NBA: Predicting the starting lineup for every team in the league

Predicting the starting lineup for every NBA team: Boston Celtics

PG: Dennis Schroder

SG: Marcus Smart

SF: Jaylen Brown

PF: Jayson Tatum

C: Al Horford

The starting lineup was in some amount of flux before the Celtics signed Dennis Schroder to the taxpayer midlevel. He will likely start, both because of his pedigree and the possibility of a guarantee to bring him in on such a cheap contract. Don’t be surprised if Payton Pritchard is playing better than Schroder and at least closing games by the end of the season.

The presence of Schroder and Pritchard likely keeps Smart at the 2, where he started alongside Kemba Walker for two years. Smart, Brown and Tatum are all locks to start, but they could all slide up the positional spectrum if Schroder is deployed as a Sixth Man. That would allow the team to start another big man, either Grant Williams or Robert Williams III.

Williams is a breakout candidate for the team, with a new contract extension and an incredible skill level contained in a hyper-athletic body. The problem has been injuries, which have plagued Williams continually and likely mean the Celtics will bring him in off the bench in a reduced role. Horford, therefore, provides a steady veteran presence whose floor-spacing will open up the court for Boston.