Celtics midseason report card: Who's living up to their expectations?

Collectively, the Celtics have struggled to match lofty preseason expectations as a team through the first four months of the season, but how exactly has everyone fared on an individual basis? With 58 games in the books in a very lengthy 'first half' of the year, we have more than enough evidence to take stock of the roster so let's evaluate every single player on the roster so far with a midseason report card.

Grade scales are based upon player expectations. In essence, a B for Robert Williams (who only sees spot minutes off the bench) is different from a B for Al Horford (a starter and former All-Star). Keep that in mind while reviewing these marks.

Kyrie Irving
Overview: While some can quibble with the All-Star’s off-floor leadership and long-term commitment to the team this year, there’s no disputing the impact Irving has had on the C’s success in the first half. He’s played some of the best basketball of his career through 47 games, as evidenced by the fact that the Celtics offensive rating is an absurd 113.7 points per 100 possession when he is on the floor. There is still a little bit of a dropoff from a defensive standpoint when he is out there (defensive rating is two points higher) but that’s far less of a dip than last season and is indicative of his improved commitment on that end of the floor. He’s collecting steals (1.8 per 36 minutes) at a higher rate than ever thanks to smarter gambles that have helped produce wins in key moments (ex: OKC). His on-ball defense has also improved when he’s engaged, which has forced Brad Stevens to hide him less on defense. Combine all that with efficient shooting numbers, terrific assist rates and one of the lowest turnovers rates of his career and you have the ingredients to a top-15 offensive player in the league.
Grade: A

Al Horford
Overview: It’s been quite a turnaround for the veteran since an ugly start of the season. A bout with runner’s knee clearly limited his production and outside scoring touch in the first two months of the year, but since returning in December, the 32-year-old has returned to his former All-Star form. His field goal percentage is tops of the team among rotation players while his 3-point shooting is finally above average (36.9 percent) after a putrid November. His defensive rebounding has stayed steady while his offensive rebounding rate has ticked upwards in the past month, giving Boston a surprise extra source of scoring. Defensively, Horford’s mobility isn’t what it was and his struggles on that end early on still weigh down his on/off numbers. However, that trend has switched since recovering from an injury. He still has the skillset (outside shooting, post defense, versatility) at center that most teams would kill for. Outside of an anemic free-throw rate (worst on the roster), the veteran has righted the ship and appears primed for a strong second half.
Grade: B

Jayson Tatum
Overview: While there were plenty of whispers about his shot selection in the early going, it’s hard to gripe with the 20-year-old’s production in year two. He hasn’t been able to replicate the elite 3-point shooting from his rookie year, but he’s still above average from distance. His defensive rebounding has become more consistent, his turnover rate has stayed down despite increased usage and perhaps most importantly, the Celtics are almost always a better team on both ends when he’s on the floor. There will be some needed areas of growth (assist rate, free throw rate, shot selection) in the second half but there has been no regression in year two. Given how good year one was, the Celtics can feel good about that knowing there is plenty of potential still waiting to be unleashed here.
Grade: B+

Marcus Morris
Overview: No Celtic was more consistent on the offensive end through the first 40 games of the regular season besides Irving. Morris helped rescue the C’s season with his inclusion into the starting five, carrying a huge chunk of the scoring load with his improved 3-point shooting (40.9 percent) and smarter shot selection. Boston’s small-ball starting five unit was also able to hold its own thanks to his career-best defensive rebounding rate (19.9 percent) which still tops on the team. The only thing preventing him from a higher grade is a notable dropoff in Boston’s defense while he’s on the floor. Morris has struggled to keep pace with speedy forwards and his inability to contain well or close out strong on the perimeter has helped keep the C’s defensive rating at a far worse number than its season average (four points higher) when he is on the floor. His offense has offset most of that disparity but it’s still an area to keep an eye on since his outside shooting has regressed over the past month. If that continues, it would not shock me to see him lose his spot in the closing five regularly.
Grade: B+

Marcus Smart
Overview: Intangibles and winning plays have always been a constant theme for the point guard throughout his career, but now his scoring numbers are helping Smart gain a bit more respect from the league at large. He’s an above-average 3-point shooter for the first time in his career while he’s cut out a big chunk of the least efficient parts of his offense (i.e. long 2s), which has made him a net positive offensive player in his fifth NBA season. Combining that with his elite defense and versatility has led Smart to be an instrumental part of the C’s success on a nightly basis and a terrific partner in crime for Irving in the backcourt. If he can reduce his turnovers and keep his shot volume under control (a problem in recent weeks), he’s in line to keep his four-year deal that was signed last summer look like a bargain for Boston.
Grade: A-

BENCH ROTATION

Aron Baynes
Overview: It’s not a coincidence that some of the C’s biggest meltdowns as a team this year have come with the veteran center watching from the sidelines. Boston is just 15-9 when he does not suit up, which includes ugly home defeats to the Suns, Magic and Clippers. The 32-year-old has the best net rating (+10.5) among the team’s regular rotation players and the team’s defense is the league's best (99.7 points allowed per 100 possessions) when he’s on the floor. He anchors the paint, helps cover up for mistakes and does the dirty work to get teammates open with screens on offense. He needs to clean up his turnover rate (moving screens remain a problem) and an uptick in 3-point shooting (33 percent) will help, but Baynes remains an instrumental piece of this team’s success on the defensive end. His health (set to be re-evaluated for a bruised foot after All-Star break) looms very large for the stretch run.
Grade: A-

