The Report Card That You Don't Want Mom or Dad To See

Lots of "C's and D's" and a rare "F" are among the grades for the Celtics players as we hit the halfway point of the season.

The official midway point of the season for the Boston Celtics won’t be until after tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers.

Let’s be real.

When it comes to grading the Celtics on the first half of this season, there’s nothing that any of them can do that will dramatically change their scores.

That brings us to their midseason report card which as you can all imagine, is not great.

Without further ado, here are the Celtics’ midseason report card grades.*

STARTING FIVE

Jayson Tatum

Scoring: 90 (A-): Even in what has been an off season scoring for Tatum, he still ranks among the best in the game with a 25.5 points per game average which speaks to how exceptional he is at this facet of play.

Rebounding: 85 (B): Tatum is averaging a career-high 8.4 per game this season, platooning between playing the traditional small forward and power forward positions. This is the one area where the added strength he has put on since coming into the league, is paying off.

Defense: 80 (B-): Many forget this is the area that initially got Tatum on the floor with the Celtics. His length is one of the low-key qualities to his game defensively that allows him to not be overwhelmed on this side of the ball most nights.

Passing: B- (80): While Jayson has made strides in this area, there’s still room for growth and progress. Of course, part of his improvement will be the Celtics improving the roster around him. But to Tatum’s credit, he has made a conscious effort to get better in this area of play.

Make Teammates Better: C- (76): There are still too many stretches of Tatum playing isolation basketball while his teammates stand around, watching. Having the ability to score on most defenders is only valuable if you can use that power to create opportunities for both yourself and others. Like his passing, Tatum is improving in this area but that growth has been minimal up to this point.

Tatum’s midseason Grade: 82 (B-)

Jaylen Brown

Scoring: 85 (B): Brown remains one of the NBA’s better scorers despite the time spent in the league’s health and safety protocol as well as multiple stints on the sideline because of a hamstring injury. His 24.1 points per game average is on par with what he did last season but his shooting splits on just about every level have taken a noticeable dip this season which means he’s scoring still, but doing so less efficiently.

Rebounding: 85 (B): This is an area that Brown has been pretty solid at throughout his career. Although his career average is 4.8 per game, he is on pace to average at least six rebounds per game for the third consecutive season which is a good number for a player who primarily plays shooting guard.

Defense: 85 (B): Brown has been more solid at this end of the floor than he gets credit for. His 102.1 defensive rating is tops among all Celtics who have played at least 10 games this season.

Passing: 70 (C-): It feels weird giving him a grade this low considering he’s coming off his first triple-double. But the truth is, Brown’s passing has been an issue all season. Despite head coach Ime Udoka wanting both him and Tatum to do more playmaking, Brown’s assists numbers - never great to begin with - are down to 2.9 per game, from last year’s career-high 3.4 per game.

Make Teammates Better: 72 (C-): There’s more to making teammates better than getting them the ball. So much of what Jaylen Brown does well in games, is good for the team. But far too often, his work looks and feels like it’s on an island. And while it elevates what he can do in the league, it doesn’t address those around him or have a positive impact on the bottom line which is to win games.

Jaylen’s overall grade: 80 (B-)

Marcus Smart

Shooting 72 (C-): Smart has not shot the ball well this season, which is saying a lot for a player who has never shot a high percentage from the field or 3-point range. While he still has it in him to knock down big 3s from time to time, the Celtics really needed him to be a more consistent long-range threat this season than what we’ve seen thus far.

Rebounding 82 (B-): With the Celtics switching all the time defensively, this has created more opportunities for Smart to be a factor on the boards. And while his four rebounds per game may not seem like a lot, it’s close to his career-high and is a solid number considering he is the team’s primary point guard on the floor.

Defense 80 (C+): Smart once again rates among the league’s better defenders, seemingly at his best in the game’s latter stages. But like the Celtics, Smart hasn’t been as consistent in this part of his game as we’re accustomed to. It could be the coaching change or possibly the players around him. But the Smart we are used to seeing dominate nigh-in and night-out defensively, isn’t doing it with the elite level of consistency that we’ve seen in the past.

