Celtics Report Cards: The First Third of the Season
Joe Camporeale | USA TODAY Sports
*All stats are as of February 15th, 2021
The Boston Celtics are now a little over one-third of the way through this 72 game season, and let me tell you… it’s been a ride. There have been ups and downs already, specifically the impatience of Celtics Twitter crying for heads on spikes 26 games in. I myself just got my first semester grades, so I think the guys in green deserve a deep dive of their own.
Tristan Thompson:
Contrary to popular consensus, I don’t think Thompson has been terrible so far. His rebound percentage is one of the highest of his career (18.3%), and if we're being honest, that's like 80% of the reason they signed him in the first place. His offensive efficiency, however, has left a lot to be desired. When you shoot as many bunnies as he does, you can’t have an eFG% of 49.2%. It just can’t happen. He also does this thing every once and a while where he backs his guy down from the three-point line for no less than half the shot clock like he’s Charles Barkley. It’s a completely wasted possession every time, even on the rare occasions it works out for him. However, he has been better the last six games, playing with much more energy and making smarter decisions. Grade: C+
Marcus Smart:
Ol’ reliable (depending on who you talk to). Marcus Smart has been good again this year. Weird to think he is only 26. I feel like he has been in the league for ages. The only gripe I have with Smart this year is a slight dip in percentages across the board. Shooting 9% worse from the line, and 31% from three (down 4.5% from last year). I have confidence he will bring those shooting splits back up though, as the team has not been able to establish any sort of flow or rhythm this season so far.
Marcus has kept his promise. He’s shooting less this year and averaging a career-high in assists (6.1), while also just being a generally good playmaker. Oh yeah, he is also still his two-time All-NBA Defensive First Team self, as if that needed to be said. Grade: B
Jeff Teague:
I cannot stand watching Jeff Teague. I would do illegal things for him to be permanently out of the rotation. I have BEEN saying that Jeff Teague is washed for three years. He has one good game and all I get is “Good one Hayden, look what a great depth pickup”... Look who’s laughing now. I know, I am hysterically laughing at Teague’s scorching hot 28.7% from two-point range this year. That is laugh-out-loud bad. Don’t worry though, it gets worse!! From 4-19 feet this year, my man is shooting 9-49 - 18.3%. You know, it's supposed to get easier the closer you get to the basket, right? Don’t tell that to the floater he insists on throwing up every game though, which always has no shot of going in. Other than his atrocious shooting, his handle has been stiff, he gets blown by all the time, and his play has just been so infuriatingly subpar. I would recommend he gets held back for this, let’s just say below average grade, but I certainly do not want him back next year. Oh also, the Celtics are 3-0 when he doesn’t play… so. Grade: F-
Me every time Teague has to come in, or God forbid start (Image credits: Justin Ford | USA TODAY Sports)
Jayson Tatum:
I need to clean my palate after looking at Jeff Teague’s Basketball Reference page for that long, so who better than soon to be two-time All-Star Jayson Tatum. I was skeptical about long-hair Tatum based on how he played in the Bubble™ and preseason with this cut. He has shut me up real quick though, somehow further improving from his breakout campaign last year. He is shooting nearly 48% from the field, 3% better than last year, with his three-point and free throw percentages also taking 1% and 3% jumps, respectively. One problem with Tatum’s game has always been finishing. It has never been bad, just inconsistent. He is shooting better from the restricted area this year but still needs to drive more to create easy opportunities at the line, as he only shoots 3.6 free throws a game for his career. The most interesting development to me has been Tatum’s passing and general playmaking. While assists are not everything, he is at 4.1 a game this season, up one from last year. His noticing of doubles and general court awareness has been much better this year. His defense has always been underrated but has been terrific again this year. Grade: A+
(Tatum’s aforementioned improved passing on display in an early contender for the assist of the year)
Daniel Theis:
Daniel Theis or Dirk Nowitzki? I honestly cannot tell the difference anymore. The haters are crying. Daniel Theis is shooting FORTY-FIVE PERCENT (45%) from three this year. Is it only on 2 attempts? Yes. Do I care? No. If this sticks to even high thirties that is a major weapon, especially considering how open defenses left him in the Bubble™. I got so caught up I forgot to mention he is also leading the league in eFG% at 67.9%, which is just ridiculous. He has also been fantastic on defense, as his help defense is much improved. Another underrated part of his game is that he just plays his role. You never hear anything from Theis because he does not need the ball. He just goes out there and works. Theis also might be tied with Anthony Davis for the king of inadvertent contact. Grade: A-
Payton Pritchard:
FastPP has certainly gotten out to a fast start for his career. The Celtics point guard situation has been iffy all year. Kemba Walker is still recovering from a knee injury sustained last year, Carsen Edwards and Tremont Waters are too inconsistent, and well you know how I feel about my boy Jeff. Payton Pritchard has been an essential ball-handler and playmaker off the bench for this team, giving them the kick in the ass they need. 47% from three is just silly, and while that may taper off eventually, I expect he will remain a legit threat from beyond the arc. His energy and efficient play in the first few months of his career has given him a solid place in the rotation of an Eastern Conference contender that desperately needed just what he brings. I am officially done hearing the Danny Ainge slander, as this was a legit under the radar pickup in the draft. Grade: A-
