CNNSI - Midseason Grades - Celtics = C-

[Moranis]

http://nba.si.com/2014/01/24/nba-midseason-grades-heat-pacers-blazers-knicks-lakers/?eref=sihp

Boston Celtics: C-minus

15-29, No. 12 in the East

There was a brief stay atop the putrid Atlantic Division and a few scattered patches of hope early in the season, but the Celtics have crash-landed to a predictably dismal resting place. The Celtics are just 1-12 since New Year’s Eve, their offense is an eyesore, their front line couldn’t keep Muggsy Bogues off the offensive glass and Keith Bogans apparently couldn’t take it any more. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

There’s only so much you can say about a team whose first-half highlight was either blowing out New York so badly in a noon game that Knicks coach Mike Woodson decided to impose a curfew for their next early tip; giving a touching tribute to former coach Doc Rivers on the JumboTron; floating the concept of an insanely complicated draft lottery wheel; or trading Jordan Crawford for a shot at a future first-round pick.

Rajon Rondo’s return — and the possibility for trade-deadline fireworks — casts a different light over the second half of the season. The worst-case scenario is that they tank their way through March and April, which also happens to be their best-case scenario. Dragging through a lost year is never an enjoyable experience, but at least first-year coach Brad Stevens has had some flashes as he makes the transition from the college game.

[Nerf DPOY]

http://nba.si.com/2014/01/24/nba-midseason-grades-heat-pacers-blazers-knicks-lakers/?eref=sihp

Boston Celtics: C-minus

15-29, No. 12 in the East

There was a brief stay atop the putrid Atlantic Division and a few scattered patches of hope early in the season, but the Celtics have crash-landed to a predictably dismal resting place. The Celtics are just 1-12 since New Year’s Eve, their offense is an eyesore, their front line couldn’t keep Muggsy Bogues off the offensive glass and Keith Bogans apparently couldn’t take it any more. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

There’s only so much you can say about a team whose first-half highlight was either blowing out New York so badly in a noon game that Knicks coach Mike Woodson decided to impose a curfew for their next early tip; giving a touching tribute to former coach Doc Rivers on the JumboTron; floating the concept of an insanely complicated draft lottery wheel; or trading Jordan Crawford for a shot at a future first-round pick.

Rajon Rondo’s return — and the possibility for trade-deadline fireworks — casts a different light over the second half of the season. The worst-case scenario is that they tank their way through March and April, which also happens to be their best-case scenario. Dragging through a lost year is never an enjoyable experience, but at least first-year coach Brad Stevens has had some flashes as he makes the transition from the college game.

So they're bad relative to preseason expectations? What was the expectation of this team? They were awful on paper purposely and built to fail...They're primed to add a great player to next year's team either by draft or trade. I'm happy with the way this season's gone so far.

[Evantime34]

Can't really argue with anything he said besides not mentioning the early win at Miami as a highlight of the year. Then again if we have a healthy Rondo, clear some long term contracts and win the draft lottery this season should get an A.

[Eddie20]

Can't really argue with anything he said besides not mentioning the early win at Miami as a highlight of the year. Then again if we have a healthy Rondo, clear some long term contracts and win the draft lottery this season should get an A.

I don't agree with the "their front line couldn’t keep Muggsy Bogues off the offensive glass" bit. In fact, I think our overall rebounding has been better than it has in the past few years.

[Moranis]

Can't really argue with anything he said besides not mentioning the early win at Miami as a highlight of the year. Then again if we have a healthy Rondo, clear some long term contracts and win the draft lottery this season should get an A.

I don't agree with the "their front line couldn’t keep Muggsy Bogues off the offensive glass" bit. In fact, I think our overall rebounding has been better than it has in the past few years.

24th this year in opponents offensive rebounds.  Finished last year at 21st.  Finished the year before that at 23rd.  So basically in the same general area as years past.

I posted it because it was relevant, but I don't agree with it entirely.  If C is average, I would actually rate Boston at the C+ or B- level.  Stevens has been a good surprise, clearing Lee off the books for a guy like Bayless was huge, there is the potential first round pick in the Crawford trade (even at the expense of salary next year in Anthony), Sullinger has taken a big step up, Bradley has improved, and Olynyk looks ok.  Certainly no major overachieving, but I certainly don't think the team has been worse than expected or gotten hammered on trades or anything like that, so I'm not sure where that C- rating comes from.

[PhoSita]

Silly.

The only reason to give this team a C- is if you had wildly unrealistic expectations headed into the season, or you're just going to grade every team based upon it's W/L record regardless of the team's roster and its short vs. long-term goals.

I'd give the team a B+ all things considered.

[Finkelskyhook]

CNNSI still exists?  After reading that I wonder why.