Game 1 Starting Lineup

[Goldstar88]

Boucher and Queta are not starter material and Pritchard is best as a 6th man.

Not a playoff starting lineup at all

Lol - pritchard is the Sixth Man of the Year, meaning at best, he is likely better than at least half 10-15 of the guards that are currently starting.

We will see on Queta. Things are set up pretty well for him to prove himself this year. Boucher is one that I probably agree with you on. I'd rather hope that someone pops in camp as a wing/forward that could start.

Pritchard is not better than 10-15 starting point guards in the NBA. He?s probably better than 2 or 3 PG?s on bad teams. Not a knock on Pritchard, I just don?t think he should be starting.

I'd go with Pritchard somewhere around the 20th best PG in the league. So roughly 10 starting PGs Pritchard is better than.

Utah = Isaiah Collier
Milwaukee = Ryan Rollins
Minnesota = Mike Conley
Brooklyn Nets = T Mann? Ben Saraf? Nolan Traore?
Detroit = Jaden Ivey
Phoenix = Grayson Allen
Chicago = Ayo Dosunma

Something like that.

Similar to CJ McCollum, Immanuel Quickley.
Similar or better than D Schroder, Colin Sexton.

Jaden ivy isn?t the PG, Cade is. Giddey or White will be the PG for Chicago. Phoenix backcourt is Booker/Jalen Green.

[Moranis]

I'm not even sure PP is the best backup PG either.  I mean the Cavs went out and got Lonzo Ball. If he can actually stay healthy, I think he is better than PP.  Is he better than Chris Paul?  I'm sure there are a few others as well.  What about Marcus Smart (though he may start). 

PP is a solid bench player, but he should not be a long term starter.  He isn't good enough

[Vermont Green]

Pritchard is probably good enough to start this season for BOS, depending on how Simons works out, but I think he is most valuable to the team moving forward coming off the bench.  So if Pritchard is going to be a bench guy when Tatum comes back for 2026-27 and beyond, then the best thing is to use him in that role for 2025-26, at least as things stand now.  There is no reason not to start Simons (I can't see a scenario where they both start).

If we trade Simons other the roster changes otherwise, I have no qualms at all having Pritchard as a starter, none.

I know that who starts doesn't mean who finishes, but the question posed by this thread is Who Will Start Game 1.  A thread based on the question of who are the best 5 to close games, could result in different answers.

[Celtics2021]

Pritchard is probably good enough to start this season for BOS, depending on how Simons works out, but I think he is most valuable to the team moving forward coming off the bench.  So if Pritchard is going to be a bench guy when Tatum comes back for 2026-27 and beyond, then the best thing is to use him in that role for 2025-26, at least as things stand now.  There is no reason not to start Simons (I can't see a scenario where they both start).

If we trade Simons other the roster changes otherwise, I have no qualms at all having Pritchard as a starter, none.

I know that who starts doesn't mean who finishes, but the question posed by this thread is Who Will Start Game 1.  A thread based on the question of who are the best 5 to close games, could result in different answers.

Pritchard should get a season to start, or at least half a season.  This is the chance for him to prove himself, and he has risen to the occasion many times when given that chance.  Let Simons win 6th man of the year.

[Silas]

Pritchard is probably good enough to start this season for BOS, depending on how Simons works out, but I think he is most valuable to the team moving forward coming off the bench.  So if Pritchard is going to be a bench guy when Tatum comes back for 2026-27 and beyond, then the best thing is to use him in that role for 2025-26, at least as things stand now.  There is no reason not to start Simons (I can't see a scenario where they both start).

If we trade Simons other the roster changes otherwise, I have no qualms at all having Pritchard as a starter, none.

I know that who starts doesn't mean who finishes, but the question posed by this thread is Who Will Start Game 1.  A thread based on the question of who are the best 5 to close games, could result in different answers.

Pritchard should get a season to start, or at least half a season.  This is the chance for him to prove himself, and he has risen to the occasion many times when given that chance.  Let Simons win 6th man of the year.

I agree...

