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[Saba Sports News] After narrowly escaping a Game 1 loss at home in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics might be exploring new strategies.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned on Wednesday that star forward Jayson Tatum could potentially play at the 5 in certain lineups against the Indiana Pacers.
“Anything is on the table against a team like this because of their versatility,” Mazzulla said, according to Jay King of The Athletic.
This idea comes after the Celtics struggled against the Pacers in Game 1, nearly losing before the Pacers faltered. With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined, 37-year-old Al Horford had difficulty keeping up with Indiana’s pace, and backup center Luke Kornet lacked the speed for effective defense.
Playing Tatum as a de facto center could allow Boston to use a five-out offense and disrupt the Pacers’ pick-and-rolls. While Tatum, who has rarely played center, would need to handle defensive rebounds, contest shots from Indiana’s big men, and manage switches against guards like Tyrese Haliburton, his length and rebounding ability (8.1 per game this season) make him a viable option.
Though the Celtics might use Tatum at the 5 sparingly, it offers a valuable alternative, especially given the exposed weaknesses in Boston’s current lineups.