Should we start Smart?

[LilRip]

We did this last year after Kyrie went down and the results weren’t great. But this year, the situation is vastly different. Instead of having an offensively inept lineup, we have too many guys who can technically be the first or second option on almost any other team. My thought process is we need to space those guys out to create better balance in the lineup. What I’m thinking is:

Kyrie
Smart
Tatum
Horford
Baynes

And then off the bench:Hayward, Brown, Morris, Rozier with Hayward getting starter minutes instead of Baynes. Horford will also probably be the first one to the bench with Hayward replacing him.

We get to better contain the other teams best guard from the get-go and we can unleash Brown and Hayward on 2nd units to create/sustain a lead. Brown, in particular, might benefit the most because he can be more aggressive going to the hoop with more plays being called for him rather than being a spot up shooter, which he sometimes becomes in that starting lineup. We also raise our intensity from the jump with both Smart and Kyrie, the only 2 guys who seem to give a hoot about winning rn.

[celtics4ever33]

Ridiculous thing to say that Smart and Irving are the only ones who care about winning. That's just baseless.

Smart is a hard worker, but it's not like he has been that good on guards this year.

We don't know what is going on with the players inside the locker room. I doubt they don't care, but I think many are confused and also confidence shot.

[mctyson]

Yes, because the current starting lineup that centers around the Irving-Brown-Tatum-Horford is simply not good.  Those 4 players are the most played 4-man combo this season and have a -1 net rating.  Hence the .500 record.

I think either Brown or Tatum should go to the bench.

[LilRip]

Ridiculous thing to say that Smart and Irving are the only ones who care about winning. That's just baseless.

Smart is a hard worker, but it's not like he has been that good on guards this year.

We don't know what is going on with the players inside the locker room. I doubt they don't care, but I think many are confused and also confidence shot.

They seem to have voiced the most displeasure at the current state of affairs. Other than CBS

[LilRip]

Yes, because the current starting lineup that centers around the Irving-Brown-Tatum-Horford is simply not good.  Those 4 players are the most played 4-man combo this season and have a -1 net rating.  Hence the .500 record.

I think either Brown or Tatum should go to the bench.

Agreed. But I think Tatum is too good to come off the bench, hence, I’d rather bench Brown rather than Tatum. Plus, Tatum is closer to a SF/PF than Brown