The roster and preseason

[CFAN38]

This roster has me really interested for the preseason.

BS is going to have his work cut out for him with figuring a rotation. I know BS in the past commented on having four positions those being ball handler, wing, swing and big. He has now changed that to 3 merging the swing and wing. However looking at this roster it is clear the talent is combined into pretty clear groupings especially in the front court. IT is a clear outlier as he has no comparable player on the roster. Smart is also an outlier due to his size though his on court role is mimicked my Rozier.

1. IT

2. Smart, Rozier, Jackson

3. Hayward, Crowder, Brown, Tatum, Nader

4. Morris, Ojeleye

5. Horford, Yabu, Theis (forgot him originally)

6. Baynes, Zizic

With the bigs the range of talent varies but it is very clear Morris and Ojeleye are both 3/4s who lack great length but can defend the perimeter and shoot the 2. Horford and Yabu are both 4/5 who have very well rounded offensive skill sets (need to see Theis to really judge him) and Baynes and Zizic are bruising rebounding true centers.

My early guess is that we see the following as the opening night rotation

Starters

IT               30mpg
Hayward    33mpg
Crowder    30mpg
Morris        26mpg
Horfrod      32mpg

Bench

Smart        28mpg
Baynes      15mpg
Brown        20mpg
Tatum        16mpg
Rozier        10mpg

Who starts between Baynes and Morris may be a matter of match-ups

[BitterJim]

It'll be very interesting to see what lineups Brad tries over the first few months or so of the season. There'll definitely be some oddball lineups in there (I can totally see him trying one that actually has no guards or bigs, just Hayward/Brown/Tatum/Crowder/Morris), but by the end we should have a good idea of what works and what doesn't.  The playoffs will be when things really get interesting, though.

[Snakehead]

The team won't play that small, especially in the regular season.  I think Baynes starts and plays 20 mpg and Zizic plays 15 mpg.

IT Hayward Crowder Al Baynes

Smart Brown Tatum Rozier Zizic Morris off the bench in about that order minutes wise, however it works out.  Depending on the rosters of other teams though, I can see Morris playing a lot more than Zizic if they don't even need another C in the game.

I love Al at C and small ball but it's not how Stevens likes to start.  I like Baynes and I think he matches up with centers around the league and then after you can go small ball if you want.

[TheSundanceKid]

You've left out Daniel Theis from the list who has been signed for next season, presumably guaranteed.

That also means that one of the guys you have listed won't be making the roster. Honestly I thought that Yab would be stashed another year because these roster problems were always going to exist but it seems like he's on his way over. So it'll be 2 spots between Nader, Semi and Jackson. Jackson has the edge in that he has a guarantee in his contract but he is also the least needed of the 3. I think we end up trading him for a protected 2nd at some point and sign the other two guys.

Of course that would mean no Gerald Green this year as well which would be a shame, I'd like to find a way to get him on the team again.

[saltlover]

It'll be very interesting to see what lineups Brad tries over the first few months or so of the season. There'll definitely be some oddball lineups in there (I can totally see him trying one that actually has no guards or bigs, just Hayward/Brown/Tatum/Crowder/Morris), but by the end we should have a good idea of what works and what doesn't.  The playoffs will be when things really get interesting, though.

Yeah, I know Brad can't wait to try out that lineup, as well as lineups with four of those 5 plus one of IT, Smart, or Horford.  He's going to have a lot of fun this season.

[saltlover]

You've left out Daniel Theis from the list who has been signed for next season, presumably guaranteed.

That also means that one of the guys you have listed won't be making the roster. Honestly I thought that Yab would be stashed another year because these roster problems were always going to exist but it seems like he's on his way over. So it'll be 2 spots between Nader, Semi and Jackson. Jackson has the edge in that he has a guarantee in his contract but he is also the least needed of the 3. I think we end up trading him for a protected 2nd at some point and sign the other two guys.

Of course that would mean no Gerald Green this year as well which would be a shame, I'd like to find a way to get him on the team again.

Theis has not been officially signed, for what it's worth.  It's a solid rumor, but not official.

[chambers]

The team won't play that small, especially in the regular season.  I think Baynes starts and plays 20 mpg and Zizic plays 15 mpg.

IT Hayward Crowder Al Baynes

Smart Brown Tatum Rozier Zizic Morris off the bench in about that order minutes wise, however it works out.  Depending on the rosters of other teams though, I can see Morris playing a lot more than Zizic if they don't even need another C in the game.

I love Al at C and small ball but it's not how Stevens likes to start.  I like Baynes and I think he matches up with centers around the league and then after you can go small ball if you want.

Baynes is a back up. There is no chance in hell that Baynes starts IMO. Morris is the superior player to Baynes.

[Snakehead]

Baynes is a back up. There is no chance in hell that Baynes starts IMO. Morris is the superior player to Baynes.

Morris isn't a C.  He wasn't even good as a small ball PF last year.  I think he can be better here but I think you're off base.  It's about what the team needs.

Stevens doesn't like to start small and Al doesn't want to play C every night against bruisers.  Some of you are going to be surprised I think if you think it's all small ball all the time.  This is the regular season and centers still exist.

I'm sure you guys were mad when Zeller and Amir were playing at times right?  You still have to play big guys.  Baynes and Zizic are good fits for the role.

