Boston Celtics participant grades vs. Miami Warmth

When Miami began the sport on a 7-0 run, I believed it was going to be a type of video games the place Boston was going to should grind to discover a solution to win. Coming off of a back-to-back, a dogfight is the final sport these gamers wanted. Then the Celtics went on a 14-2 run to determine management and outscored Miami 60-45 within the first half with 10 threes, and 15 assists on 21 subject objectives.

My rankings that are primarily based on my expectations will vary from A-F with C being thought-about an “common” sport for that particular person participant. There’s no +/-, simply the letter.

Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Pictures

Jaylen Brown: A

Season stats: 24.7 ppg, 6.3 reb, 4.3 ast, 1.1 stl, 0.4 blk

Tonight: 29 factors, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks

Jaylen was aggressive from tip-off. Though his shot didn’t fall straight away, he made it some extent of emphasis to get to the paint and get to the free throw line.

It’s one factor to get to the free throw line, it’s one other to make them. Brown this season and previously has had his points on the charity stripe, however on Monday he drained 9 of his 10 free throws.

Brown had 16 first-half factors to tempo Boston and completed the second half sturdy with one other 13 factors. He had an enormous three early within the third quarter to snap Miami’s 7-0 begin which put the Warmth again of their place.

Derrick White: A

Season stats: 18.3 ppg, 4.7 reb, 4.4 ast, 0.8 stl, 1.1 blk

Tonight: 19 factors, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks

With Jrue Vacation out, White was the first ball handler. White did an excellent job of shifting the ball registering three assists within the first six minutes of the sport and 7 first-half dimes.

White has been Mr. Constant all season as a result of you recognize what you’re going to get from him on a night-in, night-out foundation. On an evening with out Porzingis, Vacation, and Horford, he was going to should step up his playmaking capacity and he did that whereas sustaining his defensive depth.

Within the fourth quarter, Derrick simply destroyed any hope of Miami coming again with back-to-back threes. I hope his pockets are at all times stuffed with threes.

Jayson Tatum: C

Season stats: 28.9 ppg, 8.5 reb, 5.7 ast, 1.4 stl, 0.6 blk,

Tonight: 18 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steals, 0 blocks.

I used to be near giving Jayson a D for his efficiency however together with his shot not falling, he was capable of finding a solution to make an impression by crashing the glass. Ending the sport with a double-double with 11 rebounds and 18 factors.

Through the sport, Tatum struggled from three and as a substitute of attempting to assault the paint, he continued to shoot threes which didn’t assist. Additionally, six turnovers are manner an excessive amount of to your celebrity. However I nonetheless assume he performed effectively on protection to justify a median sport.

Jordan Walsh: C

Season stats: 1.5 pg, 0.9 reb, 0.2 ast, 0.3 stl, 0.4 blk

Tonight: 0 factors, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks

The second-year participant out of Arkansas received his second profession begin. Walsh struggled at instances to maintain his defender in entrance of him and didn’t give Boston a lot on the offensive finish. Nonetheless nice expertise and extra reps underneath the belt and his athleticism will at all times assist him discover minutes on the ground however wasn’t that nice of an evening for Walsh.

Photograph by Brian Fluharty/Getty Pictures

Luke Kornet: A

Season stats: 4.1 ppg, 4.1 reb, 1.5 ast, 0.5 stl, 0.9 blk

Tonight: 6 factors, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 6 blocks

Luke began the sport sturdy, scoring the staff’s first 4 factors with a dunk and a submit transfer in opposition to Bam Adebayo. Then Kornet went into DPOY kind of power ending the sport with six blocks. His sixth block led to a Jayson Tatum three which introduced the followers out of their seats. General, it was an excellent sport for Luke who wanted to play effectively with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis out.

Payton Pritchard: A

Season stats: 16 ppg, 3 reb, 2.9 ast, 1.1 stl, 0.1 blk

Tonight: 25 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

I’m beginning to run out of phrases to reward Pritchard. Checked into the sport and scored 10 fast factors on 4-of-5 capturing, he’s established himself as an authorized bucket within the league. He turned the primary Celtics participant to attain 20+ factors in 4 straight video games off the bench since Isaiah Thomas in 2015.

In fact, he secured one other buzzer beater so as to add to his resume to shut the third quarter stepping into his bag earlier than hitting a lefty layup.

Neemias Queta: C

Season stats: 6.4 ppg, 5.2 reb, 0.8 ast, 0.2 stl, 0.9 blk

Tonight: 4 factors, 7 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 2 blocks

Struggled with foul bother early however did an excellent job attacking the boards. Was anticipating a much bigger evening from him offensively with KP and Horford out, however didn’t have a lot to supply. Nonetheless a stable sport from the Portuguese man.

Xavier Tillman Sr.: D

Season stats: 1.4 ppg, 2.2 reb, 0.5 ast, 0.2 stl, 0.2 blk

Tonight: 0 factors, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks

The X-man didn’t make as a lot of an impression as others. Performed exhausting on protection however stood out. I nonetheless imagine he’ll make an impression later within the season/postseason however for in the present day’s efficiency assume he was a bit under common.

Drew Peterson: B

Season stats: 2 ppg, 1.2 reb, 0.2 ast, 0.5 stl 0.5 blk

Tonight: 7 factors, 7 rebounds, 1 help, 0 steals, 0 blocks

After a stable efficiency in opposition to the Cavs, Peterson did his job tonight. Was very energetic on each ends of the ground. Peterson confirmed his vary with a nook three within the fourth quarter however used his 6’9 top to snag seven rebounds.

I favored his stare down at Miami’s bench after burying a 3 in entrance of them.

Baylor Scheierman: C

Season stats: 1 ppg, 1.5 reb, 0.2 ast, 0 stl 0 blk

Tonight: 0 factors, 0 rebounds, 1 help, 0 steals, 0 blocks

The rookie performed stable on-ball protection when guarding Jaime Jaquez Jr. Had a phenomenal help to Jaylen Brown for a nook three when he discovered himself caught within the paint. Aside from that, didn’t do an excessive amount of to stay out, however like Walsh, these minutes are useful to his growth.

JD Davison & Jaden Springer: N/A

Not sufficient time for both to make an impression, however Springer did have a pleasant steal late within the quarter.