Passing: 82 (B-): Smart wanted the ball more in his hands this season, and he has been solid for the most part. His assists-to-turnover ratio is nearly 3:1, similar to what it was last season. And that’s why he doesn’t grade out higher. He’s essentially doing the same as he did a year ago, with more responsibility. That’s a good thing, but this team didn’t need him to be good at this. They needed him to be great or at least noticeably above average and the first half of the season, that just hasn’t been the case with his passing or playmaking.

Make Teammates Better: 78 (C+): The one thing we have come to count on Smart for regardless of whatever else is happening, is great effort. HIs play has been solid, but not spectacular or any more special than what we’ve seen from him in past years. Still, his value is significant to this team. As bad as this season has been for the Celtics, it would have been a lot worse if not for Smart’s leadership and at times, tough love. He’s not always going to say what his teammates want to hear, but he’s great at telling them what they need to hear. And that’ll be good for both the players and the team as a whole.

Marcus’ overall grade: 79 (C+)

Al Horford

Shooting: 70 (C-): This has been absolutely dreadful for Horford, a player who evolved from a back-to-the-basket big man into one of the better stretch bigs in the NBA. The shooting from the field (43.2 percent) and 3-point range (28.1 percent) are both at career lows, and his 11.1 points per game are the fewest he has averaged since his rookie season in Atlanta.

Rebounding: 86 (B): This has been an area of resurgence for Horford this season. Despite playing less than 30 minutes per game, he’s averaging 7.6 rebounds - numbers he has not seen since the 2013-2014 season. The question everyone has when it comes to rebounding and Horford, is whether the 35-year-old can keep up this pace for the rest of the season?

Defense: 88 (B+): Horford has played at an All-NBA Defensive Team level for most of this season. Boston’s improvement on this side of the floor (they are currently sixth in defensive rating this season) is in large part because of Horford’s interior presence as a big who can contest shots at the basket and on the perimeter.

Passing: 85 (B): For as long as he has been in the NBA, passing has been one of Horford’s greatest strengths as a player. This season is no exception. Horford’s 3.8 assists per game should be something the Celtics focus on trying to bolster the rest of the season, especially when you consider his assists-to-turnover ratio is a team-best 3.4:1.

Make Teammates Better: 75 (C): There are so many things that you absolutely love about Al Horford. But the struggles he has had making shots, mostly open ones, is a glaring flaw to his game where it stands now. Not only does it make it more challenging for Ime Udoka to keep him on the floor, but it also makes the job of those around him tougher, because teams are on some nights damn near daring him to take jumpers. If Horford can get back to shooting closer to his average, that will go far in helping this team and his teammates perform better

Al’s midseason grade: 81 (B-)

Robert Williams III

Shooting: 86 (B+): Most of his points this season have come on lob-dunks and lay-ups, which is consistent with what we have seen in past years. The difference now is that he’s getting more attempts, and to his credit he’s making the most of having an increased role offensively. This season, he’s shooting a career-best 74.9 percent from the field while averaging a career-high 9.8 points per game

Rebounding: 86 (B+): Like shooting, rebounding is another area in which Williams has made the most of being on the floor more than past years. HIs 8.9 rebounds per game is tops among all Celtics this season.

Defense: 85 (B): He doesn’t bite on the pump-fakes nearly as much as he has in past years, and does a much better job of being a communicator when he’s on the floor. There’s no denying that this is one of the key areas for Williams to continue growing in and to that extent, expanding his game.

Passing: 85 (B): Expanding this part of his game will critical to Boston having any shot of playing significantly better the second half of the season. Williams has elite court vision - not just for a big man, but in general - that doesn’t get enough credit nor do the Celtics do enough to take advantage of this critical skill that he possesses.

