Mid-Season Review: How the Boston Celtics have fared in their first half

What are the best and worst lineups the Boston Celtics use?

The Boston Celtics weathered some early troubles with their line-ups this season, and after starting the year 10-10, some soul-searching necessitated a shift away from Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown in the starting line-up; this change immediately brought about results as the Celts were able to rip off eight wins in nine matches. However, the raw data suggests that Brad is still tinkering with his line-ups in an attempt to figure out how to best use the talent he has been given.

Since the aforementioned change brought the Marcuses to the starting line-up, the five-man unit of Horford, Morris, Irving, Smart and Tatum has the most minutes together of any group the Celtics have used at 196:17 and the group is a +13 in those minutes.

This line-up has been lauded as being the best balanced of the units the C’s can employ, because of its use of offensive and defensive specialists, and players that better complement the sheer wizardry of Kyrie Irving.

Even more interesting is the fact that if you sub Baynes for Horford in that same rotation, the plus/minus shoots all the way to 27.1.

Since the quarter-season mark, the Day One starting group of Irving, Brown, Hayward, Tatum and Horford has only played 1 minute and 8 seconds together. At the 20-game mark, it was the most utilised line-up at 137:02.

The best line-up the C’s use is the five-man wrecking crew of Hayward, Horford, Irving, Morris and Tatum which is a blistering +52.2 in 35:37.

The worst line-up to get serious burn in this rotation is when Morris is subbed for Hayward from the starting line-up. When Hayward plays with Irving, Smart, Tatum and Horford, the Celts are a -9.0 in 45:05.

Every other net negative line-up the Celtics have given any real run this year features either Jaylen Brown or Terry Rozier.

Other Interesting Stats:

·        Marcus Morris is 5th in the NBA in 3-point percentage at 45.2%

·        Marcus Morris is the only player to have attempted a heave this season that would’ve counted

·        Only two players in the regular rotation for the Celtics have a below average win shares rate per 48 minutes, Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier

·        When Kyrie Irving is on the court, the team’s assist percentage drops 7.4%, but their offensive rating also goes up 7.4

The Celtics 2018-19 campaign continues Monday night against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden.