dropped, and he's picking up techs for stupid crap.  Not the way I want him to play with this group.  Unfortunately I do expect that he'll start and play heavy minutes. 

Rob will play as much as he can realistically handle and should contribute, but against Philly and Milwaukee it's important to have Horford in the starting lineup. 

Grant or Hauser as matchups dictate.  Grant can help against Giannis but I think I'd otherwise prefer to give Hauser some run in the eighth slot.

That unit played 48 minutes this season, generated a +0 overall, really not that good, for whatever reason.  19 min total in the 4th qtr and also +0.  Not a huge sample size, of course.

I don't see them changing Brogdon's role.

I don't care about lineup +/- given how small the sample is.  I simply think that is our five best players and they're all flexible enough to make it work.  I do acknowledge that Smart will be in the starting/closing lineup whether I like it or not, lol. 

Actually a point of frustration for me that we didn't see the lineup much this season, particularly as it became clear that White had elevated his level of play while Smart was either banged up or ineffective.  I feel that Mazzulla should have given it an extended look.

Plus/minus is not the end all but it is a useful indicator. Smart, White, and Brogdon are all good players. Smart has been down this season but just last season, he was a key part of a historically good 5-man unit.  Maybe Smart is still nursing something, maybe a reassessment is needed but I don’t see them changing Brogdon’s role or expanding it.  And I would not start Brogdon over RWilliams.

They most likely will continue start White and Smart but if RWill is ready, he should start. We are better when RWill starts and plays like RWill.

[bello_man09]

Smart to the bench- starting 5 will be, White Brown, Tatum, AL, ROb.

[Vermont Green]

Below are the most used line ups so far and their result in terms of +/-.  The core line up is same as the regular season.  That line up has continued to do just fine.  In total, there are 12 different combinations of the core 8 players that have been used for 3 or more minutes.  There are another 12 combinations that have been used for 1 min or less.  Kornet has played for 1 minute total.

D. White - M. Smart - J. Brown - J. Tatum - A. Horford                        28 min   +13
M. Smart - J. Brown - M. Brogdon - S. Hauser - R. Williams III            10 min    +3
D. White - J. Brown - J. Tatum - A. Horford - R. Williams III                 7 min     +1
M. Smart - J. Brown - M. Brogdon - J. Tatum - A. Horford                    7 min     +3

I think a big surprise for me is that we have been limited to the 8 man rotation.  Most notably, Grant has not been in the rotation.  I checked all the other teams, 10 teams are using 9 man rotations, 5 are using 8 man rotations (including BOS) with PHO using 7 in their rotation.  Injuries and suspensions are skewing this some.

I am still surprised they are not playing Grant.  He is definitely a lesser talent than the main 7, especially the way Horford has been playing, but I see Grant as a playoff caliber player, 8th or 9th man.  Hauser has established himself as the 8th man, at least for this series.  That seems more match up based than ability based.

The Celtics top unit has been used on average about 14 min per game.  PHO for example is using their top unit over 20 min per game.  We have narrowed the core rotation but we are doing a pretty good job of spreading those minutes around, and using a bunch of combinations.  Our 1-7 are all starter level players.  Not much drop off no matter what the combination.  And Hauser has been playing at that level lately also.  He has been a solid 8th guy.