I used to hate small ball like you. Then we took 4 free agents...to the roster

[the_Bird]

We're going to see a lot of smallball this year, just because that's going to get our best players on the floor.  That's why I think they were so keen on re-signing Jeff Green, because he *can* play some PF in that kind of lineup. 

You could throw out a lineup of:

Rondo
Lee
Pierce
Green
KG

And that's KIND OF small-ball, but not really; you're really only giving up size at the PF position (and maybe some bulk at C), but that's an extremely athletic team that should be able to get up and down the floor.  Might require Pierce to hit the glass to make up for some of Green's shortcomings in that department, but I'm interested to see that grouping.

Also why I really like the Courtney Lee signing; he's got good size for the SG position, unlike the other players were are likely to put out there.

[Who]

I like small-ball lineups and having lineup versatility so long as you have the players to make it work.

I generally dislike being small in multiple areas at the same time though. For example, if you go small with a combo forward at PF, I like to have big wings alongside him rather than an undersized backcourt. I don't like to go small at PF with a combo forward there without a legitimate center alongside him. Stuff like that.

So I am not wild about the prospect of undersized backcourts (Terry, Bradley, Rondo) + an undersized forward combo with Lee at SF alongside Jeff Green at PF + non-centers like Wilcox or Sullinger manning the five in a small-ball lineup while Garnett rests.

I believe lineups like that create multiple (too many) vulnerabilities in terms of defense and rebounding ... and unless they offer a huge improvement offensively to out-weigh those losses, they'll end up causing more problems than solutions if used as part of an everyday rotation.

So ... we'll see what Doc does. How he chooses to use this depth and lineup flexibility. It's a great asset for the team if used appropriately but could end up causing some problems if not. All eyes on Doc (who has done a great job in recent years and gives me confidence heading into next season). 

That 05/06 Phoenix team might give a little room for optimism if we do go the route of all-small.  Those Nash/Barbosa/Bell/Marion/Diaw (or Thomas) line-ups were tiny all-around but still pretty potent.

I think the perimeter positions are comparable but not the PF or C positions.

Shawn Marion could play the PF position on a full time basis. He was capable of defending and rebounding his position at a well above average level unlike Jeff Green (who showed himself to be a liability as a defender/rebounder when playing PF full time).

Boris Diaw was a much better defensive player and a far more skilled offensive player who could create (larger) matchup advantages for his team by switching to the center position. Unlike Sullinger who is likely to see a decrease in offensive potency at center + is likely to be an incompetent defender as an NBA rookie. And unlike Wilcox who lacks both intelligence and the physical size (heft, bulk) of Diaw defensively + and doesn't create an offensive advantage. Ditto for Bass (who can shoot like Diaw but lacks the ball-handling, shot-creation and playmaking of Diaw). And, Kurt Thomas who is a legitimate defensive presence at the center position unlike Sully, Bass or Wilcox.

I don't think that lineup will be comparable to a non-KG / non-Pierce all out small-ball lineup because of the difference in the big men.

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Anyway, hopefully Garnett will be on the floor whenever (or at least as much as possible) Doc decides to go small. He is a major advantage in making those lineups work effectively.

Or perhaps a primary backup center who has yet to be signed - like C.Andersen who would also give those units more of a backbone.