Make Teammates Better: 78 (C+): Williams is a great example of that old saying about one’s greatest ability is availability. He’s playing more now, which is a good thing. But he’s very much a work in progress when it comes to playing at a high level, night-in and night-out. He has had too many games in which his presence and impact has fluctuated, and it not being because of who the Celtics are playing. It has the kind of domino effect that doesn’t help his teammates perform well or the team be as successful as they have the potential to be.

Rob’s midseason grade: 84 (B)

KEY RESERVES

Romeo Langford

Shooting 75 {C}: Connecting on 42 percent of his shots from the field this season isn’t something to get too excited about. But it marks notable growth for Langford who shot less than 40 percent from the field in each of his first two seasons. It’s an improvement, but there’s still lots of room for more growth.

Rebounding 75 {C}: Another area in which Langford has made undeniable strides. He’s averaging 3.1 rebounds now after averaging less than two per game in each of his first two seasons.

Defense 80 (B-): This side of Langford more than anything else he does, is why head coach Ime Udoka will continue to give him opportunities to get on the court. Langford’s length, lateral quickness and instincts have allowed him to show flashes of being an above-average, multi-positional defender.

Passing 72 (C-): Definitely not a strength of Langford, you can add this to the list of areas of play that the third-year wing has to get better at in the future.

Make Teammates Better 70 (C-): The things that Langford does are the things that frequently help teams and those around him. But with Langford, it’s what he doesn’t do, which is be available, that hurts all involved. His career has been filled with one nagging injury after another, fueling the belief that he’s fragile or not physically tough enough to handle the rigors of the NBA.

Romeo’s midseason grade: 74 (C)

Josh Richardson

Shooting: 85 (B): He came here as a streaky shooter who can defend, but Richardson’s shot-making has been surprisingly consistent most of this season. He’s shooting a career-high 45.7 percent from the field and 40.8 percent on 3’s which is also a career-best mark for the veteran wing.

Rebounding: 82 (B-) This is has never been an area of strength for Richardson, so his 2.1 average is consistent with what he has done in the past. And because of his position on the perimeter, he’s not getting a lot of opportunities nor is he seeking chances to get more rebounds. His job is to make sure he’s back defensively to try and limit the opposing team’s chances to score in transition, something he has done a solid job with all season.

Defense: 72 (C-): Just as Richardson’s steady scoring was unexpected, his less-than-stellar play defensively has been a surprise as well. The defensive pairing of Richardson with Marcus Smart hasn’t gone as expected, with Richardson’s defensive rating of 107.1 ranked among the worst on the Celtics roster.

Passing: 72 (C-): His last year in Miami (2019) saw Richardson in the role of a viable playmaker, averaging a career-high 4.1 assists per game. But that season has a very fluky feel about it considering he has averaged less than three assists per game in every other NBA season. And now in Boston, he’s flirting with career-low assist numbers that currently stand at 1.4 per game.

Make Teammates Better: 75 (C): Injuries and illnesses along with being sidelined for health and safety protocol have impacted the amount of time he has been around the players. But for the most part, he has fit in well given the role he has been asked to play which in turn has helped the play of those around him.

Josh’s overall grade: 77 (C+)

Dennis Schröder

Shooting: 85 (B): You want to talk about doing what you do? Schröder is shooting 43.6 percent from the field this season. His career shooting percentage? 43.6 percent. And he’s doing that while averaging 16.2 points which is slightly higher than his 14.4 points per game career average.

Rebounding 85 (B): As a 6-foot-3 guard, no one is expecting him to be of much service when it comes to rebounding. But he has been solid in this area, averaging 3.5 rebounds per game which is just shy of his career-best mark (3.6).

Defense: 85 (B): He came to Boston with the reputation of being a pesky defender and thus far, he has not disappointed. His defensive rating of 104.8 is tops among Boston’s reserve guards this season.

Passing: 74 (C+): For most of his career, Schröder has been more of a scoring guard than a playmaker. But his passing game is often hurt by the fact that he tends to over-dribble…a lot. And that has frequently led to rushed shots or turnovers, neither of which is a good thing for the Celtics.

