Brad Stevens continues to experiment with diverse lineups
Celtics Coach Brad Stevens is not afraid to go with a variety of lineups-of-the-moment as game situations change. He went for a time in the Celtics/Jazz matchup with four point guards on the court at the same time.
Stevens made it sound like he's going to go back to that four-PG lineup at some point. Liked the way that group sped the game up, but didn't like the way it rebounded.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) December 16, 2017
Last night he went with a quintet that had yet to see action together. The lineup of Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Daniel Theis, Terry Rozier and Shane Larkin started the fourth quarter with Boston down 71-73 and went on a 16-0 run.
Interesting nugget: Remember that Larkin/Rozier/Tatum/Horford/Theis lineup that jumped out to 16-0 run at start of fourth quarter? That was the first time that group has played together all season.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) December 17, 2017
Rozier had five points in that run, with Tatum and Horford notching four points each and Daniel Theis scoring one three-pointer. Jayson Tatum had a terrific showing in the game with 19 points on 7/13 field goals, two-of-two on threes and a perfect three-of- three from the foul line. He added nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
#Celtics win in Memphis 102-93, becoming the first team in the NBA to 25 wins this season. @SeanGrandePBP had the final call.
— Celtics Radio Network (@celticsradio) December 17, 2017
LISTEN: https://t.co/N9tgbDiPGe
It is quite obvious that Brad Stevens constantly-changing lineup strategy is not simply to find a five-some that will work best long-term, but rather to alter the course of a specific game in the Celtics favor. Complacent is not a word one would use to describe Brad.
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Photo via Winslow Townson/AP
