Poll: Your preferred backcourt

[Celtics4ever]

I would too, but we need to keep the peace for now. If a young guy starts it should be Brown. Let Tatum fight and work really hard in practice first.

Agree,  but I think he has the capability to fight and win that battle.

[positivitize]

Smart's gonna be in a contract year. My bet is that he's starting in the backcourt with Irving at the start of the season.

[2short]

I think Rozier is a key.  If he can prove to be a quality pg then I think smart gets start.
Irving, Smart, Hayward, Morris, Horford

That is a good starting lineup.  Second unit, rozier, brown, Tatum, Baynes

Man I miss IT, Crowder and Bradley but we haven't given up much if any defense and gotten way way better as on offensive team.

[Greyman]

I voted Smart - Irving. I think Stevens will go with experience to start. I also think Brown will get a lot of court time. With Kyrie, Hayward and Horford there is great offence. Smart's passing and defence will compliment this.

Brown may prove he deserves to start but I think his scoring, which should be improved, may be vital to the second unit.

[Hank Finkel]

Brown will be the starter to be the defensive stopper and he won't have to worry about scoring.  Smart is to valuable off the bench. I am anxious to see Morris fill Crowders spot and see if he is an upgrade also.   Tatum is a nice wild card. I am hoping he is an upgrade of KO. If these thing all hold true this team should be better on paper going into the season. If injuries don't hinder the team I am expecting the C's to battle Cleveland again in the ECF.   With two legit scoring options the games should be much more competitive. 

[mr. dee]

Brown because he will provide size and athleticism with the lineup. Smart will be the 6th man and the main facilitator on the 2nd unit.

[CelticsElite]

I wanted to make a vote but couldn't decide. We have so many talented players it doesn't matter. We will mix and match

[SHAQATTACK]

Smart ,Irving and Hayward and Tatum ....you when game is on the line .  Smart is Smart , will getbthe rebound , blockout , intercept pass, make the correct play ,  give up his body tomwin the game ....no questions .   Three deadly shooters and Smart making the pass ......or slipping to basket while the other five are all eyes on Tatum, Irving and Hayward.   CBS is going to famous mixing these guys and confusing the defense,

[Rosco917]

I went with Brown and Irving, Smart should anchor the second unit.

Some of you think Tatum will start...you're dreaming out loud. He will certainly play, and by the end of the season hopefully be a rotational player, but start? No way.

He'll have a learning curb like other rookies. Teams that start rookies are usually lottery teams.

[knuckleballer]

Brown needs to start over Smart because we need to overlap Smart and Irving so that Smart's ball handling skills are on the court when Irving is resting.

[thatruthb34]

Smart FOR NOW. After Jaylen's Summer League performance he needs to show me that he is ready to start full time (which I see happening sooner than later by the way).

[trickybilly]

Brown needs to start over Smart because we need to overlap Smart and Irving so that Smart's ball handling skills are on the court when Irving is resting.

Exactly..  Smart, Hayward, Tatum, Semi, Horford will be a fun hybrid unit

[PAOBoston]

Who starts the game doesn't really matter as much as who ends it.

Irving, Brown, Hayward, Horford, Baynes to start.

Irving, Smart, Hayward, Morris/Brown, Horford to close.

[ThePaintedArea]

Regarding Marcus' role last year:

He was virtually ALWAYS on the floor with either Thomas or Rozier, and then nearly always as the primary ballhandler to give Thomas a break and because Terry was better off the ball.

Kyrie is very good off the ball - he's gotten a lot of practice the last few years! - so Smart coming off the bench and facilitating out of the post looks like something that we'll see some of, maybe a lot.

Also. There are seldom situations where there are no starters on the floor; the "second unit" is mostly (though not entirely) a misnomer.

[Evantime34]

I think we are going to want to hide Kyrie on defense. It's easier to hide him on 2's than 1's. Smart is more able to defend 1's than Jaylen. Smart will also provide the team with it's defensive spark from the first minute.