Daniel Theis
Overview: The 6-foot-8 German has been exposed during stretches when trying to guard true bigs out West with Baynes out (LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol) but he’s also been one of the best values across the association at times for a guy on a veteran’s minimum contract. He leads the team in FG percentage (57 percent) and 3-point shooting (46 percent) among players who have played 400 minutes this year. His defensive rebounding has slipped from last season but he’s cut his turnover rate in half from last year, which has helped Boston’s offense thrive with him on the floor. He won’t see as many minutes in the second half with Baynes healthy but he’s played well enough on offense where he’s worthy of some time at the four and five against traditional frontlines.
Grade: A-

Gordon Hayward
Overview: The preseason expectations were unfair for the former All-Star given his lengthy recovery from a broken ankle and the fact that he didn’t play 5-on-5 basketball until September. However, there’s no sugarcoating how rough his first few months of the season have been. There have clearly been a few bright spots along the way and he may have turned a corner in the past couple of weeks before the break, but his individual numbers and team numbers with him on the floor have been disappointing. His free-throw rate has been anemic while his shooting numbers resemble the 22-year-old version of Hayward rather than a $30 million man. He’s still chipping in with the little things (rebounding, assists) but he’s amounted to a mediocre contributor off the bench for the majority of the year. There’s clearly plenty of room for growth here and the Celtics will need for him to make a deep push in the East playoffs.
Grade: C

Jaylen Brown
Overview: It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the third-year swingman for much of the season, particularly when it comes to his outside shooting. He lost his starting job to Smart in November thanks in part to a horrific start from downtown (21 percent) but he’s bounced back since then (41.8 percent in January) to look more like the player that broke out during his sophomore campaign. Like the rest of the bench unit, he’s struggled with consistency at times on the defensive end, but his versatility has been a weapon for Stevens for much of the year. He’s been one of the few players on the roster that has shown aggressiveness in getting to the rim (third on the team in free throws) as well. The adjustment to a new role did not come easy early on, but Brown has found himself over the past couple of months, which has helped to salvage a year that was headed for a sharp regression.
Grade: B-

Terry Rozier
Overview: The starting version of Rozier has helped his stock as a looming restricted free agent. However, that guy has only been called upon for ten games, leaving the bench version of Rozier as a massive disappointment for the remaining 47 contests of Boston’s first half. His 3-point shooting has been respectable at 36.4 percent but almost every other part of his offensive game has taken a step backward from the second half of 2017-18. Rozier’s shot selection has been horrific and that’s reflected in his numbers (shooting just 20.4 percent from midrange). He takes tough shots from inside the arc and misses most of them, which has weighed down Boston’s offense when he’s on the floor. The usual positives to his games (defensive rebounding, low turnover rate) remain in place but he’s struggled on defense most nights as a whole, making the Celtics a worse team statistically on both ends when he’s out there. Brad Stevens continues to show a tremendous amount of faith in him, but he’s a leading contender to have his minutes reduced in the second half of year.
Grade: D+

Semi Ojeleye
Overview: The 3-point shooting accuracy has taken an unfortunate step back in his second season (28 percent) but Ojeleye’s defensive numbers show him as a guy that is worthy of more minutes. He rebounds terribly for his size but his strength and smarts make Boston’s defense thrive when he’s out there (95.9 points allowed per 100 possessions when he’s on the court). A glut of talented veterans ahead of him have prevented him from getting much run (just 429 minutes in 40 games) but his value to the team as a defensive weapon this postseason should make him a candidate to get some added run in the second half.
Grade: B

Brad Wanamaker
Overview: It’s hard for a 29-year-old rookie to be patient but that’s one has been required for Wanamaker during most of the first half. He’s been buried behind Irving, Smart and Rozier for much of the first half after an underwhelming preseason showing. A rough first half from Rozier hasn’t opened the door for Wanamaker minutes, instead, it’s been some recent injuries to Irving that has given him a chance. Wanamaker has responded with some positive minutes (largely thanks to 51 percent 3-point shooting). He has struggled to hang with speedy guards and his turnover rate is a bit too high for a point guard, but he largely makes the right play and doesn’t seek out his own shot too much. That’s been a welcome trait for this roster.
Grade: B

Robert Williams:
Overview: No player on the Celtics bench creates as much buzz as Williams, rightfully so given his highlight reel collection of blocks and dunks over his rookie campaign. He’s clearly exceeded expectations for a late first round pick, but injuries and a deep frontcourt have limited opportunities since the start of January. There’s also plenty to work on for Williams from a fundamental standpoint as his highlight reel plays have covered up some needed seasoning (pick-and-roll defense, screening, etc.). He’ll get plenty of that in Maine the rest of the way but the early returns on the 21-year-old have been incredibly promising.
Grade: B+

Guerschon Yabusele
Overview: The Celtics picked up his $3.1 million option in the fall largely for use as a salary matching piece in a future deal. Outside of a standout performance against the Grizzlies, there really hasn’t been much to evaluate this year. He’s played over 10 minutes in a game just four times and the majority of those stints came during garbage time. With so much talent ahead of him on the depth chart, Yabusele is poised to remain on the bench for the rest of the season.
Grade: C

Brad Stevens
Overview: It's hard to put the struggles of so many players on the head coach but this hasn't been a banner year for the big boss either. He stuck with the starting five too long in the opening 20 games, costing the C's some potential games in the midst of a 10-10 start. He's also had a slow trigger on some rotation players when they've been struggling, which has resulted in some ugly losses (two weeks ago against the Clippers being a glaring example). The advanced metrics indicate that this team should have won four more games than they have so far and he takes some of the blame in that.
Grade: C+