Boston Celtics: Starting lineup locks, fringe, and potential break-ins
Locks for the starting lineup
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart
The Boston Celtics have the most valuable commodity in the league. They have a young two-way star who plays the league’s most important position. Jayson Tatum can score, pass, defend and match up against many of the league’s best players. While he shot very well last season, his overall game screams “star” and not “fluke” which is a reason for optimism for the Celtics and their fans.
His wingman is Jaylen Brown, who looks to be an excellent choice as the second option. Together the Celtics have a combination that doesn’t take away from each other in any way. Brown is fast enough to defend guards, allowing the Celtics to insert a second big or larger forward, but he is also strong enough to battle more traditional forwards if the Celtics start two guards. He has some holes in his game that need to be shored up, but he is a lock for the starting lineup.
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The final lock for the starting group is Marcus Smart. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy and All-NBA-level defender, Smart has oscillated between starting and coming off of the bench throughout his career. With Kemba Walker out to start the season, his place with the starters is a lock.
It will be interesting to see how head coach Brad Stevens chooses to deploy Smart, especially on offense. Defensively Smart is versatile enough to defend anyone 1-through-4, and he does so at an elite level. Stevens could play him at point guard, giving Boston a large defensive backcourt of Smart and Brown, and insert a power forward. He could also play a smaller guard, such as Jeff Teague, to better approximate Smart’s role once Walker returns. Either way, Smart gives him options at both ends of the court.