Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t afraid to shuffle his starting lineup.
Mazzulla utilized 23 different starting combinations during the regular season last year, routinely rotating players at the wing position while Jayson Tatum rehabbed from Achilles surgery. Four five-man combinations started at least 10 games apiece; 18 other combinations played two games or fewer.
In Game 7 of a first-round playoff series against Philadelphia, with Boston on the brink of fumbling away a 3-1 series lead, Mazzulla boldly trotted out a lineup that hadn’t played a single minute together all season.
For Day 4 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel a question that might not have a firm answer: Predict the Boston Celtics’ starting five for the 2026-27 season.
Last year’s opening-night starting five lasted two games before Mazzulla started making alterations. Sometimes coaches land on their preferred lineup right out of the gate, but most years they spend much of the regular season trying to determine the best mixes of personnel.
The Celtics have some interesting choices to make this season, both with the departure of All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown, and the offseason additions of veterans Paul George and Mitchell Robinson.
Our best September guess for the five that will start on opening day in Detroit: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta.
Pritchard actually posted slightly better numbers over 29 games as a reserve (17.2 PTS, 42.9 3PT%) than he averaged in 50 games as a starter (16.9 PTS, 34.8 3PT%) but both stat lines were jarringly similar (with only 1.2 minutes more per game as a starter). There’s a case to keep him in the Sixth Man role where he’s clearly comfortable.
The pitch might simply be having another scorer/playmaker on the floor for stretches when Tatum might be off the court. The counterargument is that the Pritchard/Tatum combination has been one of Boston’s most successful two-man combos over the past five seasons while posting a +11.6 net rating in 3,196 minutes together.
Boston’s offensive rating is a robust 122.0 with that tandem on the floor. On a team that needs additional scoring options after Brown’s departure, keeping Pritchard and his rim-attacking ways on the court with the starting group feels important to start the year.
George has started 653 straight NBA appearances. The Celtics will certainly tread cautiously with his games played and minutes played but, when available, it would seem they’ll lean heavily on his ability to fill some of Brown’s void on the wing.
Robinson was Boston’s big offseason splurge, but he’s no stranger to a bench role and averaged 19 minutes per game over his final two seasons in New York. His ability to bring energy and play hard in short shifts might be best utilized in a reserve role. Queta should get every chance to maintain the starting job he held down last season, though he must avoid foul trouble that plagued him during Boston’s first-round exit.
The Celtics need to be mindful of how to stay afloat in non-Tatum minutes. But, over the past five seasons, the Pritchard/White/Tatum triumvirate has posted a +14.4 net rating over 1,138 minutes together. The Celtics should want that trio together as much as possible.
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images Baylor Scheierman could get his fair share of starts this season.
If the Celtics elect to eventually utilize Pritchard off the bench, we’re intrigued by the idea of a bigger starting lineup while adding another wing like Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, or Ron Harper Jr. alongside Tatum and George. The Celtics have some intriguing defensive combos, or can lean on Hauser for his floor spacing.
Ultimately, the more important aspect might be landing on a firm closing five. Which group of players brings out the best basketball in the highest leverage moments? That group almost certainly features Tatum, White, Pritchard, and George when he’s available. Mazzulla is going to have plenty of options for starting and closing five.
And, after Game 7 last season, nothing Mazzulla might decide about how to deploy talent would surprise us.
Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations
Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
I simply like Pritchard coming off the bench. He gets to be the clear second option with one (or two) of Tatum, PG13, or White resting. I think you have to let Queta start over Mitchell Robinson to begin the season, but that could really change as the season progresses. I like having Scheierman or Hugo Gonzalez start because those guys are high-energy 100 percent of the time, and that’s important to have in the first eight minutes of a game.
Nick Goss: Producer, Multi-Platform Content
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Pritchard has been more effective as a Sixth Man, so I could foresee a scenario where he comes off the bench. But the C’s will need his offense with Brown gone. Queta had a breakout season as a starter in 2025-26, so why mess with that? Mitchell Robinson should still see the floor a lot. If Paul George misses a bunch of games, which is a real possibility given his injury history, then I could see Sam Hauser making a bunch of starts.
In summary, I think the Celtics will use a bunch of starting five combinations this season. Joe Mazzulla, as we saw in Game 7 vs. the Sixers, isn’t afraid to mix things up.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Payton Pritchard averaged 17.2 PTS and shot 42.9 percent from 3 off the bench last season.
Michael Hurley: Producer, Multi-Platform Content
Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Paul George has started 99 percent of his NBA games after his rookie year, so he’ll start every game he can suit up for this season. I do think coach Joe Mazzulla showed he’ll happily mix and match his starting five as he’ll see fit — nine players started 10 games or more last season, and 16 players started at least one game. And he’ll also pull one of those starters right out of the game if he doesn’t like what he sees in the opening minutes.
Sam Hauser was in the starting lineup on opening night last year but essentially split time as a starter/bench player all year. Jordan Walsh got his run in the starting five, as did Baylor Scheierman — and Josh Minott, and Luka Garza, too. All of that is to say, the starting five may be a bit obvious, but I expect Mazzulla to tinker all season based on current circumstances.
Josh Canu: Editor
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
I think the best version of the Celtics this season relies heavily on Payton Pritchard in the starting lineup. Without Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum will be seeing a lot of double teams and to make teams pay, Pritchard has to be the best version of himself. He is the one player on the roster that will make other teams think twice about doubling Tatum.
In terms of consistency, with a player like Paul George who misses a lot of games, I would expect Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman to get plenty of opportunities in the starting lineup as well this season.
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Offseason addition Mitchell Robinson is expected to come off Boston’s bench, with Neemias Queta starting at the five.
Justin Leger: Producer, Multi-Platform Content
Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
Perhaps Pritchard will revert to his sixth-man role, but this seems like the most sensible starting five to begin the season. Pritchard started 50 of the 79 games he played in last season, and he excelled in the role with 17.0 points and 5.2 assists per game. He’ll be counted on again to provide a consistent offensive spark with Brown out of the picture.
The only other question mark is the center spot with Mitchell Robinson in the mix, but Robinson should maintain the role he had in New York as the first big off the bench. He’ll provide much-needed depth behind Queta.
Adam Hart: Executive Producer, Content Strategy
Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta
This starting five creates an impactful second unit that can maintain or grow leads. Putting Scheierman in the starting lineup because he adds a hustle element to the group, and it allows Pritchard to be the lead dog off the bench.
