What’s Starting Five Best Suite The Celtics?

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This off-season, The Boston Celtics added more depth and defense to build adding the core of Tatum and Brown with the additions of Josh Richardson, Dennis Schroder, Al Horford, and others. Will any of these new additions solidify a role as a starter for the 2021-22 season?

Along with the new pieces, The young guys are developing well. In the first preseason game Monday against the Orlando Magic — Pritchard, Nesmith, and Langford came up big to close the game for a win. 

The Celtics starting the game with Smart (1), Brown, Tatum, Hernangomez, and Williams III (5). The lineup last season was never steady due to COVID protocols, injuries, and trades.

With the depth added this off-season, there are several variations of a potential starting lineup the Ime Udoka could go with. 

Frontcourt 

Last Thursday, Udoka revealed that Horford is making a huge push to start. It also seems that Williams III is locked in as a starter for this upcoming season. 

A potential starting frontcourt of Williams and Horford on paper seems dreadful thinking about what happened last season. The two big lineup of Theis and Thompson did not work at all to start the season.

Hernangomez starting in the frontcourt in the preseason home opener may have caught some Celtics fans off guard. It will be interesting to see how he is utilized in the rotation moving forward.

Backcourt 

The depth in the Celtics backcourt (and wings) give the team a plethora of potential looks to build around Tatum and Brown to shift as a shooting gaurd/small forward or small forward/power forward lineup. 

At point guard, Marcus Smart or Dennis Schroder could lead as a starter. Both of them could also potentially start together as guards. 

Nesmith entering his sophomore season, is developing and can also make the case as starter if he plays with consistency. 

Josh Richardson as well — as he begins to fit in with the team, could find a starting role along with Tatum and Brown.

With a new coach and new players building chemistry while making a push to be contenders coming out of the east, Ime Udoka will likely play around with different lineups throughout the season to see what fits his system and improve from last season.