Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Celtics Starting 5 Revealed for Opening Night vs. Knicks
The Boston Celtics have the best top six in the NBA. That's a blessing but also requires sacrifice. Fortunately, this is a veteran group.
From its All-NBA wings, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, to its most significant offseason acquisitions, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, these are veterans with decorated resumes and players who have signed sizable contracts.
That makes it easier to prioritize what's best for the collective. As Kristaps Porzingis expressed during training camp, "Honestly, it's not that much of a sacrifice. If, at the end, if you're winning, (then) what are you sacrificing? Nothing. Your own stats for winning? Like that's, it makes sense. I'd do that trade every day."
Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
For Al Horford, who has played in 1180 NBA games and started all but 12, that means often accepting the sixth-man role. His willingness to embrace that has garnered praise from Tatum.
"I have the utmost respect for Al," the four-time All-Star stated after the 16-year veteran didn't start in the Celtics' 123-110 preseason win over the New York Knicks. And if Al can come off the bench at this stage in his career, nobody should have anything to say if you are the guy that has to come off the bench or if Joe takes you out of the game, or if you don't finish, everybody has to have that team first mindset to accomplish what we're trying to do."
And while the former Florida Gator will get opportunities to start this season, opening night against the Knicks, he'll be Boston's sixth man, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
Derrick White, Holiday, Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis will start for the Celtics on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. EST. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the matchup before, during, and afterward. Follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.
Further Reading
The Latest on Celtics' Injury Report for Season Opener vs. Knicks
Jaylen Brown Teams with Johnny Cupcakes to Give Back to Boston
Rajon Rondo Latest Former Celtic to Spend Time with C's
Celtics Embracing Sacrifice in Championship Pursuit: 'Have to Buy into That'
Al Horford Shares Where Kristaps Porzingis Has Impressed Him Most
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
