In a move that signals a dramatic shift in strategy, the Boston Celtics are completely reimagining what their lineup can look like this season—and it all starts with a surprising choice at center.
BOSTON — The Celtics' newly constructed roster presents Head Coach Joe Mazzulla with numerous possibilities for his starting five. During Sunday night's preseason matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mazzulla offered the first concrete look at a probable regular-season configuration, making the unexpected decision to slot newcomer Chris Boucher at the center position. This was the team's first preseason game with the full roster available, making the choice particularly telling.
Now, here's the strategic gamble that has everyone talking: by starting Boucher at the five, the Celtics are fully committing to a 'small-ball' philosophy. This lineup, featuring Derrick White and Payton Pritchard as the guards and Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser as the forwards, places five players on the court who are all legitimate threats from the perimeter. This creates immense spacing for driving lanes and open shots. But this is the part most people miss: while the offensive benefits are clear, this configuration also makes Boston noticeably undersized in the frontcourt, potentially leaving them vulnerable against teams with dominant, traditional big men. This trade-off between offensive firepower and defensive stature is one of the most controversial decisions a coach can make.
Boucher is no stranger to the starting lineup this preseason, having opened the previous two games at power forward while several regular starters were rested. However, his performance has been impossible to ignore. He has emerged as a standout, not just for his stats—averaging 15 points in just 21.5 minutes per game while shooting over 52% from the field—but for his relentless energy. He has been a major factor on the offensive glass and has provided crucial defensive versatility, using his speed and length to guard multiple positions.
This effort has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff. "He cares about winning, he cares about people, he takes pride in his work ethic," Coach Mazzulla stated to reporters in Toronto on Friday. "There are very few players who take no plays off, whether it's during a shootaround or in an actual game, and Chris is one of them. It's truly impressive for a 32-year-old to bring that level of energy both on and off the court."
Of course, the center position is far from settled, which leads to a crucial question for fans: Is going all-in on a small-ball lineup the right move for a championship contender? Boucher is not the only candidate for the role. Neemias Queta, who turned heads with a stellar performance for Portugal in the EuroBasket tournament, is also in serious consideration for the starting job once the regular season begins. Furthermore, the Celtics have been evaluating Xavier Tillman and Luka Garza in their center rotation throughout the preseason.
This revamped frontcourt was necessitated by significant offseason losses, as veterans Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis departed via trade and free agency. This is where front-office strategy gets really interesting, and somewhat contentious. Due to the restrictive and punitive rules of the Collective Bargaging Agreement (CBA), which severely limits spending for high-payroll teams, the Celtics were forced to get creative. They signed both Boucher and Garza to veteran's minimum contracts—essentially bargain deals—to fill the void. This raises a provocative point: Is the team's new direction a brilliant adaptation to financial constraints, or is it a risky compromise that could cost them against physically dominant opponents?
What do you think? Is Coach Mazzulla's small-ball experiment a stroke of genius or a step too far? Let us know your take in the comments below.
