The Boston Celtics love themselves a two-center lineup. Per NBC Sports Boston reporter Chris Forsberg, Al Horford will start alongside Robert Williams in the frontcourt. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart round out the starting five that head coach Ime Udoka said will be the starting unit going forward.
Smart, Brown, Tatum, Al, and Rob the starting 5. and that will be the 5 moving forward.
“We feel [Al] complements Rob well … Al’s been great from Day 1."
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) October 22, 2021
Horford was absent from Boston's season opener on Wednesday in which they lost a nailbiter to the New York Knicks. He will replace forward Grant Williams in the starting unit as he begins his second stint with the Celtics. Horford spent three seasons alongside Brown and Smart, two with Tatum and one with Williams before leaving in free agency in 2019.
Last season, head coach Brad Stevens used two-center starting lineups frequently with Tristan Thompson and Daniel Theis, who were both traded away before the season. Since Horford can shoot and pass better than both of them and Williams is a superior athlete, this new lineup may fit together better than the ones from last season.
Boston's new starting unit will get its first test at home tonight against the Toronto Raptors, who will start Fred VanVleet, Goran Dragic, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes and Precious Achiuwa. Williams' perimeter defending skills will be tested as he lines up against a forward while Horford patrols the paint.
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