The Celtics 2023-24 Season Player Grades

By Ben Friend

Analyzing the Celtics Season Player by Player

With the NBA playoffs in full stride and the Boston Celtics looking to cap off one of the most historic regular seasons in recent history, finishing with a record of 64-18, and a whopping 14-game lead ahead of the 2-seeded New York Knicks, it is very tough to pinpoint any player on the roster who did not meet or exceed their preseason expectations. With that being said, let's look at some player grades for the Celtics' top eight players during the regular season.

Derrick White: A

Let's start with Derrick White, a guy who came into the season having questions about him as to whether he could be a quality starting guard in the NBA. From the first tip-off to the last of the regular season, Derrick White exceeded expectations night in and night out. This season, White averaged 15 points per game, grabbing 4 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists a night while shooting 40% from behind the arc. White had a career year on the offensive end, but this is not even the best part of his game, as he averaged a block and a steal each night and finished second amongst guards in total blocks. White's ability to make winning plays each game will be a huge asset for Boston in the playoffs.

Jrue Holiday: A-

While his role changed from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Celtics, Holiday has been a perfect fit for the Celtics this season. Though his scoring numbers are down this season, going from 19 ppg with the Bucks last season to 12 this year, he still impacts the game each night with his all-NBA level defense, and his career-high three-point shooting (43%). Jrue almost always makes the right decisions, and his veteran leadership and playoff experience will be a huge help to the Celtics during the playoffs. One thing I would like to see more from Jrue in the postseason is his playmaking, as he is averaging just 4.8 assists per game this season, his lowest since the 2011-2012 season.

Kristaps Porzingis: A

Kristaps Porzingis has been everything Celtics fans thought he would be and then some. Porzingis came into the season looking like he had played with this Celtics team for multiple seasons, knowing his role and what he needed to do to help the team. Porzingis has been incredible all season with his post-up ability, being the most efficient post player in the NBA this season, averaging 1.39 points per possession. Along with adding spacing and efficiency to the offense, Porzingis has been a great rim protector all season long and tends to hold his own against mismatches and quicker guards.

Jaylen Brown: A-

Jaylen came into the season looking a little shaky at times, having a rough first few weeks, but after this small bump in the road, he never looked back. Brown has seemingly had a chip on his shoulder all season long, dunking on players left and right, limiting his turnovers and improving his playmaking. With the addition of Jrue and Kristaps, Jaylen’s scoring has decreased slightly, but his constant hustle and poise on the defensive end have separated him from previous years. Though Jaylen has some head-scratching plays at times, his constant energy and intensity on both ends of the floor make up for it. If Jaylen can get his consistency down in the playoffs and bring his best each night, he will make the Celtics an even tougher matchup for opponents.

Jayson Tatum: A

When someone is the best player on the best team in the league, it is pretty hard not to give them an A grade for the season. Throughout the regular season, Jayson Tatum showed us his versatility and ability to impact every game. While Tatum's numbers on the offensive end may have been slightly lower than expected, he averaged a career-high 5 assists per game, and he was able to minimize his turnovers and off-shooting nights as the season progressed. Tatum also showed us his ability on the defensive end, being able to guard the other team's best player when needed and bringing a hustle that we have not necessarily seen from him in years prior. One critique of Tatum throughout the season, and something to keep an eye on during the playoffs, is his clutch time performance. This season Tatum has averaged 36% from the field in clutch time, missing big shots down the stretch in statement games throughout the year - both Nuggets games being an example of this.

Al Horford: A-

Horford has done his job for the Celtics throughout the year. Moving from the starting 5 to the first guy off the bench was an easy transition for him, and he is always ready whenever the team needs him. Al has shot 42% from behind the arc this season, and he gave the Celtics great defense off the bench. A pleasant surprise from Horford has been his rebounding, as he is averaging 6.5 per game. Though his role this season has been minimized, Horford will be a huge help to the Celtics throughout the playoffs, especially if they wind up facing the Sixers or the Bucks, as he will be tasked with the challenge of guarding Giannis or Embiid.

Payton Pritchard: A-

After struggling to maintain consistent minutes with the Celtics last season, Payton Pritchard has improved almost every aspect of his game this year. Pritchard is averaging career highs across the board and is shooting 47% from the field as well as finishing the regular season with the best offensive rating in the league (122.8). Whether it is crunch time of an important game or the last game of the season that holds no significant impact, Pritchard will always give his all and be locked in on both ends of the floor, something that will be huge for the Celtics in the playoffs.

Sam Hauser: A-

In just his second season getting consistent minutes with Boston, Sam Hauser is shooting an outstanding 42.4% from three and is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists. While Hauser’s shooting was great for the Celtics last season as well, what puts him apart from his role on the team last year is the fact that he has been a very solid defender all year long for the Celtics, something that was missing from his game at times last season. If Hauser can come off the bench and knock down a few threes each game throughout the playoffs, he will be a huge help to the Celtics' push to the title.