What starting lineup do you like for this team?

[clover]

Just for fun, would Thomas-Bradley-Turner-Lee-Olynyk be the worst plausible starting 5, defensively, in the entire NBA?

What, you're not going to put Young in for Bradley, too?

[littleteapot]

I think Turner and Crowder can play together (either at 2-3 or 3-4). The value of Turner starting is that we need multiple ball handlers because none of our ball handlers individually can handle pressure. Crowder doesn't help this issue. I could see starting Smart/Turner/Crowder or IT/Turner/Crowder as your backcourt but that means you have no backup 3.

[Evantime34]

My favorite line up is Smart, Bradley, Crowder, Sullinger, Johnson. Provided the following things happen;
1. Sullinger comes in camp in shape and has improved his 3 point shooting. IMO Sullinger's biggest issues on defense have to do with conditioning. I think he knows where he needs to be on defense but sometimes doesn't get there because he's too tired. I think he can actually provide replacement level defense if he is in shape.
2. Smart has improved his ball handling to the point that we don't need a secondary ball handler like Turner to start next to Smart
3. Lee is ok coming off the bench knowing that he will come in at the same time as Thomas to form a deadly pick and roll combo.

[PhoSita]

Just for fun, would Thomas-Bradley-Turner-Lee-Olynyk be the worst plausible starting 5, defensively, in the entire NBA?

What, you're not going to put Young in for Bradley, too?

He said "plausible starting five," so I'm guessing Young, a non-rotation player, is out.

I think Mudiay - Foye - Chandler - Gallo - Faried is probably worse.

[TheFlex]

Marcus Smart
AB
Turner
Lee
Amir Johnson

That's what I expect to see. That's not all that disappointing. Smart should be better, maybe even a lot better this year. Lee and Johnson are both upgrades, unless you're being unfair by combining 2014-15 pre-AS break Sully with 2014-15 post-AS break Zeller. And even then, Lee/Johnson is probably a collective upgrade.

What I want to see is this:

IT
Smart
Crowder
Lee
Johnson

Terrific blend of offense and defense.

[sofutomygaha]

The starting five will almost without a doubt be Smart-Bradley-Turner-Sullinger-Johnson. The only real question is whether Crowder takes Turner's job, but I'd bet he comes off of the bench until such time as Turner is traded.

It will?

Yes! It absolutely will!

[YeezusChrist]

PG: Smart
SG: Bradley
SF: Crowder
PF: Sully
C: Johnson

IT will not start Danny has said it, Brad has said it, and IT has accepted it. IT just wouldn't work starting he can't guard starting caliber PG's and that's the strongest position in the league having Bradley and Smart hounding the Chris Paul's and Steph Curry's in the league is a luxary.

Plus I think IT being able to score so much is due to the inferior defense used off the bench of other teams. It's just like when Jamal Crawford or Lou Williams or even Jason Terry were brought to the starting lineup they couldn't keep up the same level of production with the starting unit. It's best for IT to stay as the 6th man for the team.

[Celtics4ever]

I think Lee may start as well at PF.  The roster could be very fluid with some change as Ainge said, so providing they are all here.

I think  AB and Smart will be the guards with Rozier coming off the bench with IT.  RJ Hunter may play some if he can demonstrate NBA level shooting skills.   Shooting is always at a premium in the NBA and he is the kind of guy, that coaches love.

Swings and Wings   I think Crowder will start at SF.   I think RJ Hunter may play here if we need shooting.  Turner will play here as well most likely in front of Hunter, whom I think that will use situationally.

PF or Bigs is really going to be the million dollar question.   I have zero confidence from what I have seen this summer that Sully will meet his fitness and weight loss goals.   Supposedly the C's want him at 265.   Ainge pretty much served him notice this year to take care of business so I think there will be less tolerance given the depth we now have on the roster.   Therefore , I think Lee will start.   I think Jerenko, Sully and KO will come off the bench, depending on need and match ups, though Jonas may play at SF if we need a big one.

