By their very personal analysis, the Celtics submitted an F this season.
“We failed,” Jaylen Brown talked about after the Celtics’ Sport 7 loss to the Warmth.
“We failed,” agreed Al Horford. “As a result of we needed to win a championship. That was our aim.”
Actually, the Celtics – with in all probability essentially the most proficient and deepest roster inside the NBA, and the clear title favorites after their NBA Finals run a yr prior to now – fell wanting expectations. The season will in all probability be remembered as an unlimited missed various after a path was cleared for them to return to the championship spherical solely to fall to the eighth-seeded Warmth. Preventing once more from an 0-3 assortment deficit inside the Japanese Convention will go down as a footnote.
Similar to their season, it was spectacular, nevertheless merely not enough.
Because the Celtics proceed to lick their wounds and watch the Finals from dwelling, the final word grades are in from a promising nevertheless ultimately disappointing yr:
Teaching/Administration
Joe Mazzulla
Common season: B+
Playoffs: C
Thrown into an unimaginable situation, promoted as a first-year head coach after Ime Udoka’s sudden season-long suspension days sooner than teaching camp, Mazzulla did job conserving the locker room collectively and carried out admirably all by way of the frequent season no matter his questionable timeout utilization and several other different rising pains. However there was an extreme quantity of of a reliance on 3-point taking photos and a misplaced defensive id that was ultimately the Celtics’ downfall inside the playoffs. Mazzulla’s inexperienced and flaws had been uncovered inside the postseason and some poor decisions value the Celtics very important video video games, though he must get some credit score rating for serving to the group off the mat inside the Japanese Convention Finals and virtually overcoming a 0-3 assortment deficit. His shortcomings, nonetheless, put the C’s in that place to start out with.
Brad Stevens
Grade: B+
The C’s president of basketball operations deserves reward for setting up a roster that was seemingly championship ready and the favorites to take motion. The offseason commerce for Malcolm Brogdon was an superior deal that addressed a key weak level that harm the Celtics inside the NBA Finals a yr prior to now, and the Derrick White commerce from a yr prior to now proved significantly shrewd. It’s laborious to hunt out loads fault in Stevens with how this season went. However a failure in order so as to add to Mazzulla’s educating workers after the midseason departure of revered assistant Damon Stoudamire ultimately loomed large for the rookie head coach, even when Stevens talked about they tried.
Starters
Jayson Tatum
Common season: A-
Playoffs: B+
The image of the Celtics superstar turning and spraining his ankle on the first play of Sport 7 in direction of the Warmth sooner than collaborating in by means of it as a shell of himself will signify an superior what-if of this season. Tatum was smart for many this season. He surged out of the gate and have turn into an MVP frontrunner. He saved the Celtics with a signature 51-point effectivity in Sport 7 over the Sixers. He was deservedly a first-team All-NBA selection. His complete recreation and playmaking improved. However the 25-year-old couldn’t pretty put all of it collectively for the final phrase breakthrough. Prolonged taking photos woes led to him fading a bit inside the second half, and his postseason run left one factor to be desired, with a painful end.
Jaylen Brown
Common season: B+
Playoffs: C
The enduring memory – not lower than for the start of this summer season – of Brown’s season will in all probability be his Sport 7 dud, when he coughed up eight turnovers and had thought-about considered one of his worst performances on the worst time. From a macro view, Brown superior into his most interesting season however, posting occupation highs in quite a lot of offensive lessons as he cemented himself among the many many league’s most interesting players with a second All-Star nod and his first occupation All-NBA selection as a member of the second group, which could earn him a large payday this summer season. However after he was the Celtics’ most interesting participant inside the Finals closing June, Brown shrunk on the biggest stage this yr with a woeful Japanese Convention Finals, the place his weaknesses as a ball-handler and playmaker had been uncovered and led to an early exit.
Marcus Sensible
Common season: B
Playoffs: B
The reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months, by his private admission, took a step once more on that end this season, which contributed to the Celtics’ inconsistent play on that end even when he undoubtedly wasn’t 100% healthful – he usually isn’t – for lots of the season and the playoffs. He picked up his safety inside the playoffs, and he had some smart performances on every ends of the bottom. Sensible, higher than he ever has in his occupation, appeared to basically understand his place offensively as a facilitator and pass-first guard to rearrange Tatum and Brown. However he couldn’t rescue them from the stagnation and poor late-game execution that led to some painful playoff losses.
Al Horford
Common season: B
Playoffs: C+
The Celtics did their most interesting to keep away from losing the 36-year-old Horford by resting him on the second night of once more to backs in the midst of the frequent season as he remained a starter of a gaggle that gained 57 video video games and a fixture of Mazzulla’s high-powered, shooting-focused offense. Horford shot a career-best 44.6 p.c from downtown as he made a home inside the nook. However even with the extra leisure, it appeared that Horford wore down a bit over the course of the postseason. He turned once more the clock with some standout defensive performances in direction of Joel Embiid inside the second spherical, nevertheless appeared like he ran out of gas after, as his 3-point taking photos dipped to 29.8 p.c over the three playoff rounds.
