Heading into the 2017-18 season, the Celtics likely expected their most used lineup to include Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving and some combination of Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris, Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum. Maybe Aron Baynes could have snuck in there as well. Five minutes into opening night, all of Brad Stevens’ well planned strategies were thrown out the window when Hayward was injured. And this was starting the season with Morris already out due to lingering knee soreness.
From that point forward, Stevens has been in test and adjust mode.