Make Teammates Better: 78 (C+): Despite being in a contract year and likely doesn’t figure into the team’s long-term plans, the veteran guard has done his part to fit in with his teammates and make the most of this forced basketball marriage after all of the more lucrative options dried up. He hasn't been as "me-first" as some might have expected. But all involved know that a departure is inevitable. The only real question is whether it’ll be prior to the trade deadline in a few weeks, or this summer when Schröder hits free agency and can sign with any team for what would likely be a far more lucrative offer than anything the Celtics would be willing to put on the table.

Dennis’ midseason grade: 81 (B-)

Grant Williams

Shooting 85 (B): There hasn’t been anyone on this Celtics roster whose game grew as a shooter, more than Grant Williams. He continues an upward trend in just about every metric which includes connecting on a career-best 42.5 percent of his 3-pointers this season.

Rebounding 73 (C-): Being an undersized big man, Williams has to rely on strength and positioning to be effective. Averaging just 3.4 rebounds per game, the Celtics will need more from him going forward, if he is to continue to grow and expand his game while helping the team win more games.

Defense 75 {C}: This has been a “depends on the matchup” category for Williams who has shown at times being capable of being a solid defender against smaller, quicker wings and guard in addition to holding his own against bigger, more physically imposing big men. But the consistency needed from him, for this team, has been lacking.

Passing: 77 (C+): The stats show that Williams averages one assist per game throughout his career, but he’s one of the team’s better ball-movers. Making better decisions with the ball as a passer and not just a catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter, is part of Williams’ learning curve going forward.

Make Teammates Better 78 (C+): As a member of the NBA player union’s executive board and one of the more loquacious Celtics you will meet, there’s a clear vibe that Williams makes an effort to help both his teammates and his own game expand. But the issue remains consistency in his play, the kind of consistency that aids all those around him and makes the Celtics more competitive when it comes to winning games.

Grant’s midseason grade: 78 (C+)

REST OF RESERVES

Enes Freedom

Scoring: 75 (C): It has been a statistical career-worst season for Freedom who is playing significantly less (13.0 minutes) than he’s accustomed to. But when he does get scoring opportunities, and they are few and far between, he’s scoring at a rate that’s consistent with what he has done in past years when he logged more minutes.

Rebounding 90 (A-): Even with less court time, Freedom is sticking true to what has kept him in the league all these years - rebounding. He’s averaging just 5.5 rebounds per game but he’s doing it at a team-best rebounding rate of 19.9 percent which is tops among the Celtics and ninth in the NBA among players who have appeared in as many games as Freedom this season.

Defense 69 (D): One of the main reasons the Celtics don’t turn to Freedom more often is because of his struggles defensively, a problem for the duration of his career. It’s even more problematic in Boston, with their switching defense that too often creates bigger mismatches for Freedom than his initial matchup.

Passing: 69 (D): Much like defense, this has never been something Freedom has been very good at. It’s not so much he’s an unwilling passer but more to the point, it’s just not something that’s in his wheelhouse of skills.

Make Teammates Better 71 (C-): The one thing the Celtics love about Freedom is when he gets an offensive rebound, he’s usually looking to get it into the hands of a teammate. And he’s one of the best since he came into the league, at doing this. But creating all those second and third-shot opportunities cannot hide or mask the challenges he presents when he’s on the floor, for his teammates defensively.

Enes’ midseason grade 75 (C)

Juancho Hernangomez

Shooting 60 (F): Horrendous does not do justice to the level of poor shooting from Hernangomez this season. He has shot better than 42 percent from the field and around 35 percent on 3’s for his career. But with Boston, he has made just 18.5 percent of his shots from the field, and a woeful 16.7 percent of his 3-pointers.

Rebounding 71 (C-): Lack of playing time has hurt his chances on the boards. But in the brief moments we’ve seen him play, it’s clear that rebounding is not one of his strengths on the floor.

