How Do Boston Celtics Want to Play in 2026-27?

In 2025-26, the Boston Celtics earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs on the heels of a strong season from Jaylen Brown and the strength of their three-point shooting.

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However, the Celtics were undone in the first round of the playoffs by that same shooting, as they went cold and then were upended by the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games.

Brad Stevens seemed to make it clear after the season that he wanted a little more balance from the offense and that he didn't want the team to be so three-point dependent, but based on how the roster looks right now, it's unclear how the C's are set up to play this season.

Let's take a look at the questions at hand.

The best five players on the floor?

If the Celtics go with simply the five best individual players on their roster on the floor at the same time, then they'll be playing with a relatively small and relatively three-point dependent lineup: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum and Paul George, along with one big man.

This lineup would certainly be capable of shooting and scoring, and the big man would be capable of rebounding and kicking back out, but it doesn't necessarily seem like the most diverse offensive skillset.

It's why we've wondered if Tatum and George should really be on the floor together, and if they aren't, then who exactly is playing alongside each of them? Is Hugo Gonzalez going to help diversify things? How about Jordan Walsh or Baylor Scheierman?

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesWhat about the big men?

The Celtics have four capable big men this season in Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, Luka Garza and draft pick Chris Cenac Jr. Are the Celtics going to lean into this group and play with a double big set up, reducing the three-point shooting and utilizing more paint touches?

Or, are they going to simply play four perimeter players and rotate in one big man, but give each of them an opportunity to contribute?

Also in the news for the Celtics

Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at his basketball camp in Iowa, Garza had high praise for his head coach Joe Mazzulla, saying that "he's one of those coaches that you want to run through a brick wall for.."

Mazzulla was alongisde Garza for the camp, which is consistent with how Mazzulla has spent his offseason: visiting his players in their various locations around the world.

We've seen Mazzulla in Portugal with Neemias Queta and at Creighton with Scheierman, for example.

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