By their very own evaluation, the Celtics submitted an F this season.
“We failed,” Jaylen Brown mentioned after the Celtics’ Game 7 loss to the Heat.
“We failed,” agreed Al Horford. “Because we wanted to win a championship. That was our goal.”
Certainly, the Celtics – with probably the most proficient and deepest roster within the NBA, and the clear title favorites after their NBA Finals run a yr in the past – fell wanting expectations. The season will probably be remembered as an enormous missed alternative after a path was cleared for them to return to the championship spherical solely to fall to the eighth-seeded Heat. Fighting again from an 0-3 collection deficit within the Eastern Conference will go down as a footnote.
Just like their season, it was spectacular, however simply not adequate.
As the Celtics proceed to lick their wounds and watch the Finals from dwelling, the ultimate grades are in from a promising however in the end disappointing yr:
Coaching/Management
Joe Mazzulla
Regular season: B+
Playoffs: C
Thrown into an unimaginable scenario, promoted as a first-year head coach after Ime Udoka’s sudden season-long suspension days earlier than coaching camp, Mazzulla did job conserving the locker room collectively and carried out admirably all through the common season regardless of his questionable timeout utilization and several other rising pains. But there was an excessive amount of of a reliance on 3-point taking pictures and a misplaced defensive id that was in the end the Celtics’ downfall within the playoffs. Mazzulla’s inexperienced and flaws had been uncovered within the postseason and a few poor choices price the Celtics vital video games, although he ought to get some credit score for serving to the group off the mat within the Eastern Conference Finals and practically overcoming a 0-3 collection deficit. His shortcomings, nonetheless, put the C’s in that place to start with.
Brad Stevens
Grade: B+
The C’s president of basketball operations deserves reward for constructing a roster that was seemingly championship prepared and the favorites to take action. The offseason commerce for Malcolm Brogdon was an awesome deal that addressed a key weak point that damage the Celtics within the NBA Finals a yr in the past, and the Derrick White commerce from a yr in the past proved particularly shrewd. It’s laborious to seek out a lot fault in Stevens with how this season went. But a failure so as to add to Mazzulla’s teaching employees after the midseason departure of revered assistant Damon Stoudamire in the end loomed massive for the rookie head coach, even when Stevens mentioned they tried.
Starters
Jayson Tatum
Regular season: A-
Playoffs: B+
The picture of the Celtics celebrity turning and spraining his ankle on the primary play of Game 7 towards the Heat earlier than taking part in by way of it as a shell of himself will signify an awesome what-if of this season. Tatum was sensible for lots of this season. He surged out of the gate and have become an MVP frontrunner. He saved the Celtics with a signature 51-point efficiency in Game 7 over the Sixers. He was deservedly a first-team All-NBA choice. His total recreation and playmaking improved. But the 25-year-old couldn’t fairly put all of it collectively for the last word breakthrough. Extended taking pictures woes led to him fading a bit within the second half, and his postseason run left one thing to be desired, with a painful finish.
Jaylen Brown
Regular season: B+
Playoffs: C
The enduring reminiscence – not less than for the beginning of this summer time – of Brown’s season will probably be his Game 7 dud, when he coughed up eight turnovers and had considered one of his worst performances on the worst time. From a macro view, Brown advanced into his finest season but, posting profession highs in a number of offensive classes as he cemented himself among the many league’s finest gamers with a second All-Star nod and his first profession All-NBA choice as a member of the second group, which might earn him a giant payday this summer time. But after he was the Celtics’ finest participant within the Finals final June, Brown shrunk on the largest stage this yr with a woeful Eastern Conference Finals, the place his weaknesses as a ball-handler and playmaker had been uncovered and led to an early exit.
Marcus Smart
Regular season: B
Playoffs: B
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, by his personal admission, took a step again on that finish this season, which contributed to the Celtics’ inconsistent play on that finish even when he definitely wasn’t 100% wholesome – he often isn’t – for a lot of the season and the playoffs. He picked up his protection within the playoffs, and he had some sensible performances on each ends of the ground. Smart, greater than he ever has in his profession, appeared to essentially perceive his position offensively as a facilitator and pass-first guard to arrange Tatum and Brown. But he couldn’t rescue them from the stagnation and poor late-game execution that led to some painful playoff losses.
Al Horford
Regular season: B
Playoffs: C+
The Celtics did their finest to avoid wasting the 36-year-old Horford by resting him on the second evening of again to backs in the course of the common season as he remained a starter of a group that gained 57 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 house within the nook. But even with the additional relaxation, it appeared that Horford wore down a bit over the course of the postseason. He turned again the clock with some standout defensive performances towards Joel Embiid within the second spherical, however appeared like he ran out of fuel after, as his 3-point taking pictures dipped to 29.8 p.c over the three playoff rounds.
