Game 1 Staring lineup

[Neurotic Guy]

I think PP has earned the starting gig. Simons will be offense off the bench.  I assume some put Simons in the starting lineup because it will maximize trade value but I think it?s intriguing to have him off the bench.  Despite Pritchard?s success in the bench role and his size I think he?ll be a more solid starter and more traditional 1.  I?ll also throw in that there were pages here with mentions that PP, despite size, is the more effective defender - and the better passer. So I say put the better all around PG as starter and have Niang in there with PP.  Simmons (double M intended) becomes the starting 4 if they do get him.

PP
White
Brown
Niang
Queta

True the team is a ton worse without JT, KP and Jrue, but there will be some interesting/flawed players to watch including Queta, Minot, Garza, Niang, Walsh, Simons and at some point maybe Gonzalez. There will be moments good and bad, and Joe will be tested.   And half-year in we will be talking 26-27, trade deadline moves, lottery possibilities, college prospects, and of course Tatum?s return.  I am not not looking forward to the season (double negative intended).

[paintitgreen]

Yeah sometimes the team being down can be more interesting because there is a lot more to speculate on. I for one did not see Porzingis coming at all when it happened so I find myself believing that Stevens and his team have some big men in mind for 26-27, I wonder if we will see any action on it before the trade deadline.

And I definitely think Pritchard is the better option, I have anticipated them keeping him in the bench role for another year. That said, Pritchard is much more likely to be a long term piece than Simons and I do believe the right role for Simons is as a bench scorer so maybe Mazzulla will see that and put Pritchard in the starting lineup. And Mazzulla does not seem to like Pritchard as much as fans and statistics do. (Still think they would?ve been up 3-0 if he just played Pritchard 5-8 more minutes in Games 1 and 2 and I have no faith Mazzulla learned anything from that series.)

[paintitgreen]

Yeah sometimes the team being down can be more interesting because there is a lot more to speculate on. I for one did not see Porzingis coming at all when it happened so I find myself believing that Stevens and his team have some big men in mind for 26-27, I wonder if we will see any action on it before the trade deadline.

And I definitely think Pritchard is the better option, I have anticipated them keeping him in the bench role for another year. That said, Pritchard is much more likely to be a long term piece than Simons and I do believe the right role for Simons is as a bench scorer so maybe Mazzulla will see that and put Pritchard in the starting lineup. And Mazzulla does not seem to like Pritchard as much as fans and statistics do. (Still think they would?ve been up 3-0 if he just played Pritchard 5-8 more minutes in Games 1 and 2 and I have no faith Mazzulla learned anything from that series.)

[lbgreen33]

I think we will know a lot more when the preseason starts. It will be really telling to see if Joe starts Simons on 10,8 against Memphis. My guess is he does, I also think that is the least of our problems! As always it seems we have plenty of guards and very few bigs.

[Celtics2021]

I?m much more interested in the closing lineup.  Does Joe go small with a Niang at the 5?  Does he go ultra-small with Niang at the 5, Brown at the 4, and our three guards?  I kind of think he should, as it is different enough in the regular season to throw other teams out of rhythm.  Normally you want your best 5 out there at the end, and while I am not sure Niang is better than Hauser, he is likely better than any of our centers.

[hwangjini_1]

...

1.  Anfernee Simons
2.  Derrick White
3.  Jaylen Brown
4.  Ben Simmons
5.  Neemias Queta

...

note to self: buy alcohol.

[JBcat]

G: A Simons
G: D White
F: Jaylen
F: J Minott
C: Queta

I?m with you for this lineup. I think Josh Minott is a really sneaky good signing as a Swiss Army knife type of player. I like that in our starting lineup but I could see how Joe may start Houser instead.

[Goldstar88]

This thread is so depressing.   

[lbgreen33]

...

1.  Anfernee Simons
2.  Derrick White
3.  Jaylen Brown
4.  Ben Simmons
5.  Neemias Queta

...

note to self: buy alcohol.

I love this!!!! TP

[wiley]

I?m much more interested in the closing lineup.  Does Joe go small with a Niang at the 5?  Does he go ultra-small with Niang at the 5, Brown at the 4, and our three guards?  I kind of think he should, as it is different enough in the regular season to throw other teams out of rhythm.  Normally you want your best 5 out there at the end, and while I am not sure Niang is better than Hauser, he is likely better than any of our centers.

Starting Lineup:  White, Simons, Brown, Minott, Garza

Closing Lineup:   White, Simons, Brown     Pritchard or Hauser, and Minott or Garza

[Celtics2021]

I?m much more interested in the closing lineup.  Does Joe go small with a Niang at the 5?  Does he go ultra-small with Niang at the 5, Brown at the 4, and our three guards?  I kind of think he should, as it is different enough in the regular season to throw other teams out of rhythm.  Normally you want your best 5 out there at the end, and while I am not sure Niang is better than Hauser, he is likely better than any of our centers.

Starting Lineup:  White, Simons, Brown, Minott, Garza

Closing Lineup:   White, Simons, Brown     Pritchard or Hauser, and Minott or Garza

Is Minott big enough to play center?  I went to the draft combine page on NBA.com and he had no measurements.  I?m fine giving him a shot to close games, although I do think the vet experience of Niang wins out on opening day (and most likely Queta also.  Maybe Q will surprise me).

[Who]

I?m much more interested in the closing lineup.  Does Joe go small with a Niang at the 5?  Does he go ultra-small with Niang at the 5, Brown at the 4, and our three guards?  I kind of think he should, as it is different enough in the regular season to throw other teams out of rhythm.  Normally you want your best 5 out there at the end, and while I am not sure Niang is better than Hauser, he is likely better than any of our centers.

Starting Lineup:  White, Simons, Brown, Minott, Garza

Closing Lineup:   White, Simons, Brown     Pritchard or Hauser, and Minott or Garza

Is Minott big enough to play center?  I went to the draft combine page on NBA.com and he had no measurements.  I?m fine giving him a shot to close games, although I do think the vet experience of Niang wins out on opening day (and most likely Queta also.  Maybe Q will surprise me).

Minott is not that big. He is 6-8 but only around 215-220lbs. Slightly taller than Jaylen but not as strong as Jaylen.

Minott is a slasher. A forward. Uses his quickness to cut, drive, transition ... to get to the rim.

[BitterJim]

I think it's a mistake to expect we'll have one set opening/closing lineup. That was generally the case the past few seasons, but we were able to do that because we had the more talented roster and could just play our game while the other team was forced to change their lineup to counter us. We'll be at a disadvantage most games now, so we'll have to adapt to what our good opponents put out there. Sometimes that will mean playing big, sometimes playing small, sometimes going heavy shooting, etc. The only constants will be Brown, White, and probably Pritchard