Would you start Smart or Brown at SG (poll)

[Tr1boy]

Also consider how this may effect the bench unit

Pros for starting Smart:  Now is considered a vet.  Excellent versatile defender.  Strong , and can even defend pfs in a pinch.   Has issues here and there guarding quick/explosive guards but will also overpower them and make them work.    Has decent handles and passing skills.

Cons for starting Smart:  Question mark as to how he will perform on the offensive end.   Can he shoot over 30 percent from the 3 and 40 percent overall?

Pros for starting Brown:  Explosive guard/sf.  Versatile defender as well.  Rookie mistakes are still going to be expected but he can "make up" the mistakes utilising his physical tools.  Just ok handles and passing skills. But has a working jump shot and can finish around the rim

Cons for starting Brown:  Rookie mistakes. More of a SF than a SG imo (lack of sure handles).

If reliable , vet presence is necessary....Smart should start.  Irving is not a focused defender and Smart can bail him out at times.   

However then, i would be worried about "stability" from the 2nd unit , with Brown, Tatum and possibly Semi/Yabu coming off the bench.   Could cause CBS headaches

thoughts?

[Ed Hollison]

I would be in favor of starting both Brown and Baynes and I think this is what Stevens will do.

The starting unit will already have two capable ballhandlers in Irving and Hayward. Smart's value is that he can be brought off the bench to be the primary ballhandler on a 2nd unit, and Irving and/or Hayward can play off the ball.

Baynes starts because you want some beef, defense and rebounding to start games as the Celtics did with starting Amir next to Al last season.

The closing lineup would be different. In most cases smaller with Irving, Smart, Brown, Morris, and Horford if I had to bet on it. (Maybe Ojeleye instead of Brown in some cases.) Shooting/ballhandling/passing everywhere, and be able to switch pretty much everything on defense.

[tstorey_97]

I would prefer Brown if I thought he was ready.

Smart is a proven NBA starter on a roster (with Irving) that is loaded with offensive punch.
Smart brings back court defense and grit to Hayward/Irving/Horford scoring machine.

Brown keeps learning and gets plenty of minutes this year. He looked good in playoffs, but, Stevens wasn't counting on Jaylen Brown to close out important games, just look at the rotations. Stevens ALWAYS counts on Smart to close out games.

Both guys need offensive improvement...which is good because the majority of their teammates do not.

[Moranis]

I would be in favor of starting both Brown and Baynes and I think this is what Stevens will do.

The starting unit will already have two capable ballhandlers in Irving and Hayward. Smart's value is that he can be brought off the bench to be the primary ballhandler on a 2nd unit, and Irving and/or Hayward can play off the ball.

Baynes starts because you want some beef, defense and rebounding to start games as the Celtics did with starting Amir next to Al last season.

The closing lineup would be different. In most cases smaller with Irving, Smart, Brown, Morris, and Horford if I had to bet on it. (Maybe Ojeleye instead of Brown in some cases.) Shooting/ballhandling/passing everywhere, and be able to switch pretty much everything on defense.

Hayward is definitely in the closing lineup.

[CelticsElite]

Smart for 2 reasons:

1. Kyrie, Hayward, and horford have enough offensive power where defense is needed at the 2. Smart can help hide Irving on defense a bit. Smarts help defense and energy could energize
2. I like brown playing next to Tatum and gaining as much chemistry as they can on the court together. They need to grow up playing next to each other

[blink]

I think if the trade falls through, no Kyrie, then Smart should start at PG.  If the trade does go through, then no.

I also think Brown will probably start this year regardless if the trade goes through or not.

[Ilikesports17]

Brown starts.

Smart is the better player, but the bench is already incredibly young and I think Marcus is an absolutely necessary stabilizing force. Plus in the starting lineup, Brown will be able to simplify his game where he can be very very effective in his limited role.

Let Marcus run the second unit.

FWIW my closing lineup is Irving-Smart-Hayward-Morris-Horford to start the season. Ideally Brown and/or Tatum force their way into that lineup by the playoffs.

[CelticsElite]

Brown starts.

Smart is the better player, but the bench is already incredibly young and I think Marcus is an absolutely necessary stabilizing force. Plus in the starting lineup, Brown will be able to simplify his game where he can be very very effective in his limited role.

Let Marcus run the second unit.

FWIW my closing lineup is Irving-Smart-Hayward-Morris-Horford to start the season. Ideally Brown and/or Tatum force their way into that lineup by the playoffs.

I like rozier leading the 2nd unit utilizing brown and Tatum as his 1-2 punch

[jpotter33]

Brown starts.

Smart is the better player, but the bench is already incredibly young and I think Marcus is an absolutely necessary stabilizing force. Plus in the starting lineup, Brown will be able to simplify his game where he can be very very effective in his limited role.

Let Marcus run the second unit.

FWIW my closing lineup is Irving-Smart-Hayward-Morris-Horford to start the season. Ideally Brown and/or Tatum force their way into that lineup by the playoffs.

TP, agree with all of that. I hope by the end of the season we're regularly closing with Kyrie, Smart, Brown/Tatum, Hayward, and Horford.

[mahonedog88]

This will be a sneaky big part of training camp and the preseason.  Cause there's definitely an open tryout between Smart and Brown for that 2 guard spot.

For me, this is all about whether or not Smart has improved his jump shot.  I shiver at times when I think about Smart's shooting woes pretty much all of last year.  He didn't really show any improvement on it last year and if anything, you could argue it was worse.  I said it last season, it still applies for this season...if Smart can show even just SOME type of consistency in his shot, that could impact that this team immensely.

Jaylen should some good things on defense himself last season and I still love the idea more of Smart coming off the bench with that defensive energy boost.  I don't want coach to just decide on Brown, I want Jaylen to give him no choice.  I want Jaylen to TAKE that spot.

Ideally.

[Phantom255x]

Brown is THE ANSWER.

BUT I think the C's may "play it safe" at the start of the season and start Smart a lot more. Brown may be entering his 2nd year but can still be prone to making some rookie mistakes.

But again, it shouldn't be a huge issue, and ultimately it will be up to Brown to take the leap and play his way to the starter's role well into the season.

[Ilikesports17]

Brown starts.

Smart is the better player, but the bench is already incredibly young and I think Marcus is an absolutely necessary stabilizing force. Plus in the starting lineup, Brown will be able to simplify his game where he can be very very effective in his limited role.

Let Marcus run the second unit.

FWIW my closing lineup is Irving-Smart-Hayward-Morris-Horford to start the season. Ideally Brown and/or Tatum force their way into that lineup by the playoffs.

I like rozier leading the 2nd unit utilizing brown and Tatum as his 1-2 punch

Terry cant lead an offense. Hes got way too much tunnel vision.

[celticinorlando]

Smart might be starting at PG this season....

[ThePaintedArea]

Smart might be starting at PG this season....

Going from smallest backcourt in the league to one of the biggest?

[Rosco917]

I wish I knew who will be starting at point guard.

I think shortly Brown will be as good a defender as Marcus, while being longer and taller. Both score at a similar rate right now.

That second unit concerns me, Marcus is the better fit there.