Who's going to start in the Celtics' first preseason game? (Brad Stevens says don't worry about it)
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| The Celtics conclude their final practice in Milan before Tuesday's game. |
According to Avery Bradley, Brad Stevens has not yet informed his team who will be on the floor when the Celtics tip off the preseason tomorrow afternoon (2:30 p.m. EST) vs. Olimpia Milano:
Avery Bradley says that he and his teammates have not been told who's starting tomorrow night.— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) October 5, 2015
As a three-year starter and the C's longest-tenured player, there's a very good chance Bradley will be out there. Evan Turner, who started 57 games for Boston in 2014-15, may miss the game:
Evan Turner has a right knee strain. Status for tomorrow night uncertain.— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) October 5, 2015
If Turner doesn't suit up, Jae Crowder will certainly be in the opening lineup. Marcus Smart should start opposite Bradley in the backcourt, although given Stevens' recent praise of Isaiah Thomas' playmaking in training camp, don't be surprised if Thomas gets the nod:
#Celtics Brad Stevens said Isaiah Thomas will be primary ball-handler whenever he is in the game. Otherwise doesn't care who brings it up.— Scott Souza (@scott_souza) October 2, 2015
I'd like to see Stevens debut the Celtics' big-name offseason acquisitions in the frontcourt, David Lee and Amir Johnson. No matter who who he elects to go with Tuesday, via the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett, Stevens said the following when asked what conclusions could be drawn from his decision:
Yeah, none. I think it’s very likely that we’ll start different lineups in each game overseas. We can certainly discuss it and talk about it, but I don’t think anything will be set in stone. I think you want to have it somewhat set by the time we start our last week of the preseason, as far as that week where we play the 19th, 22nd and 23rd, whatever it is.
You try to mix and match the best that you can, so we’ll see. Ideally, when you sit in meetings right now, you say ‘Yeah, I’d like to be able to change starting lineups all the time,’ and all that stuff, but we’ll see if that fits in a plan and in reality see if it can work. I don’t know. Right now, I’m a lot more focused on, whoever is in the game, how they're playing.
Expect this conversation be an ongoing hot topic during the exhibition season. And considering the Celtics depth, it will likely continue throughout the regular season as well.
Photo via @Celtics on Twitter
Follow Mark Vandeusen on Twitter @LucidSportsFan