[CFAN38]

You've left out Daniel Theis from the list who has been signed for next season, presumably guaranteed.

That also means that one of the guys you have listed won't be making the roster. Honestly I thought that Yab would be stashed another year because these roster problems were always going to exist but it seems like he's on his way over. So it'll be 2 spots between Nader, Semi and Jackson. Jackson has the edge in that he has a guarantee in his contract but he is also the least needed of the 3. I think we end up trading him for a protected 2nd at some point and sign the other two guys.

Of course that would mean no Gerald Green this year as well which would be a shame, I'd like to find a way to get him on the team again.

you are right i keep forgetting about Theis. Either Jackson doesn't make the team or DA lets Nader walk in order to for him to find a bigger role. Personally I would move on from Jackson. 

[CFAN38]

It'll be very interesting to see what lineups Brad tries over the first few months or so of the season. There'll definitely be some oddball lineups in there (I can totally see him trying one that actually has no guards or bigs, just Hayward/Brown/Tatum/Crowder/Morris), but by the end we should have a good idea of what works and what doesn't.  The playoffs will be when things really get interesting, though.

Had the same thought on an all wing lineup. I think that could be a lineup to run against the Cavs. Or even a bigger version with Hayward, Brown, Crowder, Morris and Horford. In today's NBA the point guard is an indefensible position. With the lack of hand checking and constant picks even an elite defender like AB can not really shut down an elite scoring point. He may win a possession but not a full games worth of match ups. I would be interested to see Jaylen on Irving, Hayward on JR SMith, Crowder on Korver, Moriis on Lebron and Horfrod on Love in a playoff game. As Tatum develops he could eventually take Jae's spot in that lineup and force Irving and Korver into real defensive miss matches. 

[D Dub]

Starters will look a lot bigger this year, if they put Hayward at two.   Morris slots in nicely as the veteran starting four.   Brown and Tatum may earn more mpg night to night, but I'm pretty sure they expected to get a starter back when they traded AB to Detroit.   

Ten years ago, Marc Morris is probably a SF in the league, but now, especially in Brad's system --- I think we see him in the 'bigs' rotation.   

With the whole league getting smaller, he can carve out a nice niche as a 4/5 rotation player with perimeter skills in his back pocket. 

Doesn't hurt that he guards LBJ as well as anyone either... 

I predict a steady starting 5 all season long a Thomas / Gordon backcourt with Crowder holding his spot at three along side Morris / Horford. 

Smart can lead the second unit with his new p/r partner Baynes & hopefully 7/11 earning lots of burn in between.  It would appear the opportunity has been carved out for them both to thrive. 

[Snakehead]

Again I think Morris will be better but a few of you guys should look into Morris playing PF last year.  It wasn't good.  He isn't his brother exactly on the boards.

[D Dub]

Again I think Morris will be better but a few of you guys should look into Morris playing PF last year.  It wasn't good.  He isn't his brother exactly on the boards.

As long as he boxes out; that's enough in our system.  Noticing more and more in tape how our bigs are coached to hold the box out, let a guard grab the board. 

What did Avery average like 7 reb a game last year?   Doubt he does that under Stan Van Piston

[CFAN38]

Again I think Morris will be better but a few of you guys should look into Morris playing PF last year.  It wasn't good.  He isn't his brother exactly on the boards.

I agree rebounding will again be an issue. However the rebounding only really caused a problem in the playoffs. Last year the Cs literally had to turn to Zeller at points to try to give a physical presence in the paint. Baynes, Zizic, Yabu and Theis are all likely better then Zeller when it comes to putting a body on the likes of R Lopez, T Thompson or Gortat. 

[tstorey_97]

Thanks for post.

I'm with snakehead on Stevens opening lineup

Thomas
Hayward
Crowder
Horford
Baynes

Baynes will be Amir Johnson this year for 10 minutes until the first rotation comes along. It gets Horford to his PF spot for awhile anyway.

Hayward is a three, that is his natural spot, thus, in my meaningless opinion, Crowder should be off the bench behind Hayward. My guess is Hayward will be aok guarding the best guards of the eastern conference while playing next to Thomas...who won't be. Makes ya wonder don't it? I realize the world as we know it will come to an end if Crowder comes off the bench. BTW I suggest that Stevens doesn't see Crowder as a four either. I offer our playoff frontcourt of Al Horford and Gerald Green this season as evidence. New roster now though, so who knows except Brad.

Along with the above observation, Horford is a four...ask Amir who started most of the games at center last year.

Baynes has good movement, Lord knows Amir didn't, thus, he'll be a center a goodly amount this year, helping in Steven's quest for matchups.

Morris is not a starter. He'll be fantastic off the bench though and the Celtics bench is going to be really strong.

Finally, "Stevens loves small ball" you're kidding right? He had all his smalls out there because he didn't have anyone else who could play. One  of his best set of athletes included Thomas, Smart and Bradley (look at their minutes). Of course, they were out there all the time.

This year, a raft of new guys...who will be watching:

Smart
Rozier
Brown
Tatum
Morris

Get minutes...one of the NBA's better benches right dare...defensive backcourt, official scoring machine at the four and budding Pistons man for all seasons pretending to be a center once in awhile.

Yes, there maybe some "small ball" this year, it's just the guys playing it will be big.