Boston Celtics: An Early Look At The C’s Starting Lineup
There is still a long way to go until the start of the NBA season, but the Boston Celtics seem to almost have their whole roster set for next season. The team still has 16 guaranteed contracts for next season, where they are only allotted 15, and only about nine of those players will have a shot to compete for the starting lineup.
Some of the players are new to the team, and some of players are very familiar with the system in Boston. Here is an early at the Celtics’ starting lineup for next season.
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The backcourt
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The team is welcoming back four guards that played huge minutes for the Celtics last season in Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, Evan Turner, and Isaiah Thomas. Bradley started in 77 games for the Celtics last season, Smart started in 38, Turner started in 57, and Thomas started in none.
Bradley and Smart will be the the starting backcourt duo for the Celtics on opening night, while Thomas will continue to come off the bench and be an effective scoring assassin. Turner is interesting because he has the size to play on the wing and sometimes in the frontcourt, but he plays like a guard and he can really handle the basketball.
So do not be surprised if Smart, Bradley, and Turner are in the starting lineup come opening night.
The wings and frontcourt
This is where predicting the starting lineup could get a little tricky because the Celtics have a plethora of proven frontcourt players, and because the Celtics absolutely love Jae Crowder, who could play on the wing.
Crowder can help out on both ends of the floor on the wing, but he does struggle shooting the basketball at times, which is why Crowder will probably not start for the Celtics next season on opening night. He also will be coming off a pretty serious injury, so they might want Crowder to take it slow at the beginning of the season.
The frontcourt has many proven players that are deserving of a starting role next season. David Lee, Amir Johnson, Jared Sullinger, and Tyler Zeller are the four names that come to mind for possible starters next season.
Lee is a big-time scorer, Johnson is a great defender and rebounder, Sullinger is pretty good on both ends of the floor, and Zeller is a crafty scorer that is a decent rim-protector. Zeller will probably be the starting center for the Celtics on opening night, but the power forward position will be up for grabs.
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Sullinger will not start on opening night because he is a little undersized in the froncourt, but Johnson and Lee both have a lot to offer, which is why either of the players could start on opening night.
And the starting lineup is …
The backcourt starters will be Bradley and Smart, while Tuner will be on the wing, but he will play as a ball-handler and guard. Those players are almost guaranteed locks to start the season.
Lee will start at the power forward position because the Celtics need offense in the paint and he is gifted on the offensive end, and Zeller will be the starting center because he good on both ends of the floor.
The Celtics have a lot of depth to work with, which is certainly not a bad thing.
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