3 ways the Boston Celtics can embrace the small-ball revolution
Unleash the “best five” death lineup
When you refer to the Boston Celtics’ “best five”, you are of course referring to Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum. Those five comprise what is the core of the team.
So far, they have not been played together much, but the results have been there for when they have shared the floor together.
The Celtics’ five-best lineup trimmed what was once a 14-point deficit to five before the end of the half, which feels important.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) December 29, 2019
The Celtics are going back to their Five-Best lineup out of the timeout, which really felt like the only group that had any traction in the first half.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) December 29, 2019
While the “best five” death lineup compromises size in a serious way (Jayson Tatum is the team’s biggest player in such scenarios), the offense buzzes when you combine the 3-point abilities of Walker, Smart, Brown, Tatum and Hayward. Not one of their top five guys shoots under 35 percent from the field.
Also worth noting: not one of their top five shoots less than four attempts per game. With all of their best players on the court at the same time, the Boston Celtics are capable of out-shooting any team in the league.
That is how the Warriors became a dynasty. If Brad Stevens gets creative enough, perhaps Beantown can be a dynasty in the same fashion.
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