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Boston Celtics: 3 of the C’s best lineups so far in 2020-21

By Mark Nilon

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 30: Jaylen Brown #7 jumps with teammate Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during player introductions prior to the start of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on December 30, 2020 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. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 30: Jaylen Brown #7 jumps with teammate Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during player introductions prior to the start of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on December 30, 2020 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. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have had a mixed bag of success with their plethora of different lineups to start the 2020-21 season, but 3 of them have been quite impressive.

Thus far into the 2020-21 season, Head Coach Brad Stevens has been heavily committed to the starting-lineup of Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Daniel Theis, and Tristan Thompson for the Boston Celtics.

With this, there has been a mixed bag of reactions from both the media and fans alike.

On the one hand, this tall-ball lineup allows for more ease in the rebounding department and, in turn, nabbing second-chance opportunities.

On the other, having Theis and Thompson in the lineup together allows for far too many perimeter looks for opposing teams, as both lack in quickness on defense, and, with the German-hammer converting on a career-low 19 percent of his 3s, the C’s own floor-spacing game undoubtedly struggles.

Though this lineup has logged the most minutes together, based on the eye test and, frankly, the numbers, it has been one of the least impactful units that Stevens has rolled out in 2020-21.

As expected, this first-five does have a solid total-rebound percentage per 100 possessions, listing in at +6.7, but in regard to points (-13.7), field goal percentage (-.079), 3-point percentage (-.090), and surprisingly blocks (-2.0) they fall behind in comparison to their opponents.

Based on the numbers, there are 3 specific lineups that have managed to outperform this first unit for the Boston Celtics by quite a large margin.

The personnel and comparative numbers read as follows:

Regular Season: 5-Man Combinations Table
NetNetNetNetNetNetNet
RkLineupPTSFG%3P%TRB%ASTSTLBLK
1J. Brown | M. Smart | J. Tatum | J. Teague | R. Williams+66.1+.283+.111+10.0+18.6+26.4+8.7
2J. Brown | P. Pritchard | J. Tatum | J. Teague | R. Williams+65.1+.271+.500+33.3+11.3+15.4+7.7
3J. Green | P. Pritchard | J. Tatum | J. Teague | R. Williams+46.2+.333.000+50.0+14.1+1.9+8.3
Team Average+1.4+.016+.033+2.8+0.9+0.7+1.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

What’s interesting about these 3 lineups is that they all consist of third-year big man Robert Williams III slotting in at center, and two of the three include rookie point guard Payton Pritchard — both of whom we at the Houdini believe deserve a larger role in the rotation moving forward.

Unfortunately, however, these lineups currently rank fourth, 10th, and 14th, respectively, in minutes logged in 2020-21.

What the Cs are rolling out the most clearly pales in comparison to several other lineups in regard to many key aspects to a game plan’s success. The three listed above are simply just the most effective all-around in these specific areas.

With this, perhaps we’ll see an uptick in minutes for the aforementioned lineups.

Next. It’s time to give Jaylen Brown his own spotlight. dark

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