Assuming everyone is healthy what is our rotation of centers?

[JBcat]

I'm going to assume Murphy is going to sign (from the reports out there) so I'll add him to the mix.  We would have Shaq, Jermaine, Murphy, Kristic, Baby, and KG all capable of playing center.

Shaq I would think most of us would agree should be the starter but he can only go 20 to 25 minutes a night tops. 

After that things get a little more blurry.  Doc and Danny have said they have been searching for someone who could fill a similar role as Posey and go small in crunch time moments.   You could see a lineup of KG at center, Green at PF, Pierce at SF, Allen at SG, and Rondo at PG when it matters most.  That is one option.

Baby bodies up well against big centers but I would think he wouldn't be playing center at all if everyone is healthy.

Jermaine seems logical to me (again if fully healthy) as the first center off the bench because of his defense, shot blocking, ability to score a little and hit the outside shot.

As the third string between Murphy (again I'm assuming we sign him) and Kristic I think I would choose Murphy as he is a better rebounder, a better scorer, and ability to hit the 3 (career 39% from 3). 

Kristic was a starting center on a very good team.  He could very well be in street clothes if everyone is healthy.  It would be a little ironic if he sits alot come playoff time.

How would you divide the minutes between PF and C?
KG at 32 MPG maybe some minutes at C in a small lineup with Green at PF.
Shaq 20 MPG
Baby 16 MPG
Jermaine 15 MPG
Green 8 MPG per game at PF rest of his minutes as Paul's backup.
Murphy 5 MPG
Kristic sitting, Powe too if we got him.

It could very well be much different than that depending on Doc's thinking.

The good news from the "Encouraging words from Ainge" thread is that it looks like we will have both Shaq and Jermaine.   The byproduct of that is that it would appear none of our big guys would have to play very long minutes. 

[Edgar]

Shaq, Jermaine, Murphy, Dalembert, Kristic, BBD, Garnett, Powe.

5 minutes each
5 fouls on Dwight each
And powe at the end for him to feel humiliated

[Roy H.]

Somehow, "everybody being healthy" isn't something I'm worried about.

It's a good question, though.  If our team finds a health elixir lying around somewhere, it's going to be a tough juggling act; at least a couple of legitimate NBA vets will be sitting.

[droponov]

Assuming everybody is healthy and in form:

No small-ball:

Shaq - 18 mpg
Garnett - 36 mpg
J O'Neal - 24 mpg
Big Baby - 18 mpg

KG playing alongside Shaq and BBD. I'd leave Krstic out of the rotation (also Murphy if he ends up signing). They're very good depth though, I wouldn't hesitate to use them if one of the other guys was playing badly or in the case of a favourable matchup.

But Jeff Green gives a legit small-ball line-up to use sporadically. That would really depend on matchups and the game situation. Hard to put on paper.

[LooseCannon]

Shaq starts alongside KG.  BBD retains his role as first big off the bench, usually when Shaq sits.  If healthy, Jermaine O'Neal comes in when KG takes a breather.  Otherwise Krstic or Murphy, depending on who earns Doc's trust more.

In the 4th quarter, Doc plays the best matchup, whether Jermaine for defense, BBD because Doc is used to him, or Jeff Green in a small lineup.

If anything, the deal means that Glen Davis might find himself on the bench more often late in the game if he takes too many bad shots because the team has more options now.

[Celtics4ever]

Everyone healthy is an unlikely scenario.  But here goes, I think Shaq is our starter.   Jermaine backs him up.  Big Baby backs up KG.

More realistic is KG will be center or BBD, the other will be PF.  Krstic is the first big off the bench for now.  Its what we have Johnson is the second as he is our only other big.  Adding Murphy would change this if it happens.

[pearljammer10]

Shaq starts plays his dominant 5 minutes in the first quarter. Baby steps in until KG comes out and JO then comes in for center. Kristic takes up the rest of the minutes when Shaq or JO are in foul trouble.

[greenpride32]

"Our team is still not whole,” said Ainge. "We started out great. We played great basketball with Shaq (O’Neal) in the middle. I think it’ll be easier for Shaq to return in a starting position, which I think he has earned with his play this year."

[Fafnir]

Somehow, "everybody being healthy" isn't something I'm worried about.

It's a good question, though.  If our team finds a health elixir lying around somewhere, it's going to be a tough juggling act; at least a couple of legitimate NBA vets will be sitting.

If we're fully healthy it'll be Shaq/Jermaine for most of the C minutes. Then BBD will play PF with a couple of C minutes here and there.

If we were to get Murphy I'm not sure when he'd get on the floor, it'd depend a lot on match ups and how well he rebounds/defends. He's played so little this year I don't know what to expect from him.

[birdwatcher]

Shaq starts, but I think Kristic is going to get a fair amount of minutes against guys like Bynum, Howard, Perk, just to keep them out of the paint on D with his shooting. We gotta remember that he was the starting C for OKC, a top 4 team in the west. He CAN play, most of us are undervaluing him.

[Edgar]

yup

kristic is better than people is giving credits

Shaq, JO, center, kristic, and probaby other center
are a NIGHTMARE for ANY team in the league
no matter their name
we are sick deep on bigs even without Perk
and now we are deep in other departaments too
We just need half shaq and half JO witha  and half other center.full Kristic
to be champs

[Redz]

My view of "everyone being healthy" doesn't include JO.  I have written him off.  Which basically puts it all on Shaq (assuming there are no further injuries - which is a big assumption).

So yeh, Shaq starts and gives us 5 or 6 minute chunks, twice a half.  Baby finishes the game in the middle.  Krstic gives us 15-20 minutes in between (more when Shaq is in foul trouble).