BOSTON -- The Celtics will move Evan Turner and Jonas Jerebko into the starting lineup for Game 3 of their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, while backup big man Kelly Olynyk will sit out his second consecutive game due to a shoulder injury.
Turner, one of Olynyk's closest friends on the team, offered support for Olynyk being unable to dress for Games 2 and 3.
"It's definitely tough for him. He definitely wants to play," Turner said. "I think anytime anybody gets injured, it's definitely irritating, so to be out in the playoffs, one of the most fun times of the year, is definitely tough on him."
Turner will start at shooting guard, shuffling Marcus Smart to a reserve role after the second-year guard had elevated to Avery Bradley's starting spot for Game 2. Turner, who was an early sub in Games 1 and 2 and started the second halves in each game, is excited for the opportunity to join the starting lineup.
"I just think it goes without saying, when your number's called, you should be relied on to step up and do what the team needs," Turner said. "We understand a lot of people are going to have to fill in and do certain things they haven't done before, because of the injuries and us being down a couple players."
Jerebko moves into the frontcourt alongside Amir Johnson, bumping Jared Sullinger to a reserve role. Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder fill out Boston's new-look starting 5 that coach Brad Stevens joked played a mere 33 possessions together this season.
"There's some things from the starting group, as far as how we want to play, spacing-wise, those types of things factor in," Stevens said. "Obviously, Jerebko gives you spacing, gives you some defensive versatility on the two bigs and then Turner has been, along with Isaiah, really able to get into the paint and do certain things and consistently be able to attack throughout the first few games.
"Sully and Smart are still going to play, they're still going to play big parts for us. I've said this before about the guards, you can just kinda throw a dart with those four guards and, Smart being the fourth one tonight, they're all going to play 30-plus minutes for us on most nights."
Olynyk aggravated a shoulder injury in Game 1 and played just 12 minutes that night. He has been held out of practices in the aftermath. Stevens said he was confident that, if Olynyk felt healthy enough to play, he would be on the floor. Olynyk missed 12 games after injuring the shoulder in early February and took a hit in Game 1 that caused the pain to return.
Bradley remains out with a hamstring strain suffered in Game 1.