DETROIT — With the regular season officially kicking off Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla faces a fascinating riddle. Dress rehearsals (with the main rotation) against Charlotte and Philadelphia revealed four locked-in starters: Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta. However, that final open spot highlights a compelling Celtics opening night starting lineup puzzle.
Mazzulla used those two tune-ups to test real rotational concepts rather than experimental deep-bench lineups. While some might obsess over the individual stats put up, how the minutes were distributed tells the story of how Boston wants to dictate tempo to open the year.
The Case For Jordan Walsh Complicates Celtics Opening Night Starting Lineup Puzzle
Jordan Walsh earned the starting nod in both victories, signalling that Mazzulla heavily values his point-of-attack length and motor alongside White, George, and Tatum. Inserting Walsh into the starting lineup gives Boston an elite wing stopper to throw directly at opposing lead guards without forcing Tatum or George expending valuable energy fighting over screens in October.
Walsh logged starter minutes and proved his 16-point breakout against Cleveland was no fluke. His ability to hit corner 3-pointers and crash the glass makes him the cleanest fit if Mazzulla wants to set a physical, defensive-first identity right from the opening tip.
The Sam Hauser Rotation Switcheroo Option
While Walsh got the preseason nods, never underestimate the Sam Hauser factor. Hauser started a career-high 49 games last season, and remarkably, 42 of those starts came after the calendar turned to 2026. In fact, Hauser started every single game he played in 2026 bar two, proving Mazzulla trusts him implicitly when steady production is required.
Hauser logged 18 and 21 minutes as the primary sixth man in those final tune-ups, effectively operating as the top wing off the pine. Pulling a surprise move to start Hauser would instantly give Tatum and George their most reliable catch-and-shoot outlet without needing a 5-out structure.
Payton Pritchard Remains The Supreme Bench Force
Payton Pritchard put up staggering preseason numbers: 11 assists in 29 minutes against Charlotte, followed by a 25-point masterclass in 24 minutes against Philadelphia. On paper, those numbers scream starter status, but moving Pritchard into the starting five could actually disrupt Boston’s overall structure.
“To me, a starter is the amount of minutes you play,” Pritchard said after Sunday’s practice. “Do you finish games? Are you playing 30-plus minutes? Then you are a starter… How do you impact the game is what really matters to me.”
Pritchard is far more lethal operating as the primary scorer off the bench where he can command high usage and push the pace alongside Derrick White. Keeping Pritchard in his sixth-man role ensures Boston maintains a relentless offense when Tatum and George take their first-quarter breather.
Hugo Gonzalez Is The Ultimate Disruptor
Hugo González flashed electric potential across camp, dropping 17 points and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes against Philadelphia. His downhill aggressiveness and physical defense make him a fan favorite, but starting him outright might be premature given Mazzulla tactical preferences.
Instead, González projects as Mazzulla ultimate matchup weapon off the bench. His explosive style is built to disrupt the flow of the game, coming in to hound opposing scorers and generate turnovers when the bench takes the court.
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