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Boston Celtics 2018-19 player grades: Terry Rozier failed in a major way

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 23: Terry Rozier #12 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden on January 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 23: Terry Rozier #12 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden on January 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics point guard Terry Rozier couldn’t handle less minutes in 2018-19 thus failing to make an impact off the bench.

No one sacrificed more than Terry Rozier in 2018-19, according to the Boston Celtics guard following his fourth season in the NBA.

In a disappointing season, there are a lot of fingers to point at as to why the team didn’t live up to high expectations and Rozier’s lack of maturity on and off the court was one of them.

Blame Kyrie Irving all you want, but everyone knew Rozier was going to take a dip in playing time coming into the season, including the Louisville product himself.  How he handled the situation may have earned him a one-way trip out of the city of Boston.

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Earning the nickname “Scary Terry” due to his emergence in the 2017-18 NBA season after Irving went down with a season-ending knee infection, Terry Rozier was one of the reasons why the Boston Celtics were a favorite to come out of the East.  Backing up “Uncle Drew” was seen a positive.  A starting caliber point guard coming off the bench who would provide a spark offensively and defensively.

That did not happen this season.

At times, the Terry Rozier that helped lead the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals in absence of Kyrie Irving made an appearance.  Too often, however, he was a deflating factor who always seemed to be on the court when the team blew big leads.

In all, he wasn’t as efficient shooting the ball as he was the season prior.  His overall FG percentage took a slight dip from 40 percent to 39 percent.  From three-point rage, he went from 38 percent shooting to 35 percent.  Not a huge dip, but it was more his shot selection that caused Celtics fans to yell obscenities.  It was also his defensive slippage that proved his head really wasn’t in the game.

Moving forward

With Kyrie Irving rumored to definitely be out of town, is it possible the Boston Celtics ignore the step back Terry Rozier took in the 2017-18 season and give him the big bucks and opportunity to be the starting point guard?

It’s possible.  Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge loves Rozier and so does Brad Stevens.  Even when it was obvious Rozier was a problem on the court, Stevens still kept him in games.  That showed belief in the young player and also hope that he would play himself out of any struggle.

Still, despite his play, someone (even maybe the Celtics) are going to give him the money and opportunity.  After one season of success, he certainly needs an attitude adjustment to be a quality starting point guard in the NBA.  As evident from his 2018-19 season, he has to love his situation and not only understand his role but embrace his role.  That is definitely something he learned in his fourth season in the NBA.

A failing grade

This may be harsh, but Terry Rozier gets an “F” for the season.  Yes, Kyrie Irving was tough to deal with, but all Rozier had to do this season was take advantage of his minutes, which weren’t all that much lower than his average minutes played in the 2017-18 NBA season.  He went from 25.9 minutes played to 22.7 minutes played in 2018-19.

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In most part, it was just the way he carried himself on the court.  He was “scary” on the court for negative reasons. Again, shot selection and defensive lapses made him more a liability on the court whether than the sparkplug he was the season prior.

In all, 9.0 points off the bench is not bad at all.  But in this case, the player failed due to attitude and letting a little success get to his head.  He also failed to embrace his role playing behind a player considered a top 10 player in the NBA.

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