C or Bigs I think Zeller and Amir will play here.   CBS has shown that he will play a guy who is better off the bench for second unit pop.   That may well happen here folks.   I can't really decide on this one.   Our second unit will be impressive with Amir, Rozier, Turner and KO and IT.   It won't be a break for the other team.   But it really depends who starts at PF,   Lee and Sully are poor defenders who having Amir out there will help them.

I see Mickey making the team and possibly Young but these guys could end up in D League land.

CBS and the team really found its groove in spring with hard nosed play and tough defense.   I think guys who do not run the floor and play D will sit a little more this year as CBS saw the fruits that effort can bring.    He also made comments about defensive versatility which lead to believe that we are going to play with even more defensive focus.  I think we are deep across the board, lack a true star, but have a lot of guys who can play.   We have a very flexible roster, and between it all should be able to floor several guys with a hot hand on any given night.

[action781]

I'm going with:

PG:  Smart/IT2/Rozier
SG:  AB/Hunter
SF:  Crowder/PJ3
PF:  Lee/Sully/Olynyk
C:   Amir/Zeller/Olynyk/Mickey

Here's the deal.  I think we need to run Smart at PG and not SG.  His ceiling as a SG is very low because of his jumpshot and a ceiling I would describe as that of a rich man's Tony Allen and I want more out of Smart than that.  So I want the celtics to give him another season at the PG position.  Yes, it sucks because IT and Rozier also deserve a lot of playing time at PG, but Smart needs to be given a chance there to see if he can become a great player at that position.   Because of this logjam at PG is why I think trading one of Smart or Rozier is a priority for us -- even if they are the two prospects on this roster I like the most.  Maybe Rozier can get some burn in the d-league for a while until there's a trade or an injury.

So why do I want to start Smart over IT, but not Sully/Olynyk at PF?  I guess I'd like Lee to work up his trade value for one which would be useful for us.  And two, Sully is in his last season before restricted free agency.  So I'd like to see him really work hard to earn that playing time he needs in order to bargain his next contract.  Also suppressing his minutes may work well in suppressing his contract if the celtics envision him as part of our future (I'm not sure that I would).

And yeah, I want Turner gone.  He's not part of the future.  Let's give up on the fact that he's not bringing back anything in a trade.  I love the way Crowder plays and I want to see if PJ3 can do something with some playing time.

[sofutomygaha]

Just for fun, would Thomas-Bradley-Turner-Lee-Olynyk be the worst plausible starting 5, defensively, in the entire NBA?

What, you're not going to put Young in for Bradley, too?

He said "plausible starting five," so I'm guessing Young, a non-rotation player, is out.

I think Mudiay - Foye - Chandler - Gallo - Faried is probably worse.

OOF. I'm not sure that's a plausible starting frontcourt, but you're right that would be pretty terrible.

[max215]

I'm going with:

PG:  Smart/IT2/Rozier
SG:  AB/Hunter
SF:  Crowder/PJ3
PF:  Lee/Sully/Olynyk
C:   Amir/Zeller/Olynyk/Mickey

Here's the deal.  I think we need to run Smart at PG and not SG. His ceiling as a SG is very low because of his jumpshot and a ceiling I would describe as that of a rich man's Tony Allen and I want more out of Smart than that.  So I want the celtics to give him another season at the PG position.  Yes, it sucks because IT and Rozier also deserve a lot of playing time at PG, but Smart needs to be given a chance there to see if he can become a great player at that position.   Because of this logjam at PG is why I think trading one of Smart or Rozier is a priority for us -- even if they are the two prospects on this roster I like the most.  Maybe Rozier can get some burn in the d-league for a while until there's a trade or an injury.

So why do I want to start Smart over IT, but not Sully/Olynyk at PF?  I guess I'd like Lee to work up his trade value for one which would be useful for us.  And two, Sully is in his last season before restricted free agency.  So I'd like to see him really work hard to earn that playing time he needs in order to bargain his next contract.  Also suppressing his minutes may work well in suppressing his contract if the celtics envision him as part of our future (I'm not sure that I would).

