Celtics report card at the 30-game mark: it’s time to get to work

The Boston Celtics have hit the 30-game mark and stand at a less-than-desirable 15 wins and as many losses, with fans and analysts alike left wondering what exactly the problem behind these underwhelming returns might be.

So in our latest Celtics report card, we probably ought not to expect too many stellar grades for Boston’s players — though a few faces continue to hold steady and some players who have been buried in the rotation are starting to improve their grades. While we won’t hold individuals accountable for team under-production, we will be fair in our assessment of how each Celtic has met, exceeded or missed the mark of what’s been expected of their role so far this season.

Jaylen Brown: A-

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Brown's stellar play has slipped a bit, and it was bound to. Moreover, at least some of that is due to the tendonitis he's been dealing with, so it's hard to knock him much for it.

Carsen Edwards: C-

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Edwards holds steady with some solid if uninspiring play he's managed in the limited run available to him of late.

Tacko Fall: C

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Fall hasn't lived up to his earlier outings in recent weeks -- but he's also not seen the floor much in them either.

Javonte Green: C-

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Green hasn't been as electrifying of late as he was to start the season, but also looks like he might be nursing a minor injury.

Aaron Nesmith: B

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Few have improved their stock since our last round of grades than Aaron Nesmith, and while he has plenty still to work on, moving from nearly out of the rotation to a significant part of it is good for a "B".

Semi Ojeleye: C-

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Conversely, while Ojeleye is still providing solid play when he's called on, his role has shrank as the early-season offensive acumen he displayed has with it.

Payton Pritchard: B-

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Pritchard is still providing excellent play off the bench for Boston, but has seen his grade slip a but with fewer big-moment plays over the recent games.

Marcus Smart: INC

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Smart has missed most of the games since his last grade with a calf strain, and thus earns an "incomplete".

Jayson Tatum: B-

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We have since learned Tatum has been battling post-COVID lethargy, so we won't ding his comparatively uninspiring month too hard, but he did see his grade drop a but to a "B-".

Jeff Teague: F

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This student of the game has been truant on the court of late and is rightfully in danger of total suspension from the rotation, if not outright expulsion.

Daniel Theis: B-

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More mistakes, more fouls, less shooting and a finger injury have combined to ding the German big man a tad, but not too much -- he's still among Boston's best players in the frontcourt.

Tristan Thompson: D+

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Is it possible for a player to play better overall, but seem to fit worse? Thompson has definitely upped his game offensively, but the team needs him most on defense, which has gotten a bit worse.

Kemba Walker: B+

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Walker holds steady, having mostly found his shot in recent games, though also having to sit out the second half of back-to-backs with occasional rough-shooting nights still cropping up.

Tremont Waters: INC

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Waters hasn't had enough floor time to properly assess where his game has gone since last grades; this doesn't bode well for him development, either.

Grant Williams: D+

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There was a short stretch that would have raised his grade from a C- last time, but he's since nearly fallen out of the rotation with a stretch of bad play over the last several games. We believe he'll turn it around soon, though.

Robert Williams: A+

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Time Lord may have made the most strides of any player on the roster since the last time we checked grades for the Celtics. A force of nature on offense and morphing into one of Boston's best defenders, Williams ought to be on the floor more than he has been. https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=I7cDE3fvkD-1167271-8380&autoplay=on&V=2&format=json This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook! [lawrence-related id=46940,46937,46932,46856] [listicle id=46959]

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