10-man rotation is now set

[Eddie20]

Stevens- Obviously everyone starts with 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s when they look at a basketball team. I look at ball-handlers, wings, swings and bigs. I only have four categories. The more guys that can play the more positions, the better.

Bigs
Horford
Baynes

Swings
Crowder
Morris

Wings
Hayward
Brown
Tatum

Ball-handlers
Thomas
Smart
Rozier


My best guess for the starters/second unit is:

Starters (1 swing, 1 big, 1 ball handler, 2 wings)
Crowder
Hayward
Horford
Thomas
Brown

Second Unit (1 swing, 1 big, 1 wing, 2 ball-handlers)
Morris
Tatum
Baynes
Rozier
Smart

* The wings and swings is the most misunderstood of his categories, but I would interpret it as swings being players that can play the 3/4, while wings play the 2/3.

* I have Smart listed as a ball-handler, rather than a wing, because I think he will used much less on 3's this year. Last year he played the 3 out of necessity. However, i can only see him playing the spot if a lot of injuries occur.

* I can't see Morris starting over Crowder. Crowder is the incumbent and would really have to be outplayed by him for the switch to occur. Don't see that happening, so Crowder starts.

* I don't have Smart starting because Stevens has shown that he prefers having Smart off the bench. Stevens opted for Brown and Green during the playoffs.

* With this 10-man rotation, it makes it highly unlikely that Baynes starts. So that token starts Amir would get are gone this season.

[Forza Juventus]

Didn't Brad Stevens say there are only 3 categories now? Great post tho TP.

[nebist]

I think this is a fairly accurate read on the rotation.  I'm more interested by who closes than who starts.

Need a stop lineup:
Smart
Jaylen
Hayward
Crowder
Horford

Need a bucket lineup:
Thomas
Tatum
Hayward
Crowder
Horford

Preferred closing lineup from Stevens:
Thomas
Smart
Hayward
Crowder
Horford

That's how I see it currently.  If Crowder ends up getting traded that would open up further opportunities for Morris, Tatum, or Brown.

[jpotter33]

I simply don't see us starting that small with Crowder at the 4 when we have Morris.

I think we'll play small a lot and end small a lot of times with something like IT, Smart/Brown, Hayward, Jae/Tatum (depending upon matchups), and Horford, but it wouldn't surprise me if Morris ends up being both our starter and finisher a lot of times. He's that good of a fit for us at the 4.

My best guess goes something like:

PG: IT, Rozier
SG: Brown, Smart
SF: Hayward, Crowder
PF: Morris, Tatum
C: Horford, Baynes, Zizic (though I see Zizic playing mostly in the D-League this year)

[KGs Knee]

I don't think there is much chance either Crowder or Morris start next to Horford in the front court. That is just silly and people need to accept that regardless of whatever Stevens say about his "positions" I'd expect to see two more traditional bigs starting.

If no other bigs are added, Baynes likely starts next to Horford, with Hayward, Thomas and one of Brown or Smart.

[green_bballers13]

Didn't Brad Stevens say there are only 3 categories now? Great post tho TP.

He did. The whole swing/wing thing doesn't seem to be a huge difference. In fact, all 5 can play the 3 or 4.

I like how much new shooting they're getting this year in Hayward, Morris, and Tatum.

[nickagneta]

I think Tatum is more of a swing than wing. He is a SF that when he adds 20-25 more pounds of muscle will be a combo forward or even a PF.

[Eddie20]

I think this is a fairly accurate read on the rotation.  I'm more interested by who closes than who starts.

Need a stop lineup:
Smart
Jaylen
Hayward
Crowder
Horford

Need a bucket lineup:
Thomas
Tatum
Hayward
Crowder
Horford

Preferred closing lineup from Stevens:
Thomas
Smart
Hayward
Crowder
Horford

That's how I see it currently.  If Crowder ends up getting traded that would open up further opportunities for Morris, Tatum, or Brown.

I agree with the majority of that, but I think I would rather have Morris instead of Brown in the defensive line-up.

[mgent]

IT 33 / Rozier 10 / Smart 5
Smart 25 / Brown 15 / Hayward 8
Hayward 24 / Crowder 16 / Tatum 8
Morris 32 / Crowder 16
Horford 32 / Baynes 16

[Tr1boy]

I think Tatum is more of a swing than wing. He is a SF that when he adds 20-25 more pounds of muscle will be a combo forward or even a PF.

I agree...and Hayward will handle the ball more than Smart

[jpotter33]

I don't think there is much chance either Crowder or Morris start next to Horford in the front court. That is just silly and people need to accept that regardless of whatever Stevens say about his "positions" I'd expect to see two more traditional bigs starting.

If no other bigs are added, Baynes likely starts next to Horford, with Hayward, Thomas and one of Brown or Smart.

Morris is a PF and has been the majority of his career. I'm not sure why you think it's crazy that he would start next to Horford. He's by and large our best PF, because he's probably our only legit PF. Horford is a C.

It'd be pretty dumb to start Baynes next to Horford. That just makes no sense to me. Baynes is a good backup; he's not starter material.

[Eddie20]

I think Tatum is more of a swing than wing. He is a SF that when he adds 20-25 more pounds of muscle will be a combo forward or even a PF.

I agree, but until then (which might take a couple of years) I can't see him physically capable of playing the spot. Unless opponents are playing a 3 at the spot.

[KGs Knee]

I don't think there is much chance either Crowder or Morris start next to Horford in the front court. That is just silly and people need to accept that regardless of whatever Stevens say about his "positions" I'd expect to see two more traditional bigs starting.

If no other bigs are added, Baynes likely starts next to Horford, with Hayward, Thomas and one of Brown or Smart.

Morris is a PF and has been the majority of his career. I'm not sure why you think it's crazy that he would start next to Horford. He's by and large our best PF, because he's probably our only legit PF. Horford is a C.

Maybe you're thinking of Markieff, but Marcus is a bit smaller and much more of a SF who can sometimes play PF than a full time PF. He should not be starting at PF, that would be a mistake.

[KGs Knee]

And not that I like the idea of starting Baynes, but it's better than starting Morris out of position.

[Forza Juventus]

Ball Handlers
Isaiah Thomas
Terry Rozier
Marcus Smart

Wings
Gordon Hayward
Jae Crowder
Marcus Morris
Jaylen Brown
Jayson Tatum
Abdel Nader

Bigs
Al Horford
Aron Baynes
Guerschon Yabusele
Ante Zizic
Semi Ojeleye
Daniel Theis