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Boston Celtics: How deep should playoff rotation be?

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 6: Abdel Nader 28 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against Jerian Grant #2 of the Chicago Bulls on April 6, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 6: Abdel Nader 28 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against Jerian Grant #2 of the Chicago Bulls on April 6, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have a lot to figure out with the bottom of their playoff rotation

The Boston Celtics are going into the playoffs in one of the weirdest situations you will ever see. They are the number two seed, but are so injured that they have their youngest players leading the way, and may not even be a favorite in the first round.

That being said, this core is actively on one of the more impressive streaks of the season. They just suffered a worrisome loss to the Hawks, but are have proven that they are able to compete despite these injuries with that great win streak they went on, with wins against the Thunder and the Blazers, who both had a lot on the line in those games.

The Celtics are going into the playoffs with a bunch of young players that may not really know their role, and a bottom of the rotation that is completely up in the air. I am sure Brad Stevens has  a lot planned, but this is a team that will be constantly changing, even in the middle of games.

There is so much to figure out, and yet there is all kinds of excitement about these young players. One thing Stevens will have to quickly figure out is how deep his rotation can go. There is no doubt that the depth of this team has been decimated. They have G Leaguers getting regular minutes at the bottom of their bench, and it might be difficult to reconcile using those guys in the playoffs.

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On the other hand, it is also hard to justify shortening the rotation, and putting even more pressure on a 20 and 21 year old, who were supposed to be secondary players this entire season. There is a good chance it will change depending on the situation, but how deep the Celtics bench can go will be a huge factor in these playoffs.

The team is certainly set with Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Aron Baynes, Al Horford, Marcus Morris, Greg Monroe and Shane Larkin. There is a logic that these are the only guys that should see the court, because the rest of the roster belongs in the G League.

The problem is that these guys are not established enough to trust that they will not need help. The Celtics always look to get an advantage from their bench, and Brad Stevens is never known to put to much pressure on his top players, especially considering they are now the youngest players on the team.

So are we seriously going to prepare for Abdel Nader, Guerschon Yabusele and Semi Ojeleye to play significant minutes in a playoff game? Is it even in the realm of possibility that these players can actively be contributing to a playoff win, or are they going to be abused any time they see the court?

The biggest problem is that we really have no idea right now. We can try and guess what this rotation might look like, or how deep Stevens might want to go, but we will not have any idea until the games actually start. And even then, it will be changing on a game to game basis.

One of the most impressive things about Stevens is his ability to adapt, and that will have to happen in these playoffs. The bottom of that bench will always be about who is playing solid defense, and trying to find that hot hand.

If no one is getting hot, and the defense is a liability, then we could be in line for these youngsters to get over 40 minutes a game, but that is not something we have seen Stevens try to do throughout his career.

This Celtics team might be the most fascinating two seed we have ever seen, and trying to predict anything in the playoffs is a guessing game at this point, and that adds an element of excitement.

Next: Greg Monroe and the Weirdest Triple Double Ever

No one really knows what this Celtics team is going to look like come playoff time, but Stevens has proven that he will get the right players in the right place at the right time, and then it will come down to one of the youngest lead playoff teams exciting in a way that can secure a victory.

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