Stevens says he will likely stay with 9 man rotation

[rondohondo]

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens wouldn't tip his hand at shootaround on how Boston will tweak its lineup without Avery Bradley (and with Kelly Olynyk's status uncertain). Stevens said that plugging in a starter isn't the hard part, it's the trickle-down effect on the second unit. Stevens said he'll only extend minutes for Boston's key players if he feels like it leaves them with enough juice at the end of games. Stevens did say that he'd likely stick to a nine-man rotation.

IT
Smart
Crowder
Amir
Sully
Jerebko
KO
Turner

Who's the 9th man ?

Rozier or Hunter I have to imagine

Unless KO can't  go

Then I guess Rozier/Hunter and Micky/ Zeller, most likely Zeller who I think will get abused down low vs Millsap and Horford.

[albas89]

Rozier will definitely get some meaningful minutes throughout the series with Bradley out. Zeller will probably replace KO tonight and I cringe every time I think about it, too. 

[Big333223]

RJ Hunter is the only guy outside of the regular rotation who played at all in game 1 but Rozier is the more obvious candidate for any of Bradley's minutes that Smart doesn't soak up. Interesting that Stevens seems to have decided on one over the other, though. Tonight will be telling for who the Celtics prioritize on the roster heading into the summer.

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Assuming no Olynyk:

Amir
Sully
Zeller
Jerebko
Crowder
Turner
Smart
Isaiah
Rozier

Wouldn't mind giving Hunter a chance to get some minutes. Hope his jumper is falling

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I think Stevens should put Mickey in there and see if he can swat a couple of Millsap's shots and get him thinking twice.

[Csfan1984]

I'd play everyone who is able go out there. Just blitz everyone. Gotta do something spectacular to have a shot and this may be it. You tell everyone to go all out because its going to be like hockey shifts. All players will get short breaks then back in. So box out, fight to get to spots and run, run, run.

Example:
Start=IT, Smart, Jae, AJ and Sully.
After 3 mins bring in Rozier for Smart, JJ for Sully.
(IT, Rozier, Jae, JJ, AJ)
After 5 mins Smart for IT, Turner for Jae.
(Rozier, Smart, Turner, JJ, AJ)
After 7 mins Zeller for AJ.
(Rozier, Smart, Turner, JJ, Zeller)
After 9 mins IT for Rozier, Hunter for Smart, Sully for JJ, Jae for Turner.
(IT, Hunter, Jae, Sully, Zeller)
After 1st qtr is over start= Smart, Turner, Jae, Mickey and AJ
After 3 mins bring in IT for Turner and Sully for Mickey.

You are back to Starters of IT, Smart, Jae, Sully and AJ.

[alldaboston]

I'd play everyone who is able go out there. Just blitz everyone. Gotta do something spectacular to have a shot and this may be it. You tell everyone to go all out because its going to be like hockey shifts. All players will get short breaks then back in. So box out, fight to get to spots and run, run, run.

Example:
Start=IT, Smart, Jae, AJ and Sully.
After 3 mins bring in Rozier for Smart, JJ for Sully.
(IT, Rozier, Jae, JJ, AJ)
After 5 mins Smart for IT, Turner for Jae.
(Rozier, Smart, Turner, JJ, AJ)
After 7 mins Zeller for AJ.
(Rozier, Smart, Turner, JJ, Zeller)
After 9 mins IT for Rozier, Hunter for Smart, Sully for JJ, Jae for Turner.
(IT, Hunter, Jae, Sully, Zeller)
After 1st qtr is over start= Smart, Turner, Jae, Mickey and AJ
After 3 mins bring in IT for Turner and Sully for Mickey.

You are back to Starters of IT, Smart, Jae, Sully and AJ.

i fear we would get no rhythm like that, though. on both sides of the ball. the last thing you want is a missed assignment like RJ on korver today.

[Dino Pitino]

Which starting lineup is Stevens going to use to keep the C's from falling into another first half ditch? We've played the Hawks even when we've gone small. The Thomas-Bradley-Smart-Crowder-Amir lineup was effective smallball in the regular season. So...just replace Bradley with Rozier? Hope that one of either Rozier or Smart can get hot from outside for a minute/quarter/game/series?

[Csfan1984]

I'd play everyone who is able go out there. Just blitz everyone. Gotta do something spectacular to have a shot and this may be it. You tell everyone to go all out because its going to be like hockey shifts. All players will get short breaks then back in. So box out, fight to get to spots and run, run, run.

Example:
Start=IT, Smart, Jae, AJ and Sully.
After 3 mins bring in Rozier for Smart, JJ for Sully.
(IT, Rozier, Jae, JJ, AJ)
After 5 mins Smart for IT, Turner for Jae.
(Rozier, Smart, Turner, JJ, AJ)
After 7 mins Zeller for AJ.
(Rozier, Smart, Turner, JJ, Zeller)
After 9 mins IT for Rozier, Hunter for Smart, Sully for JJ, Jae for Turner.
(IT, Hunter, Jae, Sully, Zeller)
After 1st qtr is over start= Smart, Turner, Jae, Mickey and AJ
After 3 mins bring in IT for Turner and Sully for Mickey.

You are back to Starters of IT, Smart, Jae, Sully and AJ.

i fear we would get no rhythm like that, though. on both sides of the ball. the last thing you want is a missed assignment like RJ on korver today.

It's not working playing average players a lot of time trying to find rhythm. We need chaos and energy to be on our side. That is part of the point against a veteran team like Hawks. You have to give them a look that is constantly changing.