A look at the different kinds of lineups the versatile Celtics are able to field

Top-of-the-line attributes of this Celtics crew is that coach Ime Udoka has the posh of blending and matching totally different gamers to offer precisely what the sport wants at that time.

The Celtics are extraordinarily versatile, notably with Derrick White and Daniel Theis now on the roster, and so they excel in nearly each space outdoors of possibly 3-point taking pictures. Whereas enhancing their postseason seeding is the highest precedence heading into the playoffs, one other goal within the coming weeks ought to be tinkering with lineups to find out which gamers match finest collectively.

Right here’s a better take a look at some totally different seems the Celtics can area and what every has to supply.

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The defensive-minded closing lineup

This one’s fairly clear-cut: A lineup of Marcus Sensible, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams offers the Celtics the very best probability to win.

All 5 gamers are well-above-average defensively, and Tatum and Brown appear to boost their defensive depth much more when Sensible and White are on the market. Tatum has proven his capability to protect all positions. Williams is without doubt one of the finest defensive massive males within the NBA. Everybody has a knack for making successful defensive performs.

This lineup flaunted its potential in a win over the Nuggets in White’s first recreation. It seemed like he had been with the crew for months somewhat than hours. When White and Tatum are on the court docket collectively, in a small pattern dimension, the Celtics are plus-14. Tatum is first within the NBA in defensive win shares, Williams is fifth and Sensible is eleventh. It’s awfully robust to attain on this group generally, and notably on the finish of video games.

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The swap all the pieces lineup

This one’s a bit distinctive, however a lineup of Sensible-White-Grant Williams-Brown-Tatum permits the Celtics to change all the pieces. What they lack in dimension as a unit, they make up for in size, athleticism, and grittiness.

With all 5 gamers between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-8, the Celtics can put groups in a bind and pressure them to decide. Tatum is able to guarding facilities, however most facilities aren’t capable of stick him. Williams may also assist out down low, and the Celtics can get out and run early and infrequently.

It wouldn’t work in opposition to, say, the 76ers or Bucks, however it might in opposition to groups such because the Nets, Bulls, or Hornets.

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The taking pictures lineup

When the Celtics are down by 10-15 and in want of a raise, they’ll experiment with a lineup of Payton Pritchard, Grant Williams, Sam Hauser, Tatum and Al Horford. With Tatum because the clear No. 1 choice, he can run the offense and spray it to snipers within the corners.

Sixty-eight p.c of Williams’ photographs are 3-pointers, which is by far the very best on the crew. He’s additionally third within the NBA in 3-point share at 44.6%, and the pattern dimension is giant sufficient now to understand it’s not a fluke.

The Celtics have Hauser, so they may as properly use him, and letting Tatum deal with the ball would give Pritchard an opportunity to function a spot-up shooter.

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The 2-big lineup

White can run level, Brown, Tatum, Daniel Theis and Rob Williams can play alongside him, and the Celtics can overpower groups inside. Theis is an elite passer and glorious within the pick-and-roll, so Williams may play principally inside.

Groups must decide their poison – go small and have guards on Brown and Tatum, or go massive and lose pace and quickness. Sensible for White and Horford for Theis would additionally work on this two-big lineup and Luke Kornet can also be a deep bench choice.

The Celtics are taking pictures 53.2 p.c from contained in the arc and holding opponents to 48.8, and so they have 362 blocks in comparison with 277 for his or her opponents. The 2-big lineup permits them to implement some bully ball and play to one in every of their primary strengths.

The roll the cube lineup

If the Celtics are down by rather a lot, and in want of a spark, a lineup of Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith, Hauser, Grant Williams and Kornet is sneakily fairly strong – offensively, no less than. With plenty of taking pictures on the market, they may make a run and chip away on the lead.