[Goldstar88]

Pritchard is probably good enough to start this season for BOS, depending on how Simons works out, but I think he is most valuable to the team moving forward coming off the bench.  So if Pritchard is going to be a bench guy when Tatum comes back for 2026-27 and beyond, then the best thing is to use him in that role for 2025-26, at least as things stand now.  There is no reason not to start Simons (I can't see a scenario where they both start).

If we trade Simons other the roster changes otherwise, I have no qualms at all having Pritchard as a starter, none.

I know that who starts doesn't mean who finishes, but the question posed by this thread is Who Will Start Game 1.  A thread based on the question of who are the best 5 to close games, could result in different answers.

Pritchard should get a season to start, or at least half a season.  This is the chance for him to prove himself, and he has risen to the occasion many times when given that chance.  Let Simons win 6th man of the year.

I don?t think his defense will suddenly improve after slotting him into the starting lineup. Teams will hunt him, like they did in the postseason.

[Celtics4ever]

I'm not even sure PP is the best backup PG either.  I mean the Cavs went out and got Lonzo Ball. If he can actually stay healthy, I think he is better than PP.  Is he better than Chris Paul?  I'm sure there are a few others as well.  What about Marcus Smart (though he may start). 

PP is a solid bench player, but he should not be a long term starter.  He isn't good enough

Better at defense and passing.   He is not a better shooter by any means.  Payton can outscore him.    Ball was a an over-hyped con job by this father.  Yes, his shooting has got better.

I think the Cavs made some lateral moves as I see it.  Lonzo can't score well or shoot wel you can play off him.  Thomas Bryant is a jouneyman who plays an old style of basketball..  Larry's Nance's best years are behind him.  They still have their core though.  it iwll be interesting to see.  I guess it depends on whether one bought into the Lonzo Ball hype. 

[Csfan1984]

Style of play I think matters a lot on who should start. Also if you want Hauser at PF and Brown at SF things change. A Team with White and Brown as the backcourt makes a stronger bench but I felt Hauser (battling injury) was too slow for SF last year. Does Hauser rebound from the injury?

At PG If White and Brown are driving to the rim more this year than PP makes sense to start. If White is a step slower than team may be better using him to spot up more and Simmons start.

Only White, Brown and Queta are must starts for me.

So what I expect based on last year play is
Simmons, White, Brown, Hauser, Queta
PP stays as 6th man.

but we could get alternatives of
PP at PG and Boucher at PF.

Won't be shocked by stronger bench opt of
Starters:White, Brown, Hauser, Boucher, Queta
Bench: PP, Simmons, Minott, Tilman, Garza

[celticinorlando]

PP
White
Brown
Boucher
Queta

That is your starting 5. front court is flat out ass. Queta should not be a starter in this league. I think he is a very poor player.

Bench will be Simons, Hauser, Garza, Baylor and Minot. Have no idea if Tillman fits into this line up.

[Moranis]

If PP does start over Simons, Boston is going to be very small in the backcourt.   Brown is OK sized at SF and then Boucher and Queta are sized fine, but just aren't any good.  Team won't be able to defend and they have no one that can generate a shot at a high level.  At least Simons can create for himself and is harder to shoot over given he is bigger than PP.

This team is in for a long season.

[Vermont Green]

I agree that this team is not that good, my expectations are not that high.  But here is how I would characterize my projected game 1 starters/bench (purposefully optimistic of course):

Simons   (Going to continue to score 20 ppg, but will improve defense
              and playmaking)
White     (Derrick will continue to be Derrick, with a numbers uptick due to
              more opportunity)
Brown    (I like him better at guard but he has the versatility to play wing/SF. 
             He will rise to the occasion and have a good year)
Boucher  (A fringe starter but should be fine in the role he will have with BOS)
Garza     (Breakout year for Garza, the big surprise of the season. 
             Finds a stroke from 3 and plays well all around)

Pritchard, Hauser, and Queta anchor the bench, doing what they have been doing.  Amari Williams also plays well and earns meaningful minutes.  Tillman gets his knee right and becomes a useful bench player.  Minot and Gonzalez have flashes but remain a year away.  Walsh and Scheierman, I am not so optimistic about.  Tatum comes back, gets into some games at the end of the season, but doesn't push it.