Celtics Preseason Preview: Three Things To Watch Vs. Milano, Real Madrid

Boston Celtics basketball is back! In preseason form, anyway.

After arriving in Italy last week, the C’s will kick off their preseason schedule Tuesday afternoon by taking on Olimpia Milano at Mediolanum Forum. They’ll then travel to Spain to face Real Madrid (the basketball team) on Thursday.

Seeing an opponent in another uniform should be a welcome sight for Boston — according to those on the scene, practices have gotten a bit chippy of late as players have upped the intensity.

“That’s what happens when you practice for 10 or 11 straight days against each other,” Celtics head coach Brad Stevens told the Boston Herald.

That kind of competitiveness should continue throughout the preseason, as virtually every spot in Stevens’ rotation seems up for grabs. Both contests will give fans their first opportunity to see the 2015-16 squad on television, so what should you be looking for?

Here are a few major storylines to monitor this week.

Rotation, Rotation, Rotation
As previously stated, this Celtics roster is a complex puzzle with a lot of moving parts, and the preseason is where Stevens will start solving it. The coach has stressed the importance of finding combinations that work together, so pay attention to who is on the floor at the same time.

For example: Who will be Marcus Smart’s primary partner in the backcourt? Will Jae Crowder earn a spot with the starting unit or come off the bench as a reserve? How will David Lee and Amir Johnson fit into an already crowded frontcourt?

Stevens said no player will play more than 28 minutes against Milano, and he hadn’t even decided on a starting lineup as of Tuesday morning, so it appears the opportunity will be there for everyone (with the exception of Evan Turner, who has a minor knee injury and will sit out as a precaution).

Jonesing For A Roster Spot
The Celtics have 16 players on their current roster — 20 if you include the four players signed to the training camp squad — and need to cut that number to 15 before opening night.

One player on the bubble is Perry Jones III, who joined the club via trade in July. The 6-foot-10 forward — who has been dealing with a bit of knee soreness but will be active Tuesday — showed flashes of promise with the Oklahoma City Thunder but will need to step up this preseason if he wants to earn a spot in a Celtics frontcourt rotation that already includes Lee, Johnson, Jared Sullinger, Cody Zeller, Kelly Olynyk and even rookie Jordan Mickey.

Jones can start making his case this week, so expect him to come to play.

Playing Smart
We all know Marcus Smart can get it done on the defensive end. But now is the time for the second-year pro to step things up offensively.

The guard made major strides in his shooting ability toward the end of last season, but his turnover numbers still were a bit high. As a recent ESPN.com scouting report put it, Smart “plays offense as if he’s being defended by Marcus Smart.”

The 21-year-old should have plenty of chances to handle the ball this week — especially Tuesday with Turner sidelined — so keep an eye on him while he’s on the floor to see if he has improved his offensive decision-making.