CHARLOTTE -- We're almost getting to the 10-game sample size mark I try to abide by. But since there have already been a couple of lineup changes, it feels fair to discuss how the Boston Celtics' wing rotation has panned out thus far.
Jordan Walsh started the first few games of the season. Then, Hugo Gonzalez got the chance to start some games. Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser have each started one.
Hauser doesn't belong with the rest of that group. I know some believe he should give way to the others so they can get more playing time: That's not going to happen.
There will be nights when Walsh, Gonzalez, or Scheierman play more than Hauser, but he will never truly be at risk of losing his minutes. Not if he keeps up the same level of play he's shown for years. Elite team defense and elite 3-point shooting.
The real question is, what's up with the other three? How has the playing time been doled out? Who has the upper hand this early into the season?
Well, at the time of writing this, Scheierman is leading the way with 21.0 minutes per contest. After him is Walsh at 15.4, then Gonzalez at 12.8. All three guys have played in all eight Celtics games this year.
That matches the eye test. Scheierman has definitely been the most impressive of the group. He's not quite as good defensively, but the offense is a leg above.
His ball-handling, playmaking, and 3-point shot are vital to Boston's offense when he's on the court. And he may sneakily be the best rebounder of the pack, too.
Walsh has had some good moments and some bad ones. His rebounding has been solid, and the 3-ball doesn't look terrible. But he hasn't even been living up to his own standards quite yet.
"I think it's been okay. I don't think it's been good or great or nothing like that," Walsh said at shootaround on Friday morning when asked about his own play so far this season. "I think it's been just okay. I haven't been the best version of myself, but the team's winning, everybody's happy, so it's all good."
It has nothing to do with the starting lineup. Walsh (and presumably the rest of the team) understand that Joe Mazzulla just wants to test things out early in the year.
"No, that's not about that," Walsh said. "I mean, that's just kind of like Joe saying he wants to try new things, like, that's fine. But still, I'm still playing the same amount of minutes, so I still gotta produce in those minutes. I feel like I gotta do that better."
On offense, Walsh is just showing some of the same less-than-ideal tendencies he always has. A buffer in decision-making. So-so finishing around the rim. It's similar to the challenges Gonzalez faces.
Gonzalez can put the ball on the floor. But once he gets to the rim, it's a coin toss. He's just not quite polished on the offensive end of the court yet.
Both he and Walsh have been good on defense, but there are also times when they get blown by and end up out of position. Neither has been as solid as Scheierman. And that's being reflected in the minutes distribution so far.
1. Watch out for the Trail Blazers
The Memphis Grizzlies are the story of the season, but they've