What is our best line up for the Playoffs

[Vermont Green]

I am stipulating “most used” in addition to starting.  Option 1 was the most used option this season (432 min, +102) but RWill was hurt a lot.  Option 2 was the most used last season and was dominant (443 min, +218).  Option 3 is something I think a lot of people are thinking (69 min this season, +64).  Smart has been beat up some and White has been good all season.

So the question is, for the playoffs this season, what lineup should be our top lineup or most used.  That will probably also be the starting lineup but does not necessarily need to be the starting lineup.

It is a bit strange for a team to be going into the playoffs as a favorite and that there is even a question about the #1 lineup.

[Moranis]

White, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Williams

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

[Roy H.]

White, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Williams

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

I think I agree with that, but there's no way that Smart comes off the bench / doesn't finish games.  Joe has seemingly forgotten that White was on the team in certain games this year.

[Moranis]

White, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Williams

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

I think I agree with that, but there's no way that Smart comes off the bench / doesn't finish games.  Joe has seemingly forgotten that White was on the team in certain games this year.

I don't disagree and Smart will clearly start, but the question in this thread is what is the best line up, and that is White, Brown, Tatum, Horford, and Williams.

[yelkao]

I think there’s gonna be games where Brogdon has to be out there to close too. It is weird that it’s not totally defined for this team. Hopefully Mazzula can make the right call often enough.

[Vermont Green]

I wonder if Smart is 100% (or as close as anyone is to that this time of year).  If he is healthy and ready, vs. if he is still banged up, that could change the equation a lot.  I think Mazzulla/Celtics would consider playing Smart less if he is not 100%.  Manage his minutes so to speak.  But if Smart is 100%, I am not sure it is settled that White is better or who should play more minutes with the starters.

[slamtheking]

I think it's going to depend on the team we're matched up against, how Al is playing and Timelord's health.

assuming Miami in the first series, I think it'd be White, Smart, Brown, Tatum and Al in order to provide a tough defender on Butler at all times.  it also puts a tough defender on Herro and Lowry to keep them in check.  problem is Bam will kill us on the boards.  I suspect we'll see quite a bit of Al and Timelord together if Bam runs amok so we can keep him off the boards but that means Brown/Tatum will have to exert a lot more energy defending Butler and Herro.  My hope would be that no matter what lineup we put out there can run Miami off the court as well has hit a respectable percentage from outside to open up the lane.

if we somehow get atlanta in the first series, I suspect we'd see the same lineup used the most -- not necessarily starting but on the court together the most during the games.

[Vermont Green]

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.

[slamtheking]

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.

I think our best variation included Timelord but since he's been out so much this season that he hasn't been fully integrated with the rest of the lineup that so effective last year we haven't seen them play to that same level of effectiveness this year. 

I agree we should have a top lineup established at this point but with Joe's odd rotations and players missing time, I don't think we really have one established yet and that's not exactly a good thing

[Phantom255x]

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.

[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. 

[Vermont Green]

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.

[jbpats]

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

[Celtics2021]

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

[Roy H.]

I don't remember a title team that didn't have a clear #1 lineup. 

I agree that most teams have them.  One that didn't:  the Warriors the year they inserted Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup to match up with Lebron.  That was brilliant.

Kerr is general mixes his starting lineups more than most.  In last year's playoff run:

Looney started 13 out of 22 games
Poole started 5
Porter started 3
Kuminga started 3
Payton started 2