NBA Playoffs 2012: Mid-Series Report Card for Stars Still Clinging to Title Hope

The NBA's best teams are at that point in the season where the biggest stars really earn their money. With both conference finals series knotted up at two games a piece, those stars still have plenty of work left on their agendas.

With both series now reduced to best-of-three matchups, it's time to pause and reflect on how we got here.

From Kevin Durant's late-game heroics to Rajon Rondo's well-rounded domination, the underdogs are barking as loudly as ever. But that hasn't stopped veterans like Dwyane Wade and Tim Duncan from having their say.

Here are the grades for 10 stars still left in the postseason and hunting that title.

LeBron James—SF, Miami Heat

ECF Averages: 32.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.3 SPG

LeBron James was forced to become more of a scorer without Chris Bosh on the floor, and he's passed the test with flying colors. He didn't shoot especially well in Game 2, but he made up for it by getting to the line an eye-popping 24 times.

It's still unclear if the Miami Heat have enough to beat the Boston Celtics, but LeBron gives them a fighting chance every night he's on the floor.

Grade: A

This one is a no-brainer. LeBron has had the best all-around postseason of anyone, and the Eastern Conference finals have been no exception. If it weren't for so many missed free throws, he'd get the A+.

Dwyane Wade—SG, Miami Heat

ECF Averages: 20.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 BPG, 1.5 SPG

Dwyane Wade's production has remained pretty constant against the Boston Celtics, but it took him a lot more shots to get there in the Miami Heat's road losses. Wade shot a combined 16-of-28 in Games 1 and 2, but 16-of-42 in Games 3 and 4.

There's no way around the fact that Miami needs him taking shots and putting up big numbers, but he desperately needs to rediscover his rhythm at home.

Grade: B-

Wade may not be having a lights-out series scoring the ball, but he's still helping his team in a number of different ways. That's what made him great in the first place.

Kevin Garnett—PF/C, Boston Celtics

ECF Averages: 20.5 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 1.8 BPG

Other than some uneven shooting in Game 2 (and during stretches of Game 4), Kevin Garnett has been playing like a much younger version of himself. Outside of Rajon Rondo, he's been the Boston Celtics' best player, and he's done a better job of exploiting the Miami Heat's undersized interior than either Roy Hibbert or Davis West in the first round.

Grade: A-

KG hasn't exactly been taking games over, but he's been steady. That should be good enough to keep the Celtics in this series.

Paul Pierce—SF, Boston Celtics

ECF Averages: 19.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.5 APG

Paul Pierce hasn't been shooting with a lot of consistency, but he's made some big shots in the Boston Celtics' Game 3 and 4 wins. In his defense, he's been playing through an injured MCL for the last two series, so we haven't had much opportunity to see the 34-year-old at 100 percent capacity.

Grade: B

Sheer effort earns Pierce at least a B. Boston wouldn't have had a chance in its last two wins were it not for Pierce's contributions.

Rajon Rondo—PG, Boston Celtics

ECF Averages: 24 PPG, 10.5 APG, 7.0 RPG

Rajon Rondo has had a phenomenal all-around series, even when the rest of the Boston Celtics weren't. His 44-point Game 2 was an instant classic, and he's tallied 25 assists in the two games since. The Miami Heat haven't found a solution to the crafty floor general, and they'll need to in order to reclaim control of the series.

Grade: A

Rondo is essential to the Celtics' hopes in this series. Anything short of continued brilliance will doom their chances.

Kevin Durant—SF, Oklahoma City Thunder

WCF Averages: 29.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.5 BPG

Kevin Durant's series has been nothing short of exceptional. He's shooting over 53 percent for the series and scoring when it matters most—including 18 points in the final seven minutes of Game 4. Needless to say, no one is questioning Durant's clutch finishing ability.

Grade: A

Durant will earn himself an A+ if the Thunder wind up winning this series. If he disappears for a moment too long, OKC could be in trouble.

Russell Westbrook—PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

WCF Averages: 15.3 PPG, 6.8 APG, 5.8 RPG

This hasn't been Russell Westbrook's final hour. He actually scored better in the Thunder's two losses, combining for 44 points in Games 1 and 2. Since then, he's scored just 17 points and shot 7-of-25 from the floor—and it hasn't hurt OKC one bit.

Grade: C+

Westbrook is still helping his team, but his series has been absolutely miserable when compared to his second-round efforts.

James Harden—SG, Oklahoma City Thunder

WCF Averages: 18.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.8 APG

James Harden was exceptional in Game 2 to no avail, but he's continued to play an important complementary role in the Oklahoma City Thunder's Game 3 and 4 wins. He scored 15 points on 50 percent shooting in Game 3 and made up for a sub-par Game 4 shooting performance by pitching in seven rebounds and seven assists.

Grade: B+

For a sixth man, you have to like what Harden's been able to do against an experienced Spurs team. He may have been outshined by Manu Ginobili early on, but he's rediscovered his swagger.

Tim Duncan—PF/C, San Antonio Spurs

WCF Averages: 14.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.8 BPG

After an exceptional series against the Los Angeles Clippers, Tim Duncan has struggled to score against the OKC Thunder. He's still a defensive presence, but shot just a combined 7-of-26 in Games 2 and 3.

Duncan has struggled to get around Kendrick Perkins in the post, and he's been reluctant to pull the trigger on his mid-range jumper from the top of the key.

The result has been a very uneven offensive performance.

Grade: C+

Duncan has had a pretty good postseason, but he hasn't been at his best in this series.

Tony Parker—PG, San Antonio Spurs

WCF Averages: 20.0 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.0 RPG

Outside of fantastic Game 2 in which he went off for 34 points and eight assists, Tony Parker has had a pretty average series. He's had uncharacteristic trouble with turnovers, especially in Game 3 and the first half of Game 1. He also struggled with his shot in Game 4, shooting just 5-of-15 from the field.

Needless to say, it wasn't the best time for Parker to go cold.

If that Game 2 proved anything, though, it's that Parker can bounce back from sub-par performances. He was just 6-of-15 in Game 1 and followed it up with his impressive 16-of-21 Game 2 outing.

Grade: B

Parker would have an even lower grade were it not for Game 2. If he returns to form in the all-important Games 5 and 6, this grade would immediately improve.