Celtics starting five comes full circle


In Boston's final preseason game back on October 21st, Doc Rivers experimented with a new starting lineup.  Rather than use a shooting guard, he inserted Jeff Green alongside Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo.  It prompted me to write a piece the next day entitled "What if the Celtics go big?"  I noted that Green's size and versatility could add a new dimension for Boston, and create a variety of matchup difficulties for their opponents.  For the vast majority of the season Doc stayed away from this lineup, using Green mostly as a 6th man and backup small forward.  But after Green's stellar past two months, Doc has decided to bring back this "big" starting five (with Avery Bradley in Rondo's place) for the playoffs.  When the C's open against the Knicks today, they'll roll out a lineup that has played just 38 minutes together all season.  Will it be enough?


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