Boston Celtics: 7 Ways Kevin Garnett Has Enhanced His NBA Legacy This Postseason

During the Boston Celtics' 2012 NBA Playoffs run, 17-year pro Kevin Garnett has thrived and enjoyed a basketball renaissance.

The Big Ticket leads the club in points, rebounds and blocks, but his intangibles are equally vital to the team's success.

Boston's lack of depth has forced Doc Rivers to give Garnett extensive minutes, and Garnett's been up to the task. He's active and effective on both ends of the floor, and the Celtics are just two wins away from the NBA Finals.

Here are seven ways Kevin Garnett has enhanced his NBA legacy this postseason.

Stamina and Durability

The Game 3 knuckle push-ups were cool, but they were actually a symbol of Kevin Garnett's energy and spirit throughout the entire postseason.

At 36 years old, the Big Ticket has maintained a mental and physical toughness that few veterans enjoy. 

His perseverance and endurance in these playoffs have made him a major factor for the Celtics. When he's not in foul trouble, Doc Rivers keeps him in the game upwards of 35-40 minutes.

The true mark of NBA greatness is longevity and sustained excellence, and Garnett has displayed it this spring.

Scoring: Party Like It's 2008

With nearly 20 points per game during the 2012 NBA Playoffs, Kevin Garnett is putting up numbers that we haven't seen since Boston's title run in 2007-08.

Ray Allen's injury woes and the Celtics' lack of interior depth forced Garnett to pick up the slack and be productive every night. He answered the bell with bushels of points in the playoffs.

His true shooting percentage (55 percent) and effective field goal percentage (51 percent) are his best playoff shooting marks since the 2001 playoffs with Minnesota.

Garnett has eclipsed 20 points in eight of Boston's playoff games, proving that he's still a force in the league.

Rebounding Resurgence

Kevin Garnett has always been a solid rebounder, but it's impressive how he's turned it up a notch in the playoffs.

He's pulling down 11 rebounds per game, and he just snagged 14 in Boston's Game 4 win over Miami. His nose for the ball and tenacity have helped keep the Celtics alive against the Heat.

Boston's next-best rebounder is point guard Rajon Rondo, so that should indicate the lack of help Garnett is getting from his frontcourt comrades.

Doc Rivers needs every single board that Garnett can snatch if Boston wants to go into Miami and steal a win in Game 5.

Defensive Grit

With above-average length, strength and mobility, Kevin Garnett has been a great defender for years. Factor in his toughness and nastiness, and you have an imposing presence in the paint.

The 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection continues to play stellar defense this spring, and he's actually playing the most effective defense of his career.

His 2012 playoff defensive rating (an estimate of the number of points allowed per 100 possessions) is 93, which is a career-best number. 

He's proven that he has the savvy, skills and determination to be a premiere stopper, even in his late 30s.

Leadership Fuel

Whether it's his vocal nature, consistent play or doing knuckle push-ups after getting knocked to the deck, Kevin Garnett finds ways to motivate his Boston bunch.

He's certainly not the only leader in Beantown (Paul Pierce is the heart and soul of the franchise), but every bit of energy and mentoring he provides is valuable to the club.

In his 17th year in the association, Garnett knows how to lead by word and deed. The Celtics feed off his enthusiasm and boldness—his vigor throughout the playoffs has furthered his reputation as a terrific emotional leader.

Lob Logic

Kevin Garnett's combination of size, agility and court awareness make him a superb lob finisher.

He and Rajon Rondo have developed a fantastic chemistry when it comes to alley-oops. Garnett knows when to dive toward the rim or seal off his man to create room for a lob.

It seems like he's been converting more lob lay-ins this postseason than ever before. It's partially due to Rondo's increased skill and precision, but it's also due to Garnett's craftiness and court sense.

Stepping Up in Must-Win Games

Everyone loves a player who delivers when the stakes are high, and in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, Kevin Garnett has been a rock for the Celtics.

In Game 7 of the Eastern Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers and Game 3 of the Eastern Finals against the Miami Heat, Garnett brought his best stuff to the hardwood.

Game 3 against Miami was particularly important because Boston was down 0-2 and faced a virtual must-win scenario. The Big Ticket was worth the price of admission, dropping 24 points and ripping down 11 rebounds to help keep the Celtics in the series.

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