UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Many teams use the preseason as a time to experiment with different lineups and the Celtics are no different.
Today’s game against the Charlotte Hornets will feature a starting five of Marcus Smart, Gerald Green, rookie Jaylen Brown, Jae Crowder and Tyler Zeller.
The team’s usual starters will be available, but all indications are that coach Brad Stevens has no intention of playing them today.
As far as the lineup that will take the floor at the start of the game, Stevens explained why he decided to go with this particular group of players.
“You got a lot of versatility there, at least on paper,” he said. “It’s good to get a chance to play that way for a little bit.”
The one player to watch with this group is Crowder, the team’s starting small forward who with this group will slide over and play power forward.
“Jae’s going to play the four [power forward] a lot for us,” Stevens said. “Getting a chance to do that right out the gate today is a good thing.”
This will also mark the first preseason game for Green who has missed most of training camp due to a left hip flexor injury.
Also, rookie Jaylen Brown will make his first start as a Celtic. In the two preseason games thus far, Brown has come off the bench to average 10 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.