MIAMI — The days of bigger being better, of rounding up the O’Neal-sized (Jermaine, Shaquille) suspects are apparently over. NBA lineups are being downsized, and the Celtics are going sleek this season.

The Celtics have five players standing at, or near, 7 feet tall, and their best rebounder is Jared Sullinger, a 6-foot-9-inch rookie. But most of the minutes will be meted out to mobile ballhandlers who can cause matchup problems for the opposition.