The Celtics will be hitting the regular season midseason checkpoint in the upcoming week amid a surprising 26-11 start to the year. Let’s examine the good, bad and ugly of the first three months of the 2019-20 campaign by handing out some midseason awards and looking forward to what lies ahead in the second half.
Most improved player: Jaylen Brown
Analysis: Brown has gone from the second unit to putting himself in the conversation for Celtics MVP, which has arguably been the biggest development for the franchise from a long-term perspective. The fourth-year swingman is putting up career-highs across the board, standing out as an incredibly efficient third scoring option on most nights while posting a stellar shooting line of 49/39/76. He’s embraced playing bigger on defense as well by turning into a force on the glass (6.8 rebounds per game) a 50 percent jump from last season. With positive steps forward with his passing and defensive IQ as well, the Celtics can feel better than ever about his four-year extension inked back in October.
Runner-up: Jayson Tatum
Defensive player of the year: Marcus Smart
Analysis: Injuries and illness have slowed Smart down for a good chunk of the season but he is still this team’s best defender on most nights thanks to his versatility and ball pressure. He has turned the second unit into a defensive force at times as the captain of that unit and has been instrumental in turning an overhauled roster into a top-5 unit. His place among the top-four defensive guards in the league remains intact.
Runner-up: Tatum
Sixth man: Enes Kanter
Analysis: The big man is having a career-year on the glass when you factor in his limited playing time. He’s posting 16.9 rebounds per 36 minutes, the best number of his career. The fact he’s nearly averaging a double-double (9 points, 8 rebounds) in just 18.3 minutes per game has helped catapult the Celtics into an above-average rebounding team by itself. Kanter is still a liability on the defensive end as well but he has held up fairly well (thanks to help from the supporting cast) to turn into a net positive for the C’s almost every night he is on the floor. How well that will translate to tougher competition in the postseason remains to be seen but for now, Kanter is giving this team the best bang for its buck out of any contract signed this offseason.
Runner-ups: Wanamaker, Smart
Biggest surprise: A top-5 defense
Analysis: There were all sorts of questions about where the strength of this team would lie after an offseason makeover but the biggest questions certainly came on the defensive end with Al Horford and Aron Baynes out the door. Brad Stevens has received full buy-in into his defensive scheme up and down the roster, with the wings chipping in big on the glass and providing the necessary ball pressure needed on most nights to make up for their size. Bench pieces like Brad Wanamaker, Semi Ojeleye, and Grant Williams have turned the C’s second unit into a defense-first squad most nights and that has helped catapult this group back towards the top of the league despite some underwhelming talent in the middle.
Runner-up: Theis winning center job, strong play of bench
Biggest disappointment: Carsen Edwards
Analysis: It’s hard to get after a second-round pick too much but the Purdue product heightened expectations after a standout performance in summer league and a 24-point quarter in the preseason. The Celtics’ second unit had needed a scorer in the backcourt and the C’s had given Edwards every opportunity early to become that guy. However, his stroke has not translated to the NBA level yet, thanks to 30.5 percent shooting from the field and 3-point range. His size makes him a liability on the defensive end as well so if Edwards isn’t hitting shots, it’s hard to justify having him on the floor, as evidenced by his team-worst net rating. The team still believes in him but it’s hard to see him making a meaningful impact this season anymore.
Runner-up: Rob Williams’ health
Best rookie: Grant Williams
Analysis: It’s pretty impressive that Williams has overcome an 0-of-25 start from 3-point range to win this category but he didn’t have a lot of competition in all honesty. Romeo Langford was hurt too long to make a meaningful impact while Carsen Edwards struggled out of the gate. With Vincent Poirier staying out of the rotation, Javonte Green is probably the only other player who can make a case for this spot. However, Williams is the clear cut winner thanks to his defensive impact. The Celtics’ defense is a team-best eight points better per 100 possessions when he is on the court and while his offensive game has a long way to go, he looks like a potential long-term solution as a small-ball 5 for this team off the bench. His size (6-foot-6) and high turnover rate have made him a liability at times but he’s been a clear net positive for this team for the season as a whole.
Runner-up: Javonte Green
MVP: Jayson Tatum
Analysis: The timing is nice here for Tatum to take the crown after a 41-point career night against the Pelicans but when you factor in two-way play, this is a relatively easy decision. The Celtics have been at their best for three straight seasons now with Tatum on the court and the results are especially staggering this year while Tatum sports a team-best +10.0 net rating when he’s on the floor. He clearly has had some highs and lows when it comes to efficiency but his defensive play is far ahead of Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown at this point. Walker is the offensive MVP for the team amid Tatum’s early struggles finishing at the rim, but Tatum is still having a career-year in a number of areas including free throw attempts, rebounds, assists, and steals. His 3-point shooting has remained above average (36 percent) despite his increased volume (6.4 attempts per game). Combine that with his durability (the only starter to play all 37 games) and that’s enough to earn him the nod over Kemba.
Runner-up: Kemba Walker
Other NBA News and Notes
- Kyrie Irving will make his 2020 debut for the Nets on Sunday night following a 26-game absence. Brooklyn went 13-13 with Irving sidelined due to an impinged nerve in his right shoulder. He had a strong week of practice following a cortisone shot after sounding like he could be out for months as soon as last week. The Nets are in a fight with the Magic for the No. 7 seed after a miserable past few weeks so the timing works out well for Irving to try to come back and play the hero.
- Blake Griffin is out indefinitely for the Pistons now after undergoing knee surgery. Look for the entire Pistons roster (outside of the rookies) to be on the trade block in the coming month without a big turnaround. C’s could have their eyes on Luke Kennard or Langston Galloway as a bench shooter.
- Joel Embiid is out for at least two weeks after undergoing an operation to repair his dislocated ring factor. The Sixers blew a big lead in Dallas last night and their up and down play all year is familiar to what the C’s went through last season.
- Keep an eye on the Pacers in the East race with Victor Oladipo announcing his projected return later this month on January 29th. The Pacers backcourt is already loaded with talent even without Oladipo and if he’s looking like his former self, they could jump into the race for the No. 2 seed.
- Javonte Green’s contract was fully guaranteed this week for the year after the deadline for waiving non-contract deals passed on Tuesday. The Celtics also have him under contract for next season on a non-guaranteed deal.
- Good to see the league re-think their idea to re-seed the final four teams in the postseason. That type of format would ruin the whole concept of the East/West conference.