Defense: 69 (D): Of the Celtics this season who have appeared in as many games as Hernangomez, he has a team-worst defensive rating of 117.4 this season.

Passing 70 {C-}: He has been among the quickest Celtics to put up shots upon entering games, so his passing and playmaking for the most part hasn’t existed enough to get a true sense of whether this is a weakness or if it’s simply him having more confidence in his shot-making than playmaking skills.

Make Teammates Better 68 (D): While Hernangomez is likable inside the locker room, there’s nothing he does on the court at this point that benefits the Celtics. He doesn’t make shots, struggles as a rebounder, defender, and does not look to pass too often.

Juancho’s midseason grade: 68 (D)

Aaron Nesmith

Shooting 69 (D): His inability to make shots has been one of the biggest disappointments for the Celtics this season. He didn’t do much as a rookie and he has looked even worst in his second season by shooting 34.4 percent from the field and just 23.4 percent from 3-point range.

Rebounding 70 (C-): Playing just 10.7 minutes per game, you can’t expect him to do much here. However, you would think that crash-the-paint brand of basketball would lead to more rebounds than 1.7 per game, even in a limited capacity.

Defense 74 {C}: Far too often, Nesmith is out of position when it comes to defense. His energy, hustle and effort have allowed him to be competitive at that end of the floor. He shows promise here, but is very much a work in progress.

Passing 69 (D): This was something we saw very little of from Nesmith when he was at Vanderbilt, so it’s no surprise that he doesn’t do much of it in the NBA. Add this to the list of things Nesmith needs to improve upon going forward.

Makes Teammates Better: 76 (C+): As mentioned earlier, Nesmith is a high-energy player who plays the kind of basketball that lends itself to feeding energy to teammates. He doesn’t do this nearly enough to lay claim to a regular rotation spot, but he does it enough to where you can see its value to this team and his teammates.

Aaron’s midseason grade: 71 (C-)

Payton Pritchard

Shooting 72 (C-): He showed tremendous promise as a shot-making point guard last season, but has clearly regressed. Adding multiple players at the wing position probably didn’t help. Still, Pritchard has to do a better job of making the most of his opportunities to play no matter how few and far between they may be.

Rebounding: 80 (B-): He’s averaging just 1.9 rebounds per game, but Pritchard is not afraid to get in the mix of things around the glass and battle for rebounds, even if more times than not the 6-1 guard comes up short.

Defense 72 (C-): We knew from the time the Celtics drafted him, that defense was not going to be one of Pritchard’s strengths; just the opposite, actually. The effort to defend most nights is there, and he has looked better at this end of the floor in recent games. But too often he finds himself in an uphill battle when it comes to defense.

Passing: 75 (C): His 1.8 assists per game average now, is identical to what it was a year ago as a rookie. Some see it as consistency, but it’s really a lack of growth and progress. While 13.5 minutes isn’t a ton of time on the floor, it’s more than enough time to register more than 1.8 assists on average especially when Pritchard is usually on the floor with one of the Js (Tatum or Brown). When he’s on the floor, he has to either be a key ball-mover or shot-maker. Because if he’s not doing one of those two things, he’s not bringing much value to the game.

Make Teammates Better 72 (C-): Pritchard’s lack of growth from his rookie season to now, has been problematic in terms of uplifting those around him. The lack of shot-making combined with the lack of passing along with the defensive issues, has made it difficult for head coach Ime Udoka to justify giving him more minutes over Josh Richardson, Dennis Schröder or an established starter like Marcus Smart.

Payton’s midseason grade: 74 (C)

INCOMPLETE CREW

Bruno Fernando (and Sam Hauser and Brodric Thomas)

Having averaged 2.7 minutes per contest while appearing in just 12 games this season, Fernando hasn’t played enough to warrant a grade other than, “Incomplete.” The same holds true for Boston’s two-way players Sam Hauser and Brodric Thomas who have appeared in seven and five games, respectively, this season.