Midseason Celtics player power rankings: No. 7 to No. 1

We are at the halfway point of the Celtics season so let’s take a look at how the individual members of the roster stack up against each other in a midseason edition of the player power rankings. Here’s Part 2 of the rankings. You can check out Part 1 of the rankings (No. 15 to 8) here.

7. Terry Rozier (Previous rank: 8): After an inconsistent sophomore regular season, Rozier was one of Brad Stevens’ most reliable contributors in the postseason last year. He played with energy, shot well from beyond the arc (36.8 percent), took care of the ball and rebounded like a power forward despite being just 6-foot-2. The consistency the third-year guard showed during that period has carried over for the majority of the 2017-18 season to date. The 23-year-old is matching his production from last year’s playoffs, which has led to him posting career-highs across the board. That’s not to say the guy doesn’t have his warts. He’s still shooting under 40 percent from the field, his shot selection at times is awful and his periodic slumps are troublesome. Still, he has made immense strides in other areas of his game, particularly as a man-to-man defender. Stevens has called him the most improved defender on the team this year on multiple occasions. Combine that jump with an offensive game that’s coming around (37.2 percent shooting from 3-point range, team-low turnover rate) and you have a major weapon off the bench for Stevens this year. If he can turn into a consistent finisher around the rim, he’s going to be a handful for years to come in this league.



6. Marcus Smart (Previous rank: 5): It’s tempting to move him a bit further up this list given the fact he’s a regular in the crunch-time five, but his offensive numbers give me pause. Let’s start with the good, though: Smart’s defensive impact is as good as it has ever been. He’s capable of guarding up to four different positions and his versatility gives Stevens all kinds of flexibility on a nightly basis. He can pester bigger wings or stick with guards, and the Celtics defense is unquestionably better with him on the floor (three points better than their league-leading defensive rating).



With that said, Smart’s offensive game has taken a step back in his fourth NBA season. He is flirting with a career-low in field goal percentage (34.7 percent) and taking more 3-pointers than ever (4.5 per game) despite shooting 29 percent from deep. His turnover rate is a career-worst and his offensive win shares (-0.9) are easily the worst on the team. That’s not to say it’s all bad on offense for him. His distribution skills (4.8 assists/game) continue to improve, and the Celtics are somehow better offensively with him on the floor (largely due to his presence on some efficient crunch time lineups). There’s plenty of room for growth here in the second half, but Smart’s pros easily outweigh his cons so far.

5. Aron Baynes (Previous rank: 7): The Celtics play far and away their best defense when the 6-foot-10 center is anchoring the middle. The team allows just 94 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor, and his presence as a steady rim protector for 20 minutes per game has eased the wear and tear on Al Horford all year long. Baynes has also helped to eliminate the C’s defensive rebounding woes when they stay big. He has posted above-average numbers on the glass on both ends of the floor (second on the team behind Daniel Theis in rebounding rate), which has been a crucial element to this team’s stellar defensive first half. Offensively, Baynes has stayed in his lane for the most part. His midrange jumper has been hit or miss, and he’s been unable to stretch out his range to the 3-point line (0-of-6 on season) to this point, but his defensive abilities far outweigh his limitations. His role remains limited with Stevens’ preference to go small to end games, but the 30-year-old has the best net rating (+9.3) of any rotation player on the roster.



4. Jaylen Brown (Previous rank: 3): Opportunity came knocking for the 21-year-old this season when the Celtics traded away Avery Bradley in July, and the Cal product has made a bigger leap in Year 2 than even his own coaches might have anticipated. With the dual challenges of increased offensive responsibility and the toughest defensive assignment on the wing most nights, Brown has faced a heavy burden. He’s managed to handle both of those roles with a large amount of success. Offensively, the biggest gains have come on the perimeter. Brown has turned from an average shooter into an elite one nearly overnight, shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point range despite taking 4.5 attempts per game. His midrange shot (48 percent from 16-23 feet) has been a consistent weapon as well, even though his free throw shooting (55 percent) remains a work in progress. Defensively, Brown has made considerable strides as well. His awareness and technique are much improved from his rookie year, which has helped to make him a mainstay in Stevens’ closing five. Off nights on both ends have occurred, but they’ve been few and far between, which is impressive given Brown’s lack of experience. His athleticism has always been the swingman’s most appealing skill, but the rest of his game has caught up to that in a hurry. If he keeps this up, he’ll be in the running for Most Improved Player at the end of the year.



3. Jayson Tatum (Previous rank: 4): The 19-year-old phenom is in the midst of one of the most efficient rookie seasons for a teenager in NBA history. He ranks third in points per game (13.9) on the Celtics despite being seventh on the team in usage rate. The 6-foot-8 forward is mere percentage points behind the league leader in 3-point shooting (46.2 percent) and is also one of the best fourth-quarter scorers in the league 40 games into his career. The consistency has been unbelievable for a rookie (scoring in double-digit points in 37 of his 43 games) and his defense has been incredibly competent for such a young player. Tatum plays a smart game, using his length to his advantage and showing a knack for shot blocking, as evidenced by a career-high six blocks on Saturday night against the Nets. His rebounding has dipped a bit as the year has gone on, but that’s one of the few quibbles Celtics fans can have with the guy that would be a runaway Rookie of the Year if it weren’t for Ben Simmons and a loaded class. Tatum’s efficiency and contributions to a potential 60-win team will keep him in the running for the honor all year long.



2. Al Horford (Previous rank: 2): It’s not often you see a 31-year-old having a career year, but that’s exactly what the Celtics are seeing from Horford during the first half of this campaign. The 6-foot-10 forward/center is posting the 3-point shooting and assist numbers of his career, looking far more comfortable facilitating much of the C’s offense during his second year in Boston. The team’s offense is clearly at its best (108 offensive rating) when Horford is on the floor. He’s also rebounding like he’s in his mid-20s again, putting a stop to the decline on the glass he had been experiencing for the past few seasons. Despite those impressive numbers, there are a couple signs of trouble. Horford is posting a career-high turnover rate, while also getting to the free throw line less frequently than ever. Both of those numbers can be attributed to a perimeter-oriented role that involves plenty of ballhandling. All things considered, Horford is on track to earn his fifth All-Star nod next month, solidifying himself as one of the best big men in the East yet again.



1. Kyrie Irving (Previous rank: 1): The Celtics’ MVP race was a relatively tight battle between Irving and Horford over the first 20 games of the year, but the point guard has put some distance between the two at the halfway pole. The 25-year-old guard has played himself into the league MVP conversation with top-10 marks in win shares (6.0), win shares/48 minutes (.218) and value over replacement player (2.8). Statistically, Irving is flirting with a number of career-highs. He’s shooting better than ever from the field (48 percent) despite having the highest usage rate of his career. The All-Star is taking (6.5/game) and making (2.5/game) more 3-pointers than ever, playing perfectly into the kind of efficient offense that Stevens is looking for. The Celtics offense falls apart when he’s not on the court (98 offensive rating), while the defense does not dip much at all when he’s out there. Factor in his clutch-time contributions (top-5 in the NBA) and you have a player that has quieted pretty much all of the concerns that were held about him from his Cleveland days. Irving wanted his own team and he’s showing that he’s fully capable of being the lead dog.