Has Brown earned back his starting spot?

[Csfan1984]

I feel Brown has been playing well far better than Morris. The team is struggling and just as Morris earned his start position it's time to reward Brown back for his efforts.

[KGs Knee]

My concern about putting Brown into the starting lineup for Morris is that it means one of Tatum or Brown becomes the defacto PF.  I'm not sure that is a good idea to start games.

Personally, I think we'd be better off putting Baynes into the starting lineup for Morris.  But maybe it's time we try putting Brown back in for Smart.  I still prefer Smart in the starting lineup, but I'm confident Smart will handle it like a pro one way or the other.

[GreenWarrior]

My concern about putting Brown into the starting lineup for Morris is that it means one of Tatum or Brown becomes the defacto PF.  I'm not sure that is a good idea to start games.

Personally, I think we'd be better off putting Baynes into the starting lineup for Morris.  But maybe it's time we try putting Brown back in for Smart.  I still prefer Smart in the starting lineup, but I'm confident Smart will handle it like a pro one way or the other.

this team was much better when baynes and horford started.

[ozgod]

Looks like Brad isn't convinced that the starting lineup is the issue.

“If I thought who we start the game with would make a huge difference, or even give us the spark we need, we would try it, or even just try it for the hell of it,” Stevens said. “I usually don’t fly by the seat of my pants like that. I try to have a thoughtful process. But we’ll just keep plugging away and see what we do."

"If I was dead sold that a combination change would give us a jolt, we would have done it a long time ago,” Stevens said. “Our starts have been good. Our bench up until this little five-game stretch had really improved playing together and still have had moments. We all just have to play better. If the right thing to do is to tweak that, we’ll tweak it and we’ll try anything. But we need to fix our play no matter what part of the game it is and who’s on the court.”

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2019/03/boston-celtics-brad-stevens-uncertain-change-to-starting-lineup-would-help-we-all-just-have-to-play-better.html

[GetLucky]

Brown's played the entire fourth quarter the last few games. That's more important to me.

[Chris22]

I would move both Morris and Smart back to the second unit.

Start Irving, Brown, Baynes, Horford, and Tatum.

[GreenEnvy]

I can get behind Brown and Baynes into the starting lineup.

Then have Rozier/Smart/Hayward/Morris/Theis second unit.

[Csfan1984]

Looks like Brad isn't convinced that the starting lineup is the issue.

“If I thought who we start the game with would make a huge difference, or even give us the spark we need, we would try it, or even just try it for the hell of it,” Stevens said. “I usually don’t fly by the seat of my pants like that. I try to have a thoughtful process. But we’ll just keep plugging away and see what we do."

"If I was dead sold that a combination change would give us a jolt, we would have done it a long time ago,” Stevens said. “Our starts have been good. Our bench up until this little five-game stretch had really improved playing together and still have had moments. We all just have to play better. If the right thing to do is to tweak that, we’ll tweak it and we’ll try anything. But we need to fix our play no matter what part of the game it is and who’s on the court.”

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2019/03/boston-celtics-brad-stevens-uncertain-change-to-starting-lineup-would-help-we-all-just-have-to-play-better.html

Yet getting guys to play better takes motivating them. That is promoting or demotting them. Sometimes the proper mix of players on the court together is the answer as well. As a coach he can't sit idle as the team spirals he has to try something. It helped before when he promoted Morris and Smart. Morris isn't giving the effort or hitting shots, it's time to move him out.

[LarBrd33]

We started Rozier, Brown, Tatum, Baynes and Horford in the playoffs.

It's bizarre that Marcus and Marcus start.

[gouki88]

We started Rozier, Brown, Tatum, Baynes and Horford in the playoffs.

It's bizarre that Marcus and Marcus start.

Some of Brad's moves this year have been truly baffling. This maintaining of the Marcus x2 experiment is one of them

[Celtics4ever]

I think Brown should start and it is time for Morris to go back the bench.

[Moranis]

I voted no, not because I don't think he has earned it, but more so because I think he is actually better off the bench and Smart is the better fit for the starting unit.  Morris is the one who shouldn't be starting, I'd rotate between Baynes and Hayward in that role depending on match-up.  And yes I know Hayward hasn't been great, but I do think the starting 5 could use his playmaking, while Morris' aggressiveness would be far more useful on the bench.  That is the starting unit I've been advocating for all season long and we really haven't seen it yet.

[Androslav]

I think Brown should start and it is time for Morris to go back the bench.

I agree, but are we too small then?
I like JBs quickness, defense, ability to beat his man, and general liveliness on the court, now that he has bounced back since the slow start of the season.

[BlackCeltic]

I voted no, not because I don't think he has earned it, but more so because I think he is actually better off the bench and Smart is the better fit for the starting unit.  Morris is the one who shouldn't be starting, I'd rotate between Baynes and Hayward in that role depending on match-up.  And yes I know Hayward hasn't been great, but I do think the starting 5 could use his playmaking, while Morris' aggressiveness would be far more useful on the bench.  That is the starting unit I've been advocating for all season long and we really haven't seen it yet.

Why anyone continues to play anyone above Jaylen Brown is beyond me. He lead the team late last year and obviously we cant do it without him leading the team this year.

[RodyTur10]

I would move both Morris and Smart back to the second unit.

Start Irving, Brown, Baynes, Horford, and Tatum.

Yes, that should have been our starting unit from the get go (TP). Hate this small ball stuff.
Horford/Baynes are an elite defensive duo, who can cover for the defensive deficiencies of Irving and Tatum.
Put Brown on the best guard/wing and our defense will improve a lot.

Offensively we should start exploiting pick-and-roll with Irving and Horford/Baynes with Brown and Tatum play off-ball most of the time. In the second unit Hayward or Smart can do the same with Theis, while Morris can be a fall back option when the offense stagnates. Go back to basics.