Just before training camp, the Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday, assembling a top-6 that was competitive enough to compete with any team in the NBA. With the addition of big man Kristaps Porzingis to their roster this offseason, the front office set out to achieve that aim.
Nonetheless, throughout training camp, there remained just one big question: who would start in the starting lineup? One key contributor must come off the bench because only five players can be labeled starters. Holiday disclosed that the starting lineups of the top six players actually coincided following the Celtics’ season-opening victory over the Knicks.
“Us six went together and talked about it,” Holiday said. “And honestly, it’s about what we can do for the team. No matter who starts, no matter who finishes, we all want to win. We’re all on the same page. So when it comes down to it, winning is our only option and the only thing we really want to do.”
Al Horford was the sixth man Wednesday, though it’s no guarantee the Celtics stick with the same starting group. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla already joked the starting lineup discourse will be a moot point because they will trot out different groups throughout the season.
But when it comes to those starting discussions, no Celtics player has resisted the idea of coming off the bench. The key word has been sacrifice as they’ve all focused on the betterment of the team. The Celtics, too, are bound to juggle the starters based off matchups. It’s also important for the C’s to pinpoint their closing group as the season continues
“Al’s a cultural warrior for us,” Mazzulla said. “So for a guy of his stature, what he’s done in this league, what he’s done for our team, to be willing to do that for our team is very important and I’m grateful for that and for him. At the same time, it’s not just about him. I think that’s the idea of this whole offseason. This preseason starting thing is like, yeah, Al’s making the initial sacrifice, but everyone’s gonna have to.”
Regardless, the Celtics appear to all be on the same page when it comes to the lineups. Rotations will also change throughout the season on a nightly basis based on availability. But those discussions are important to ensure the locker room is connected, and that’s the case for the C’s early on.
“Just a few weeks have passed,” stated Holiday. KP clearly had a fantastic game coming back here. However, once more, I believe that one of the things I probably concentrate on is our ability to hang onto leads once we have them. We are aware of how difficult it is to maintain a lead in this league, even when it is 20 points or more. However, I believe it will be a stage in our execution.
