Who starts Game 1 of the Finals, if you merge the Cs with...

[mwonow]

Something to pass the time during the lull...

If you merged "a team" with the Cs, who would start Game 1 of a Finals series?

For example, take the Knicks. Really good starting 5. But, how would the rotations shake out if you combined their players with Boston's? Assuming full health, I want OG as the first wing off the bench, and Brunson as the bench offense. KAT? IDK, not over KP I don't think, maybe as part of a two bigs, but you guys understand this better than I do.

Feel free to p-ick on the Knicks, or to pick another team to merge with the fully-healthy Cs before a Finals Game 1.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Curry-Thompson-Iguodala-Durant-Green (‘17).

In the spirit of the game: White, Holiday, Brown, Tatum, Jokic would be intriguing.

 

[NoXInNixon]

White-Brown-Tatum-Bird-Parish

 

[Devizier]

(1995-1996 Bulls)

Jordan-Brown-Pippen-Tatum-Porzingis

 

[Eddie Jurak]

2008 Celtics.

Starters: White-Pierce-Tatum-KG-KP (as in Kristaps, not Kendrick)

2nd unit: Rondo-R.Allen-Holiday-Brown-Al

Deep bench: Perk-PP-Posey-Hauser-House

2 way deals: Queta-Kornet-T.Allen

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

2008-09 OKC Thunder

Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jeff Green, DJ White, Malik Rose.

 

[mwonow]

2008 Celtics.

Starters: White-Pierce-Tatum-KG-KP (as in Kristaps, not Kendrick)

2nd unit: Rondo-R.Allen-Holiday-Brown-Al

Deep bench: Perk-PP-Posey-Hauser-House

2 way deals: Queta-Kornet-T.Allen

Might lack a little perimeter quickness, but boy, that team would be tough to play. And actually, the second unit would win at least some of the intersquad scrimmages!

 

[Ale Xander]

60-61 Celtics
“Big” Cousy Brown Tatum Heinsohn Russell
“Small” Cousy Sam Jones Brown Tatum Russell

70-71 Bucks
Oscar, White, Brown, Tatum, Alcindor

71-72 Lakers
White West Tatum Baylor. Chamberlain

76-77 Blazers
White, Brown, Tatum, Lucas, Walton

84-85 Lakers
Magic, Brown, Worthy, Tatum, KAJ

92-93 Suns
Kevin Johnson, Brown, Tatum, Barkley, Porzingis
Or
White, Majerle, Tatum, Barkley, Porzingis

 

[Ale Xander]

(1995-1996 Bulls)

Jordan-Brown-Pippen-Tatum-Porzingis

I think we’re assuming only one ball in play

 

[The Mort Report]

I get all these fun time capsule team combinations, but the spirit of the original question seems to obviously be about today’s rosters. I feel like we are doing a disservice to @mwonow original question.

 

[Ale Xander]

In that case Bucks just for Giannis reffing

small/offense
Lillard
Jrue (for Giannis chemistry)
Brown
Tatum
Giannis

big/defense
Jrue
Brown
Tatum
Giannis
Porzingis

4th quarter 2-4 minutes left (hack a Greek)
Lillard
White
Brown
Tatum
Porzingis

 

[mwonow]

I get all these fun time capsule team combinations, but the spirit of the original question seems to obviously be about today’s rosters. I feel like we are doing a disservice to @mwonow original question.

Thanks, Mort! I'm enjoying the time capsules too, but yeah, I was more wondering how the Cs current starting 5 would combine with the starters from contemporary teams, as a way of seeing how the units compare.

@Ale Xander - thanks for the Bucks. I have a probably-irrational distaste for small guards who are ++ on O but give back value on D (Kyrie-itis?), so I'd be more bearish on Lillard, but there's certainly an argument to be made there (probably the same one somebody grumped about in another thread, grousing that Brunson wouldn't be a bench guy behind White/Jrue in a Game 1 Finals scenario).

 

[TripleOT]

Celtics and the 2025 Wizards

Starting, White, Jrue, Brown, Tatum, KP
Bench, PP, Horford, Hauser, Kuzma, Poole

 

[chilidawg]

Celtics and the 2025 Wizards

Starting, White, Jrue, Brown, Tatum, KP
Bench, PP, Horford, Hauser, Kuzma, Poole

I'd take Coulibaly and Valanciunas (or almost anyone) over those 2 chuckers

 

[lovegtm]

2008 Celtics.

Starters: White-Pierce-Tatum-KG-KP (as in Kristaps, not Kendrick)

2nd unit: Rondo-R.Allen-Holiday-Brown-Al

Deep bench: Perk-PP-Posey-Hauser-House

2 way deals: Queta-Kornet-T.Allen

Am I crazy for wanting JB over Pierce in that lineup? I wouldn't have said that a year ago, but JB's leap is ongoing.

 

[Jimbodandy]

1986 Celtics

Starters: KP Bird Tatum Brown White
Next5: Parish, McHale, DJ, Horford, Jrue

Ainge, Walton, Hauser, Pritchard don't even make the rotation.