BOSTON \u2014 The Celtics have a multitude of starting options on their new-look roster this season. On Sunday night against the Cavaliers, Joe Mazzulla provided a first glimpse at one of the likely possibilities, opting to start new addition Chris Boucher at center for Boston\u2019s first preseason contest with the entire roster available.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Celtics sat key rotation players in Boston\u2019s first two preseason games but with everyone in action at TD Garden Sunday night, Boucher will give the hosts a small ball look with plenty of spacing. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard will be the starting guards with Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser serving as the forwards. The look gives Joe Mazzulla five perimeter threats to open the game but also makes Boston very undersized from a size standpoint in the frontcourt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Boucher has started Boston\u2019s first two preseason games at the power forward spot with the Celtics missing some usual starters for both contests. He\u2019s been a standout performer for his energy in those games, averaging 15 points per game on 52.6 percent shooting from the field in just 21.5 minutes per game. He\u2019s also been a major factor on the offensive glass with his energy while also providing good defensive versatility with his speed and\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe cares about winning, he cares about people, he takes pride in his work ethic,\u201d Joe Mazzulla told reporters in Toronto Friday night. \u201cThere\u2019s few guys who take no plays off whether it\u2019s at shootaround, or a game, and that guy is one of them. It\u2019s impressive, 32 years old, to have the energy that he does on and off the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neemias Queta is also considered a candidate to start at center in the regular season after a standout EuroBasket performance for Portugal. Xavier Tillman and Luka Garza have also been in Boston\u2019s center rotation throughout the preseason in a revamped frontcourt that lost Al Horford, Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis this offseason to trade and free agency. The Celtics signed Boucher and Garza to veteran\u2019s minimum deals as replacements due to being limited with their spending power by a punitive CBA.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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