Game 3- who should start instead of Amir? (Poll)

[jpotter33]

It's got to be Brown. He just plays so much better with the starters, and it forces Morris to play D out on the perimeter with that ankle. Hopefully they'd put him on Brown, who should be able to get past him to the hole no problem.

[jpotter33]

Rozier is the obvious choice, and yet not one of your options.

I like your pick, still, a tough road game, a kind of those where experience matters. At least to open the things up in a brighter light. While we won both of the games we started poorly, I would try to avoid it for the 3rd time in a row. I might go with Marcus, but gut feeling is TR.

We started poorly because in both games we had IT guarding Wall in the beginning of the game.  Rozier made Wall work a lot harder when they were matched up.  Also, Terry's a terrific defensive rebounder, which is obviously a problem for us, especially early on in games.

That's way too small to start for me. I think if you started that small, then you actually help Brooks out by forcing him to utilize their guards' size in the post, which was very successful at the start of last game.

Inexplicably, though, Brooks went away from it after picking up two quick fouls on IT and exposing us with the pass after double-teaming to help IT. But if you give Brooks three major size advantages on the perimeter, let alone Morris over Crowder, that's going to be extremely difficult to guard if they play that hand, which they absolutely should if we go that route.

I think you start Brown for his size. He's played really well this series on the quicker guards, and I think that maximizes him as a player while still allowing that trio of IT, Rozier, and Smart to continue to feast on their bench at the beginning of the second/fourth quarter.

[Hank Finkel]

I know this won't ever happen and may be viewed as stupid but to start the game I would have IT sit.  Play your best defensive team for the start of the game (maybe only 5 minutes) then mix and match after that with IT.  Amir should not play again in the playoffs period.
Smart or Roz vs Wall
AB vs Beal
AL vs Gortat
JJ or JB , best defender vs Porter
JC vs Morris

No mismatches early, we hopefully don't get in a hole early and we can insert IT any time in the first quarter if the offense isn't clicking.   He is going to log big minutes anyway the rest of the game. 

[Donoghus]

I have no qualms about small balling the heck out of this Washington team.  Rozier certainly works for me.

[GreenEnvy]

I know this won't ever happen and may be viewed as stupid but to start the game I would have IT sit.  Play your best defensive team for the start of the game (maybe only 5 minutes) then mix and match after that with IT.  Amir should not play again in the playoffs period.
Smart or Roz vs Wall
AB vs Beal
AL vs Gortat
JJ or JB , best defender vs Porter
JC vs Morris

No mismatches early, we hopefully don't get in a hole early and we can insert IT any time in the first quarter if the offense isn't clicking.   He is going to log big minutes anyway the rest of the game.

Came in this thread looking for a "Bring IT off the bench" post.

So IT is a mismatch early, but not late? Maybe we should sit him in the fourth too?

Not trying to be demeaning, but our fanbase has a bad rap for good reason.

[RockinRyA]

the Rozier-Olynyk-Smart combo is working for me so I wouldnt want to mess with that.

Jerebko wouldve been my answer if he was playing well, but since he is not its got to be Brown.

[tstorey_97]

Not sure about the three choices, Brown to me struggles on defense. He is committing a lot of fouls as he learns. Not sure if this dynamic matters. I agree that he has size and great talent, but I don't see him starting.

KO really needs to be the off the bench offense.
Smart gets into the game about 6 minutes in anyway right? He's going to finish the game like he always does. Isn't Stevens giving him that first few minutes off with that in mind?

Amir has been "sore" all season and now has the benefit of looking stale not having played for a couple of weeks. My guess is Stevens knows he has to play 5 guys for 48 minutes, throughout the season Amir covered the first "quarter" and then sat down for the duration.

Then comes my great 2017 Brad Stevens Boston Celtics "conspiracy theory."

It's playoffs time so the opponent's coach shortens up the bench. This means the opposing team's 3 or 4 best players (Butler--Wall--Beal...etc) are going to be a bucket'o sweat with 4 minutes remaining in the 4th. Well, they have been haven't they? Wade still has an oxygen tank next to him in his Porsche and he hasn't played since last week.

You got stars? Late in the game you git tired, sweaty, sore rubber legged stars watching this little guy in green running around like his pants is on fire.

[bopna]

Definitely Brown.

Has size and versatility to guard Morris. Even if he racks up fouls early so what he wont play more than 20min anyway.

He has so far learned the last 2 games playin with the starters so now its to to throw him in the fire..did anyone see his post move ...it was just the only play his name was called and he delivered...he is athletic enough to do that against the Oubre's and Porter so id say unleash JB.

[Surferdad]

Amir should start. I don't like Crowder guarding Morris

Amir guarded Morris a total of 5 min...

You cant call that guarding

Amir should start covering Gortat and have Al cover Morris.

[Drucci]

I'd say Smart but he is so vital to the 2nd unit that I would have to go with Brown. I like the Rozier idea too but I fear we'd be too small.

[mef730]

Not only would my choice be "any of the above," but that aota would include not only the players listed by the OP but also any of the people who posted in this thread.

Mike

[hodgy03038]

I picked Brown but I would say almost anybody would be better than Amir. Hew has looked awful.

[SHAQATTACK]

throw Brown ,Smart and Rozier inthe line up and see who has game that night , who has the shot touch and defensive energy.

Smart adores the away crowds and their hate .  he is like KG ....uses it to motivate himself to shut them up.


save Amir for Cavs 

[saltlover]

I saw on Twitter that Rozier is +94 in the playoffs, leading the NBA in +/-.  I know that +/- is a crude measurement, but to be tops in the entire postseason is still impressive, and one reason I want him on the floor at the beginning of game 3, since our team's +/- in the first six minutes has been not good.

[byennie]

Brown. As others have mentioned, he plays best with the starters. This doesn't mean he has to get 30 mins. He can create his own shot, and guard bigger players for short stretches with his hops & athleticism.

I love what Smart & Rozier bring off the bench and would prefer not to mess with it at the opening tip.

Jerebko didn't make the list, maybe he's too far out of the rotation but is the remaining guy with enough size to deal with Morris and also stretches the floor.