And yeah, I want Turner gone.  He's not part of the future.  Let's give up on the fact that he's not bringing back anything in a trade.  I love the way Crowder plays and I want to see if PJ3 can do something with some playing time.

That logic just doesn't really hold up, Dwyane Wade is an utterly uninspiring jumpshooter, but is one of the best SG's of the last few decades.

[MJohnnyboy]

Pending on any trades which I still think could happen, I think the starting lineup should be:

PG-Marcus Smart
SG-Avery Bradley
SF-Evan Turner
PF-David Lee
C-Amir Johnson

Sixth man: Isaiah Thomas
Rotation: Jae Crowder, Tyler Zeller, Jonas Jerebko, with KO/Sully and Rozier/Hunter duking it out for the last spots in the rotation. My apologies to Jordan Mickey and James Young optimists out there though I will not be surprised if the Celtics give them a shot at playing time this season. That's what really strikes me about this team. Even if it doesn't have the most talent, it definitely has versatility to make up for it.

I also am in the group that believes Crowder will take Turners place if Smart has improved as a playmaker. Of course I wouldn't be surprised if Turner/Sully/PJIII get packaged in a deal for someone like Danilo Gallinari sometime this season.

Edit: I forgot about PJIII. The Celtics will give him a look, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I'd rather be surprised to see him play well than be disappointed to see him suck.

[LGC88]

Pending on any trades which I still think could happen, I think the starting lineup should be:

PG-Marcus Smart
SG-Avery Bradley
SF-Evan Turner
PF-David Lee
C-Amir Johnson

Sixth man: Isaiah Thomas
Rotation: Jae Crowder, Tyler Zeller, Jonas Jerebko, with KO/Sully and Rozier/Hunter duking it out for the last spots in the rotation. My apologies to Jordan Mickey and James Young optimists out there though I will not be surprised if the Celtics give them a shot at playing time this season. That's what really strikes me about this team. Even if it doesn't have the most talent, it definitely has versatility to make up for it.

I also am in the group that believes Crowder will take Turners place if Smart has improved as a playmaker. Of course I wouldn't be surprised if Turner/Sully/PJIII get packaged in a deal for someone like Danilo Gallinari sometime this season.

Edit: I forgot about PJIII. The Celtics will give him a look, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I'd rather be surprised to see him play well than be disappointed to see him suck.

This is probably what Stevens have in mind, unless those 5 don't click together during practice.
Our 3 best defensive players, solid experience players. Everybody can score. That's what Brad likes as a starting 5. IT will still be the 6th man, because he's so much more efficient offensively against the opposite bench and less of a liability defensively for the same reason.
The bench is where the fun is, so many interesting combination to try. I guess we'll never be bored the entire season.
Just for the fun, an offensive 3pts shooting oriented 2nd unit  :
- IT
- Hunter
- PJIII
- Jerebko
- KO
Ok that would be bad defensively but fun to watch everybody spreading the floor.

[SHAQATTACK]

One where ET starts for a team NOT called the Celtics

I d love to seen RJ Hunter get starter minutes. .....Hunter can provide the scoring from outside , our team so,desperately needed on the starting unit......AB is too streaky....cold to start games.  Hunter would help get the team going from outside . 



Amir.    Center
Lee        PF
Smart.    PG 
Bradley    SG
Hunter.    Wing



Second unit

Zeller
IT
Sully/ KO
Rozier
Crowder/mickey



I completely Ignore ET ...I pray he is traded ...so Hunter and Young can get more time. .....

Trade ET .....ASAP .......seriously ....he is like Bass .......needs to be on ANOTHER team ......not Celtics

[dreamgreen]

IT - Smart - Crowder - Lee - Johnson

Probably the best lineup we've got at the moment.

Probably.