Sullinger gets start vs. Wizards

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It appears Doc Rivers is going to make good on his word and rotate power forwards in his starting lineup this season.

CSNNE.com Celtics Insider A. Sherrod Blakely got the word from Doc Rivers that C's rookie Jared Sullinger will indeed start for Boston Saturday night, in Washington, D.C. against the Wizards.

"Tweet it," Rivers told him.

Rivers had mentioned in the past that there would be games that Sullinger would start in depending on matchups.

"I think there will be nights where they will have a quick four power forward and we'll start Brandon Bass," Rivers said back in the preseason. And there will be nights when they don't, and you start Sully ... "and I like Brandon with the second unit because he gives us another scorer, a guy who can play."

Sullinger saw his playing time off the bench increase from eight minutes against the Heat to 18 minutes against the Bucks in Boston's home opener Friday night. Sullinger scored six points (2-for-5 from the field) and grabbed seven rebounds including three offensive rebounds against the Bucks. He also had a steal and a block with no turnovers.

Bass has played well in two games starting at PF, and was perhaps the team's best player against Miami, scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 boards. His moving to the bench could have more to do with the fact that the C's new bench hasn't settled in yet. Bass adds some stability there.

Sullinger will most likely be matched up with Wizards' third-year forward Trevor Booker early on. Booker stands at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds. He scored four points (2-for-9) grabbed one rebound and blocked one shot in the Wizards' season-opening loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday.

Whether he starts or comes off the bench though, Sullinger is only looking for one thing Saturday.

"I could care less," said Sullinger about the possibility of starting back in preseason. "I just want to win. That's my main objective. For everybody who thinks I'm gonna start or come off the bench, as long as we win I'm fine."

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