Celtics: Projecting Brad Stevens’ Starting Five and Rotation

Apr 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) dribbles the ball around Detroit Pistons guard Jodie Meeks (20) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Celtics beat the Pistons 113-103. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Small Forward: Evan Turner

It will be interesting to see how Stevens uses his depth. Jae Crowder is probably a better overall player than Evan Turner, but Turner’s skill-set fits this starting line-up well. Crowder is an incredibly intense physical presence who excels on the defensive end. Pairing him with an already great defensive backcourt in the starting line-up seems like an odd fit.

Turner may have his issues defensively, but with Smart and Bradley on the court, the Celtics would be able to hide him a bit. That being said, Turner brings much more to the team offensively than Crowder, making him a strong fit for this particular starting line-up.

He is a strong ball handler who took over the primary ball handling duties for the Celtics at times down the stretch last season. If Smart is not ready to be the true point guard for the Celtics, having Turner on the court to help with the responsibility would be key.

Turner is a strong offensive player, who can set up his teammates well. On top of that, he is arguably the best player on this roster at creating his own shot. He is not the best shooter in the league, but Turner has a knack for getting to the basket and making plays.

I do not love Turner’s game as a whole. He is a liability defensively, and relies on having the ball in his hands too much. That being said, his playing style does fill a void in this particular line-up. If the Celtics start Smart and Bradley in the backcourt, I expect Turner to be alongside them. That being said, I would not be surprised to see Crowder being the one getting the most minutes at the position.

Next: Power Forward