So what's our starting 5 now?

[kozlodoev]

Hayward will start at the two, Morris at the four.  Pretty simple.

Again, can't start Hayward at the two. Someone in the lineup needs to be able to defend a guard who can score. Smart or Brown will be in the starting lineup. Morris may or may not start at PF. Crowder is gone or on the pine.

[jay]

I think Crowder and Morris start, they can really spread the floor for GH and IT. Crowder will have to defend a guard and IT will get matched up with the opposing pg. Smart can be the 6th man, come in for Crowder and guard the best scoring guard the other team has. The whole deal about matching up with Kyrie or having rebounders on the floor, that's gonna have to just be made up for by having an unstoppable offensive machine.

Plus a 2nd unit of Rozier, Smart, Brown, Tatum, and Theis would be extremely fast and fun to watch.

[JHTruth]

I think we may not be done making moves but it'd be logical to move Smart to starter, he can take the best guard/wing and IT and Hayward flanking him makes his offensive deficiencies less damaging.  He's also "next in line" for whatever that's worth.

I think if we go that route that we'll stagger our substitutions so he can split backup ballhandling duty with Rozier though. I think Brad likes him in that role.

Yeah, I think we're going to go out and grab a big to replace KO/Amir. They will start next to Horford with I imagine Smart headed into the starting lineup until Brown or Tatum show they're ready to start,,

[Tr1boy]

Adam Himmelsbach: Hearing that the Celtics have no intention of trading Jae Crowder. They’re excited about lineup possibilities

On a side note

Adam Himmelsbach: According to a league source, the plan has always been for Guerschon Yabusele to be on the Celtics’ roster in the fall.

[droopdog7]

Hayward will start at the two, Morris at the four.  Pretty simple.

Again, can't start Hayward at the two. Someone in the lineup needs to be able to defend a guard who can score. Smart or Brown will be in the starting lineup. Morris may or may not start at PF. Crowder is gone or on the pine.

Where does the narrative some from that Hayward can't guard.  I'm sure he's no worse than Harden, and actually has the potential to be better than that.  And, he often plays the 2 already in Utah as I understand it.

[Tr1boy]

Hayward will start at the two, Morris at the four.  Pretty simple.

Brown not nearly ready to start at all.

Who is going to bail out IT4?

You think IT4 can guard anyone

[Moranis]

As it stands now I think it is Thomas, Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford, but I don't think Ainge is done.  I think he will still try to be active in free agency and use the Room exception on a big man.  Dedmon, Illyasova, Pachulia, Reed, McGee, and Mbah a Moute are all available and all might go for the room exception or less.  Now not all of those players would start over Morris, but I think a couple of them might. 

I also think Stevens will do a great deal of lineup tinkering and if Hayward at the 2 (with Crowder at the 3) or Crowder at the 4 (instead of Morris) works better, then Stevens wouldn't hesitate to do that. 

[kozlodoev]

Hayward will start at the two, Morris at the four.  Pretty simple.

Again, can't start Hayward at the two. Someone in the lineup needs to be able to defend a guard who can score. Smart or Brown will be in the starting lineup. Morris may or may not start at PF. Crowder is gone or on the pine.

Where does the narrative some from that Hayward can't guard.  I'm sure he's no worse than Harden, and actually has the potential to be better than that.  And, he often plays the 2 already in Utah as I understand it.

He's a 6'8 SF who isn't known for great defensive aptitude. If you put him at SG, you'll be asking him or IT to be guarding the likes of Irving, Wall, Beal, and DeRozan night in and night out. You can, of course, still go ahead and do it -- but I don't anticipate it will go overly well.

[blink]

I think Crowder and Morris start, they can really spread the floor for GH and IT. Crowder will have to defend a guard and IT will get matched up with the opposing pg. Smart can be the 6th man, come in for Crowder and guard the best scoring guard the other team has. The whole deal about matching up with Kyrie or having rebounders on the floor, that's gonna have to just be made up for by having an unstoppable offensive machine.

Plus a 2nd unit of Rozier, Smart, Brown, Tatum, and Theis would be extremely fast and fun to watch.

I don't think Crowder is defending 2's.  That really isn't his game, or in his wheelhouse.

[kozlodoev]

Adam Himmelsbach: Hearing that the Celtics have no intention of trading Jae Crowder. They’re excited about lineup possibilities

Is Crowder excited about playing third fiddle behind Hayward and Tatum? Because he's bound to do that before the end of his contract.

[Tr1boy]

As it stands now I think it is Thomas, Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford, but I don't think Ainge is done.  I think he will still try to be active in free agency and use the Room exception on a big man.  Dedmon, Illyasova, Pachulia, Reed, McGee, and Mbah a Moute are all available and all might go for the room exception or less.  Now not all of those players would start over Morris, but I think a couple of them might. 

I also think Stevens will do a great deal of lineup tinkering and if Hayward at the 2 (with Crowder at the 3) or Crowder at the 4 (instead of Morris) works better, then Stevens wouldn't hesitate to do that.

One more vet

But maybe not

Horford
Morris
Hayward
Smart
It4

Theis
Crowder/Yabu
Brown/Tatum
Smart
Rozier

[jay]

IT   Rozier   Jackson
Hayward  Smart
Crowder   Brown
Morris   Tatum   Yabusele
Horford  Theis  Zizic  Mickey


I really think Theis fits the 2nd unit better than Zizic. Keep in mind if we sign a "big" with the room exception, that's even less minutes for Brown and Tatum to play. They already are competing with Crowder and Morris for minutes.  They may want to play small-ball full time with a 6'8" Tatum or 6'9" Morris at PF full time.

[blink]

Hayward will start at the two, Morris at the four.  Pretty simple.

Brown not nearly ready to start at all.

Who is going to bail out IT4?

You think IT4 can guard anyone

I completely agree.  I think you have to either start Smart and live with the lack of offense, or start Brown and hope he develops quickly.

[Ilikesports17]

Thomas-Brown-Hayward-Morris-Horford makes sense to me.

Marcus and Jae anchor your second unit defensively while Terry and Tatum bring scoring.

I could also see Smart starting at the 2 and Crowder the 4. Need brown to show improvement as a defender and shooter, but you can't really take Smart from the second unit because none of Tatum Brown and rozier are close to being able to run an offense.

Smart actually fits quite well in the starting lineup as all 4 other starters can shoot it and Thomas needs help defensively, but I think Marcus is too crucial to the second unit.

[CelticsElite]

I don't get where people get the idea that brown is good enough to start in the NBA at the 2