Boston Celtics: What will their starting five be for the opening game?
Some of the positions that generate the most debate include which perimeter combo will be most effective.
Photo: taken from Wikimedia Commons
With several key departures from the Boston Celtics—Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and eventually Al Horford—and Jayson Tatum still recovering, the Boston Celtics face an offseason with many unanswered questions. The group that started numerous games last season has made 234 starts, and in the last two years has reached 474, underscoring the depth of the rebuilding process ahead.
New faces, new expectations
Several analysts agree that the starting five could have at least three new players compared to last season. Some of the positions generating the most debate include which perimeter combo will be most effective, who will assume the power forward role with sufficient size, and how to cover defensively without losing too much offensively.
According to the panel's prediction NBC Sports Boston, the opening lineup would be:
- Payton Pritchard
- Derrick White
- Jaylen Brown
- Sam Hauser
- Neemias Queta
This starting five relies heavily on what's been confirmed so far: players who are already familiar with Joe Mazzulla's system or who have performed solidly in rotation situations last season.
Strengths and doubts
There are several interesting data that support this projection:
- That quintet has played only 67 minutes together over the last two years, but with a positive net rating (+9.6).
- In those minutes they have shown high offensive efficiency (offensive rating of 144), good three-point shooting (≈41 %) and a “true shooting” percentage of around 68.7 %.
But doubts are also real:
- On defense, they've leaked too much in certain areas, allowing open shots. The most obvious problem is on the rebound, where Neemias Queta is expected to do the heavy lifting.
- The lack of size inside raises questions about whether Hauser or Queta can match up against physical power forwards, or whether a “big lineup” will be necessary in some games.
Joe Mazzulla's alternatives and possible adjustments
- Some believe Anfernee Simons could win a starting spot if he shows consistency in training camp. But other analysts prefer to keep him as a sixth man, taking advantage of Pritchard's strong performance off the bench last season.
- To compensate on defense or rebounding, Chris Boucher or Josh Minott could be included in specific rotations, particularly in games where the Celtics face powerful forwards.
Everything points to the starting five heading into the season being a mix of what already worked and what new faces can bring: Pritchard, White, Brown, Hauser, and Queta. However, Joe Mazzulla will likely adjust as he sees the pieces in action, and the progress of Tatum's recovery could also change the outlook.
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