NEWPORT, R.I. — The topic might be simmering on a back burner for now, but as soon as New Englanders decide who they want in the Red Sox pitching rotation for the playoffs, they’ll turn to the puzzle that is the Celtics starting lineup.
Beyond the given three of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford, there is much to shake out as coach Brad Stevens chooses who gets to have their name and college announced before tipoff.
But to learn the answer to that question, it might be more important to first ask another: Who needs to be coming off the bench to make that second unit work properly?