Derrick White
Common season: A
Playoffs: B+
After noticeably and admittedly being hesitant after turning into a member of the Celtics on the 2022 commerce deadline, White was comfortable and sometimes Boston’s third-best participant this season behind Tatum and Brown. His safety was a seamless, as he was deservedly named to the All-Defensive second group, and he routinely stepped up on the offensive end when the Celtics needed him. He carried out in every recreation this season and was the Celtics’ most fixed participant. And whereas he appeared to fade in the midst of the second spherical, White is the biggest function why the Celtics bought right here once more to stress a Sport 7 in direction of the Warmth. It’s truthful to marvel how the C’s would have fared with out White this season.
Bench
Malcolm Brogdon
Common season: A
Playoffs: B-
In straightforward phrases, Brogdon did what he was delivered to do. Acquired closing July to current the Celtics a scoring and playmaking punch off the bench that they sorely needed, Brogdon sacrificed collaborating in time and happily accepted his place. He took on the accountability of foremost Boston’s second unit and gave the C’s an added scoring threat – whether or not or not it was sturdy drives to the rim or taking photos a career-best 44.4 p.c from 3-point differ – as he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the 12 months. It wasn’t all roses for Brogdon. He stood to reinforce defensively and he suffered an harm on the worst time that made him a non-factor inside the Japanese Convention Finals. However for in all probability essentially the most half, he produced.
Robert Williams
Common season: B
Playoffs: B
When healthful, Williams is among the many Celtics’ largest X-factors and he confirmed that in spurts this yr, none additional important than when he turned the Sixers assortment spherical after being inserted once more into the start lineup for Sport 6. However that continues to be Williams’ largest problem: Staying healthful. The guts missed 47 frequent season video video games – along with the first 29 video video games of the yr on account of his knee surgical process in September – and the C’s had been very cautious alongside along with his workload all by way of the season. His affect was plain, as he produced a 105.0 defensive rating and plus-11.4 web rating, every team-bests in the midst of the frequent season.
Grant Williams
Common season: C+
Playoffs: B
What a fascinating season for Williams, who carried out properly to start the season sooner than falling out of the rotation in the midst of the second half, only for him to return once more and produce some pivotal playoff performances. It was undoubtedly an underwhelming yr for the fourth-year forward, who primarily guess on himself as a looming restricted free agent nevertheless wasn’t as fixed as he needed to be. However he stayed expert by means of uncertainty and frustration of shedding minutes and confirmed quite a lot of flashes of the affect he may make. He was a 45 p.c 3-point shooter inside the playoffs and his defensive versatility paid dividends in a few playoff video video games.
Sam Hauser
Common season: C+
Playoffs: Incomplete
After Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL in August – and ultimately missed your full season – Hauser emerged to fill a activity as a shooter off the bench. The second-year wing started the season scorching and remained inside the rotation all by way of quite a lot of the season nevertheless his manufacturing declined – along with a protracted droop in the midst of the yr – and opponents hunted him defensively. Although he sometimes carried out admirably in these moments, Mazzulla ultimately didn’t perception him adequate to current him very important minutes inside the playoffs.
Payton Pritchard
Common season: C+
Playoffs: Incomplete
Pritchard fell totally out of the rotation as a result of arrival of Brogdon and he voiced his frustrations about his place all by way of the season. Nonetheless, the third-year guard maintained professionalism no matter logging a career-low 13.4 minutes per recreation and appeared to produce additional situations than not each time Mazzulla turned to him for a immediate the bench or when the Celtics had been shorthanded.
Blake Griffin
Common season: B-
Playoffs: Incomplete
Effectively earlier his prime, Griffin was added merely sooner than the season to current the C’s some additional frontcourt depth. He gave them spot begins and bursts of vitality all by way of the season – he accomplished with a team-best 15 bills drawn– and his affect was more than likely most felt as a useful locker room presence. It appeared that he match fully the place the Celtics seen for him.
Luke Kornet
Common season: B-
Playoffs: Incomplete
Kornet was terribly serviceable and useful as a depth piece in Boston’s frontcourt with Robert Williams missing very important time and Horford missing once more to backs.
Mike Muscala
Common season: Incomplete
Playoffs: Incomplete
Acquired from Oklahoma Metropolis on the commerce deadline to current the Celtics additional measurement and taking photos, Muscala in no way cracked the rotation.
Incomplete: Justin Champagnie, JD Davison, Mfiondu Kabengele
