The results are in it. Fans of Boston Celtics want to stick to familiar faces in the starting formation.
Let’s start with the position of the guard. Obviously, Derrick White should start at one of the guard spots (with Jaylen Brown playing the wing). This leaves another position of guard (or ball managers, or oscillations, or whatever the designation without position with which you want to go).
The newcomer Anfernee Simons started 70 games for the Portland Trailblazers last year and Payton Pritchard won the 6th man of the year (from only 3 games). But that did not prevent people from voting so that Pritchard begins.
I don’t think this should be a big surprise, no matter whether you agree or not. Boston fans are comfortable and familiar with Pritchard and see this as its opportunity to take a step forward in a more important role. Meanwhile, Simons seems to have the skills of a 6th bench man. He probably paid a little more than you could assign to this role, but he is also on an expired contract. This leads to another reason why Celtics could promote the start of Pritchard. If they are serious about the exchange of simons, it could be more logical to stick to Payton from the start (rather than trying to “present” simons).
At the next major question mark, the central position.
Again, familiarity balances the vote. You might say that Boucher has the most experience and deserves a work. However, it is really further forward or by stretching large and would be undersized as a departure center. It may not really have any importance according to the quantity of coach that Mazzulla rotates these guys in and outside the alignments.
Queta certainly looks at the part of an NBA center and has shown lightning in green productivity. Unless another job, I would not be surprised to see him get the head sign this fall. At least for a while.
Surprised by the results? Share your reflections in the comments below.