Kemba Walker:
So I’ve got mixed opinions on Kemba so far. He obviously has had his struggles, but I think they have been a tad overstated. Regardless, the efficiency has been rough, I won’t argue that. I will also say I do not think he is being hampered by his injury (or he could be what the hell do I know). I do not think Kemba is just trash or washed though, he has had his moments this year. It has been hard for him to get into a rhythm so far, with rhythm and flow being a major part of why he has been successful throughout his career. He’ll be ok though, it’s just a matter of time. He has played within his role and been a good teammate at least, doing other things on the floor other than scoring like moving the ball and making the pass to an assist. This is an underrated quality on the Celtics, a team that can struggle with ball movement at times. Grade: C-
Walker says the Celtics “need to play harder” after a frustrating loss to the Wizards (Image credits: AP Photo | Mary Schwalm)
Jaylen Brown:
Many are saying Juice is primed to surpass MJ talent levels. The progression this man has made every year has been incredible to watch. It's not that easy to improve every year, either, just ask Andrew Wiggins. We probably should have seen this coming though, as Brown was probably the Celtics’ best player in the Bubble last year. His PPG is up by six from last year, jumping to 26 a game, with efficiency being up across the board as well. All this is in fewer minutes than last year, too. Jaylen has carried this team at times this year, seeming like he is the only one that cares on several occasions. When he came into the league, Brown was a stiff, slow decision-maker on the floor, who couldn’t really shoot. This season, he has added a sweet mid-range shot to his game, which has opened the floor a ton for him. Shooting 40% from three, you need to respect him from beyond the arc, but Jaylen has always had the athleticism and quickness, and now the handle, to blow right by you. If he does drive, you can no longer sag into the paint, or he will stop on a dime for a smooth 16-footer. For all the bandwagon losers, you ain’t slick. We see you, and we know you are in no way part of the Jaylen Brown hype-train me and the fellas have been on since he was first drafted. There will be no admittance on the ride at this time. Watching Jaylen progress before my eyes all these years has me feeling like a proud father. Go get ‘em in the second half, champ! Grade: A+++++++
The Verdict: Jaylen Brown will be a first time All- Star (Image credits: Copyright | The Athletic | Copyright 2020 | All rights reserved.)
Semi Ojeleye:
With the departure of Gordon Hayward, forwards like Semi and Grant Williams have had to step up a lot, with mixed results so far. Semi has always been a brick wall on defense (physically and technically), with an awkward-looking form on jumpers. He has been more confident this year in increased minutes and has shown flashes of being a decent shooter. Best case scenario, he becomes a PJ Tucker-type player for the Celtics. Something every contending team needs. Grade: C+
Grant Williams:
Grant is another player who is having a shooting awakening this year. For all of last year, I thought it was so weird that Grant was, well, a brick. Throughout his career at Tennessee, he made a living shooting in the midrange on a variety of fadeaways and pullups. He also has a natural, silky-looking shot. In the long run, I think he is a more viable option at the 4 than anyone else on the team because of this jump shot, which is not reminiscent of Semi's more mechanical form. He has also always had the intangibles and good decision-making abilities that drew Marcus Smart comparisons from the start. My only gripe with Grant so far has been his fouling problem. He averages three fouls a game in less than twenty minutes - the most on the team. This is unfathomably less than Daniel Theis, who need I remind you, has a whole movement based on the BS fouls called against him, “The War on Theis”. Grade: B
Robert Williams:
Bothered by a hip injury, Robert Williams has seen limited time all year. When he does play, he has shown flashes of being the best center on the team. But that’s always been the thing with him, just flashes. He has shown more consistency this year, being a much more disciplined defender. He has also had great court awareness on offense, always finding his open space whether it’s on the break or in the half-court. With Rob, I think it’s just a matter of getting healthy so he can see the floor more. The more he plays, the smarter player he seems to become, and that increased basketball IQ along with his raw natural athleticism and energy could skyrocket his value to this team. Grade: B-
The Island of Misfit Toys:
Romeo Romeo, where the hell is Romeo???
Javonte “Savage Woo” Green does cool dunks and bad threes.
Carsen Edwards isn’t shooting 32% from the field this year, so I guess that's cool.
Aaron Nesmith just never plays but has brought good energy when he does. Would be nice if he hit some threes like advertised. They’ll fall.
Tremont Waters has been very not good.
Annndddd Tacko is Hakeem 2.0 waiting to be unleashed.
You may be thinking, “What's with all the good grades? This team blows!” While I don’t necessarily disagree with you, I think context is important. 13-13 obviously is not great, but Smart, Kemba, and the Jays have played 28 minutes together this year. This team’s best players have had no time to gel and flow this season, with constant lineup shifts every week. Every team has had to deal with this to an extent this year, yes, but the Celtics have gotten a particularly raw deal. Give it a little while longer, let the starters actually play together, and then we can draw conclusions. I will say this though - if this team continues to put up absolute stinkers like that sub 100 point game against Washington (the NBA’s worst defensive team), there is no hope for any of us.
