Predicting Boston Celtics' Playoff Rotation

Head coach Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics are winners of 15 of their last 20 games since the All-Star break, and the postseason right around the corner is now the point of emphasis on this veteran ball club.

The Celtics, now 30-22, have been dominating their competition and are fresh off of a crucial win over LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

With the playoffs just weeks away, the team has to be preparing for what will be arguably the last postseason with the Big Three intact in Beantown.

This is the potential playoff rotation that Doc Rivers will have in store for this team.

Minimal Action: Rookies E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson, Ryan Hollins

JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore will undoubtedly make the playoff roster for the team, as well as newly acquired Ryan Hollins. Yet none of the three will receiving much playing time throughout the course of the postseason.

Each of these three has little to no postseason experience, while the two rookies are inexperienced in the league and have seen few minutes all season. Johnson and Moore have combined for an average of 16 minutes per game, posting eight minutes a contest each.

In a situation where Ray Allen goes down, however, Moore could well see playing time. As well as Bradley has played as of late, Rivers will certainly need the depth headed into the postseason.

Hollins has the potential to do damage for this team as a big-time threat in the middle, yet he has had little time to gel with the team and will likely play few minutes as a result. He will need a much firmer grasp on the system before he earns himself more minutes.

Minor Bench Roles: Keyon Dooling, Marquis Daniels, Sasha Pavlovic

Keyon Dooling and Sasha Pavolvic have had minimal roles for most of this season, as injury and inability to produce have had each of the two sitting on the bench for the majority of the year.

Dooling's playing time has suffered mainly because of injury, as early on the season his presence was felt for this team offensively. On the year, Dooling has played in just 39 of the team's 52 games and is posting just 14.5 minutes per contest. His three-point shooting is what will be key this postseason.

Pavlovic has been largely ineffective this season, failing to produce much in the few minutes he has gotten all year. He is a player that does bring experience and talent with him on the defensive end, as he will see some time against the bigger, more physical opponents.

Marquis Daniels is a proven defender for the Celtics, but has had arguably one of his worst seasons in the league offensively. Daniels will need to step it up come postseason, as Rivers will undoubtedly give him important minutes.

Major Bench Roles: Avery Bradley, Greg Stiemsma

Talk about a player bursting onto the scene.

It was just weeks ago where Avery Bradley saw little playing time this season. Now, he is a starter in place of the injured Ray Allen.

In his 11 starting opportunities this season, the Celtics are 10-1, as Bradley is a defensive workhorse that can score effectively, taking the ball to the rim. Upon Allen's return, Rivers will have to continue to use Bradley as he has proven his worth to this basketball team.

Greg Stiemsma, although inconsistent with his play at times, is an aggressive shot-blocker that fits right into the Celtics game plan defensively. Offensively, he has a solid shooting touch and can finish on second-chance buckets.

These two players will be integral pieces of a championship run if the Celtics want to contend in 2012, as this is a team lacking depth and needing production in a hurry with the playoffs nearing.

PF: Brandon Bass

Brandon Bass has shown tremendous patience upon arriving to this team, slowly waiting for his opportunity for the major minutes and chance to thrive.

Sure enough, 52 games in, Bass is undoubtedly thriving.

In the month of March, Bass posted 12.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 33.2 minutes per game. Bass has taken on a starting role with the team since the Celtics lost Jermaine O'Neal for the remainder of the season.

Bass will be used a lot during the playoffs, as his size and ability to catch the ball away from the basket has insurmountably opened up the floor for Boston. Rajon Rondo has had a significant amount of room to operate, and Bass is one of the major reasons why.

SG: Ray Allen

Ray Allen is a veteran, an NBA-champion, and still boasts one of the smoother strokes in basketball from three-point range.

There is no question that Allen will be the anchor for this team shooting the ball come playoff time, as Rivers will look to Ray for three-point baskets and a solid 12-16 points per contest.

Yet the problem with Allen has been his injuries, as he currently is sidelined with a foot injury.

Bradley has stepped up tremendously in his absence, as it is likely Rivers will try to give Bradley more playing time than usual in order to assist Allen in the healing process. Expect Allen to be at full-strength come playoff time, as the Celtics will need his jumper late in games.

C: Kevin Garnett

The Big Ticket will undoubtedly be the "ticket" to a Celtics championship run, as his defense is what anchors this basketball team.

Offensively, Garnett will have to maintain his aggressive style of play that he has put on in the last few weeks. When dunks are there, Garnett has to throw down. When his post moves will have his smaller defenders beat, he needs to use it. After failing to do so to open up the season, these are some of the things that Garnett has done with utmost consistency as of late.

It will be this aggressiveness offensively that could be the difference maker in the Celtics playoff run, as there is no question the defense will be there in full force.

SF: Paul Pierce

Boston Celtics superstar Paul Pierce continues to put up strong offensive numbers since the All-Star break for this basketball team.

This past week, Pierce was named the Eastern Conference player of the week . In the five games, Pierce averaged 24.2 points and eight rebounds per game.

Talk about impressive.

During the 2012 NBA playoffs, it will be Pierce's job to anchor the troops offensively and score the ball with utmost consistency. Defensively, Pierce will have to attempt to contain players like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, as he has proven time and time again he is capable of doing so.

PG: Rajon Rondo

As cool as the other side of the pillow, Rajon Rondo will have to lead the troops and set the tempo with his tremendous pace and patience.

When Rondo is patient passing the basketball and takes the extra seconds to set teammates up in their sweet spots, he is arguably the best "point guard" in the game.

This season, Rondo has had arguably the best season of his career. On the year, Rondo has posted a league-best five triple doubles, moving his total up to 15 for his career.

Offensively, however, Rondo needs to be able to hit his open jump shots if the Celtics want to move on. Time and time again teams give him room to shoot the basketball and it seems as if Rondo will shy away from the moment.

Rondo is the leader of this ball club, the anchor of the troops on offense, and will have to continue to dictate the pace of play as he has been doing as of late. To beat the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls, his game will have to be on-point.