Practice: Changes ahead for C's?

ESPNBOSTON

By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

Might the Celtics ponder a switch to their typical starting frontcourt?

WALTHAM, Mass. -- While acknowledging the risk of reading too much into the color of jerseys being worn as Boston Celtics players stretched to close out Saturday's practice, it's nonetheless worth noting that Tyler Zeller was sporting typical starter green, while Kelly Olynyk was wearing reserve white.

Maybe the team had just finished up working with sub lineups. But given that Celtics coach Brad Stevens has previously acknowledged a willingness to examine potential lineup tweaks, it's enough to make you wonder if Boston might be pondering the idea of a swap to a more traditional center.

If nothing else, this affords us a chance to examine how Boston's most-used frontcourt pairings have fared so far this season:

A CHANGE UP FRONT?

A look at Boston's frontcourt pairings with minutes played, offensive and defensive rating (points scored/allowed per 100 possessions) and the net differential.

Frontcourt..............Min............OffRtg..........DefRtg............NetRtg
Olynyk/Sullinger----198----------106.5----------107.6----------(-1.1)
Bass/Sullinger-------100----------104.7-----------99.5----------(+5.2)
Bass/Olynyk----------82----------103.6----------108.1-----------(-4.5)
Bass/Zeller-----------65------------82.7-----------93.8----------(-11.1)
Sullinger/Zeller-------62----------111.4----------100.8---------(+10.6)
Olynyk/Zeller---------32----------107.1----------126.2----------(-19.1)

The Olynyk/Sullinger combo has been excellent offensively, but has struggled defensively around the basket, particularly when matched up against teams with more traditional centers. While both Olynyk and Sullinger can spread the floor offensively, Olynyk in particular has struggled with early foul trouble while trying to help defend bigger bodies around the hoop.

While the Zeller/Sullinger tandem hasn't had much floor time together, the early sample shows positive boosts at both ends of the floor, but most notably the dip in the defensive rating. That pairing has been nearly 12 points better per 100 possessions overall than the current starting tandem.

As Olynyk works his way through a bit of a slump, Boston could simply be experimenting with the possibility of more time for Zeller. The team could also consider Brandon Bass in a starting role -- over the last five games, the team's defensive rating has been a staggering 30 points better when he's on the court versus off -- but even with his much-needed physicality, it leaves Boston undersized up front and Sullinger still defending most 5s.

For his part, Olynyk was the final player off the practice court Saturday after joining a handful of younger teammates for post-practice shooting drills, then going through an extended free-throw shooting session of his own.

Asked about working through this tough stretch, Olynyk noted, "You just gotta play through it. Get in the gym, get your reps up. Get confidence however you can. There’s no other trick. Just know that your teammates, your coach have your back and keep playing."

Olynyk added: "[Gonzaga] Coach [Mark] Few, he used to tell us, during Christmas, when there is no school for a month and a half, and nobody is there, and there’s 6 feet of snow on the ground, he said, ‘You might as well get in here and put in some work.’ You can cheat yourself, but you can’t cheat the game. The game is going to catch up to you, and that’s something that I just remembered and try to live by."

Asked where he feels he's most struggling, Olynyk said, "I just try to find my spots, be a little more assertive. But just keep playing. Definitely turn up the intensity a little bit at both ends of the floor. Bring back that chip on your shoulder."

Some other news and notes from Saturday's practice:

• Sullinger's shades: Jared Sullinger sported a pair of dark goggles during Saturday's session. It was no fashion statement. Boston's third-year big man got elbowed near the left eye in Friday's loss to the Bulls and said he was experiencing sensitivity to light. In fact, he asked a cameraman to turn off his light when meeting with reporters after practice. But Sullinger said he won't wear the shades during Sunday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. "I’m a tough little cookie," he said.

• Full practice for Smart: Celtics rookie guard Marcus Smart, sidelined the past three weeks with a left ankle injury, went through all of Saturday's practice. Don't get too excited. "He did everything, but that doesn’t mean a lot," cautioned Celtics coach Brad Stevens, noting how the team went light Saturday while sandwiched between a pair of 1 p.m. tip-offs. Smart had said Friday that he was unlikely to play on Sunday.

• Make-a-Wish visits: The Celtics had some visitors from the Make-A-Wish Foundation on the sideline for Saturday's practice. The team hosted 11-year-old Jose from Houston, Texas and 13-year-old Ali from West Windsor, N.J., both of whom are battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Both children wanted to meet Rajon Rondo, who spent time after practice with the children and delivered two duffel bags filled with Celtics gear (including his jersey). Many Celtics coaches and players took time after Saturday's session to meet with the children and their families.

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looks like we may see Zeller as starter, that will make many happy.

he certainly deserves the shot with his solid play early. we'll find out if Kelly can thrive coming off the bench or if the demotion hurts his ego.

the only downside I see with Zeller and Sully in the game together, is that Brad doesn't really have that big man who can shot from outside.

I've felt that Kelly and Bass are those guys (even though Bass is more mid range guy) with Sully and Zeller as low post guys (I know Brad keeps trying to make Sully a 3 point shooter, but come on MAN).