Derrick White
Regular season: A
Playoffs: B+
After noticeably and admittedly being hesitant after becoming a member of the Celtics on the 2022 commerce deadline, White was comfy and infrequently Boston’s third-best participant this season behind Tatum and Brown. His protection was a continuing, as he was deservedly named to the All-Defensive second group, and he routinely stepped up on the offensive finish when the Celtics wanted him. He performed in each recreation this season and was the Celtics’ most constant participant. And whereas he appeared to vanish in the course of the second spherical, White is the largest purpose why the Celtics got here again to pressure a Game 7 towards the Heat. It’s truthful to marvel how the C’s would have fared with out White this season.
Bench
Malcolm Brogdon
Regular season: A
Playoffs: B-
In easy phrases, Brogdon did what he was delivered to do. Acquired final July to present the Celtics a scoring and playmaking punch off the bench that they sorely wanted, Brogdon sacrificed taking part in time and fortunately accepted his position. He took on the accountability of main Boston’s second unit and gave the C’s an added scoring risk – whether or not it was sturdy drives to the rim or taking pictures a career-best 44.4 p.c from 3-point vary – as he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. It wasn’t all roses for Brogdon. He stood to enhance defensively and he suffered an damage on the worst time that made him a non-factor within the Eastern Conference Finals. But for probably the most half, he produced.
Robert Williams
Regular season: B
Playoffs: B
When wholesome, Williams is among the Celtics’ largest X-factors and he confirmed that in spurts this yr, none extra essential than when he turned the Sixers collection round after being inserted again into the beginning lineup for Game 6. But that continues to be Williams’ largest difficulty: Staying wholesome. The heart missed 47 common season video games – together with the primary 29 video games of the yr on account of his knee surgical procedure in September – and the C’s had been very cautious along with his workload all through the season. His influence was plain, as he produced a 105.0 defensive ranking and plus-11.4 internet ranking, each team-bests in the course of the common season.
Grant Williams
Regular season: C+
Playoffs: B
What an enchanting season for Williams, who performed nicely to begin the season earlier than falling out of the rotation in the course of the second half, just for him to return again and produce some pivotal playoff performances. It was definitely an underwhelming yr for the fourth-year ahead, who mainly guess on himself as a looming restricted free agent however wasn’t as constant as he wanted to be. But he stayed skilled by way of uncertainty and frustration of shedding minutes and confirmed a number of flashes of the influence he could make. He was a forty five p.c 3-point shooter within the playoffs and his defensive versatility paid dividends in a couple of playoff video games.
Sam Hauser
Regular season: C+
Playoffs: Incomplete
After Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL in August – and in the end missed your complete season – Hauser emerged to fill a task as a shooter off the bench. The second-year wing began the season scorching and remained within the rotation all through a lot of the season however his manufacturing declined – together with a protracted droop in the course of the yr – and opponents hunted him defensively. Though he typically carried out admirably in these moments, Mazzulla in the end didn’t belief him sufficient to present him vital minutes within the playoffs.
Payton Pritchard
Regular season: C+
Playoffs: Incomplete
Pritchard fell fully out of the rotation due to the arrival of Brogdon and he voiced his frustrations about his position all through the season. Still, the third-year guard maintained professionalism regardless of logging a career-low 13.4 minutes per recreation and appeared to supply extra instances than not every time Mazzulla turned to him for a prompt the bench or when the Celtics had been shorthanded.
Blake Griffin
Regular season: B-
Playoffs: Incomplete
Well previous his prime, Griffin was added simply earlier than the season to present the C’s some extra frontcourt depth. He gave them spot begins and bursts of vitality all through the season – he completed with a team-best 15 expenses drawn– and his influence was most likely most felt as a helpful locker room presence. It appeared that he match completely the position the Celtics seen for him.
Luke Kornet
Regular season: B-
Playoffs: Incomplete
Kornet was extraordinarily serviceable and helpful as a depth piece in Boston’s frontcourt with Robert Williams lacking vital time and Horford lacking again to backs.
Mike Muscala
Regular season: Incomplete
Playoffs: Incomplete
Acquired from Oklahoma City on the commerce deadline to present the Celtics extra measurement and taking pictures, Muscala by no means cracked the rotation.
Incomplete: Justin Champagnie, JD Davison, Mfiondu Kabengele
Source: www.bostonherald.com