Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens hinted at what his possible starting lineup could look like for the team’s season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, Oct. 17. That lineup involved rookie Jayson Tatum in place of veteran Marcus Morris starting at power forward.
Tatum may have to play that role for a couple more games if Morris does miss at least the first week of the regular season due to a sore knee, as Brad Stevens said according to the Celtics’ official Twitter account.
Marcus Morris, who was acquired by the Celtics in the trade with the Detroit Pistons for Avery Bradley, was limited to just one game in preseason in part due to the legal case he and brother Markieff were facing in Arizona. They were eventually acquitted of the charges.
If healthy, Morris likely would’ve gotten the start over Tatum at power forward. But given his sore knee and big man Aron Baynes also still recovering from the knee injury he suffered in preseason, Stevens almost has no choice but to hand the rookie Tatum the start in his NBA debut.
The Celtics will also likely use fellow rookies Guerschon Yabusele, Daniel Theis, and/or Semi Ojeleye in some capacity as Tatum’s backups at power forward while Marcus Morris recovers from his knee troubles.