Boston Celtics: Ranking the top 10 players out east in the Disney bubble

No. 7) Ben Simmons

With a jump shot, Ben Simmons is probably a top-10 player in the entire NBA, let alone his respective conference. Without one, however, he ranks in at seventh best out east, which is by no means a slight.

Built like a power-forward with the skill-set of a point guard, Simmons truly is a special breed of player. Boasting averages of 16.7 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game on an impressive 59 percent shooting from the floor, the 23-year-old obviously has not let his scoring shortcomings hinder him too much (in the 93rd percentile of players finishing at the rim), and remains one of the best passers and, arguably more important, defenders in the entire league.

As Bailey and Favale said in their article:

"Nobody in the league qualifies as a more versatile defender. Simmons has spent at least 17 percent of his time guarding every position on the floor, save for center, according to Nylon Calculus’ Krishna Narsu. And among every player who has logged at least 1,000 minutes, only Terrance Ferguson and Royce O’Neale have racked up more reps against No. 1 options."

Again, if he were to add a jumper to his game, Ben Simmons would more than likely be a top-10 player in the league. Perhaps, in time it will come. As of now, however, this is where he will stand.

No. 6) Kemba Walker

A list of the top-10 players in the conference is clearly not complete without the inclusion of the starting guard for the east during this year’s All-Star game — his second consecutive start.

Replacing another perennial All-Star for the Boston Celtics at the same position, Kemba Walker has made the transition seamless and, in turn, had the shamrocks even better positioned during the regular season once the time of the COVID-19 induced hiatus rolled around, as they were on pace to eclipse their record from the previous campaign.

Though the Cs appeared to stagnate with Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker has allowed the team’s talented youngsters of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to reach heights that, based off their 2018-19 performances, were arguably — and, of course wrongly — once in question.

Per 100 possessions, with him on the floor, the Boston Celtics are scoring a team-high 7.6 more points per game and are easily a much more sound overall unit than when he is sidelined and replaced by primary backup Brad Wanamaker.

Boasting the highest box plus/minus of his career (4.7), Walker is in the midst of arguably his best season as a pro and has proved invaluable to the success and development of this team.

A scorer from all areas on the court, including at the rim (shoots 61 percent from this area despite being just six-feet tall), opposing team defenses will undoubtedly have their work cut out for them when trying to guard the star point guard come the postseason.

Add in the ample time he’s had to heal from his nagging knee injury from this season, and the Disney bubble in for a world of trouble.

No. 5) Pascal Siakam

The leaps and bounds Pascal Siakam’s game has partaken in over his four-year career has been truly astonishing. Selected third to last in the 2016 NBA Draft, the wing was seen as a passion project for the Toronto Raptors to help mold over the early stages of his career and, in turn, develop into a serviceable all-around player.

Develop he did!

Currently in the midst of a career year, the reigning Most Improved Player is finding himself serving as the Toronto Raptors’ number one option and, in turn, is absolutely thriving. Through 53 outings, Siakam has managed to put up career averages of 23.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, one steal, and just shy of a block per game on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 36 percent shooting from deep.

Exceptional on both offense and defense, Pascal Siakam has become an All-Star and the go-to guy for the 46-18 defending champions.

The frightening part is, he’s only 25-years-old and has managed to improve in essentially every area of his game every single season.