Boston Celtics: Postseason Grades for Every Player and Doc Rivers

The run is over. After five years of art-like basketball, the Boston Celtics' Big Three is poised to go their separate ways this coming offseason. While some expected Boston to lie down and die, the final stand of these legendary players was one for the ages.

Alongside Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were some of the more memorable individual performances by names you wouldn't expect achieving feats you never believed they could reach. And then there were the players from whom you were dying to receive more.

The curious case of the Boston Celtics will be discussed and picked apart.

Rajon Rondo

What negative can you possibly say about a guy who posted four postseason triple-doubles, including 14 double-doubles? If you can find something, what can you say about a guy who posted 44 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds in a game that Boston should have helped him win?

How about the fact that he lacked a consistent motor and hesitated to attempt the shots that he's shown us he can make?

It would be unfair to blame anyone for the Celtics loss, as they took one of the game's elite to seven games and outplayed the Heat in four of the seven games. It must be noted, however, that Rajon Rondo could have done more.

He could have avoided the hesitation.

Grade: A-

Ray Allen

Postseason Averages: 18 GP, 10.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 39.5 FG%, 30.4 3PT%, 71.1 FT%

For those who have followed Ray Allen's career with even the slightest interest, the 2012 NBA playoffs will go down as the year in which conventional wisdom was lost. Everything we know about professional basketball was called into question and it all rested on a faulty ankle.

The game's greatest jump shooter of all time, who has made the most three-pointers in NBA history and shot 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, shot just 30.4 percent from distance. It wasn't as if the shots simply weren't falling, though, as Allen missed shots in ways we've never seen.

From pushing it too far and leaving it too short, Allen just couldn't get the shots to fall. Although he began to find his rhythm towards the end of Boston's magical playoff run, it was just too little too late.

Bonus points for fighting through injury.

Grade: C-

Paul Pierce

Postseason Averages: 20 GP, 18.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, .386/.310/.894

Joining Ray Allen in the "How did he shoot so poorly?" category is Paul Pierce, who saw a six-point drop on his field-goal and three-point shooting percentages. Pierce also fouled out three times and found himself in foul trouble on another five occasions.

That's 40 percent of the Celtics' postseason games in which Pierce was unavailable, at some point, due to fouls.

It should be noted that when Boston needed him to step up, "The Truth" came through. Although his shooting percentages do not reflect a quality postseason, Pierce did average a respectable 18.9 points per game; if only he could have made shots on a more consistent basis.

Here's to LeBron James draining threes in the game's best perimeter defender's face.

Grade: B-

Brandon Bass

Postseason Averages: 20 GP, 11.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 46.3 FG%

Who would have thought that it would be Brandon Bass emerging as the Boston Celtics' most consistent scorer? Considering he was, it's hard to imagine his wish not being granted.

Bass reached double-digit scoring in six out of seven games against the Philadelphia 76ers, including a 27-point performance in which he shot 9-of-13 from the field and 9-of-10 from the line. The LSU alum followed this by reaching double-figure scoring in all four of the Celtics' final games against the Miami Heat, shooting 56.3 percent from the field in the process.

Could the Celtics have their 4 of the future? They might. Time to give this young man a new contract.

Once he stops committing unnecessary fouls, of course.

Grade: B

Kevin Garnett

Postseason Averages: 20 GP, 19.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 49.7 FG%

"Phenomenal" doesn't even begin to describe Kevin Garnett's level of play in the 2012 NBA playoffs.

On a nightly basis, Kevin Garnett was one of the two most dominant players on the floor. From his picture-perfect mid-range jump shot to his unstoppable interior scoring and all the way down to his impenetrable interior defense, KG was on his game. I think the "Big Ticket" may have punched his ticket to receive a major deal.

The 17-year veteran shot 50 percent from the floor and ranked second to teammate Rajon Rondo for postseason double-doubles, tallying 13 in his 20 games. KG also reached double-figure scoring in 19 out of 20 games, topping 20 points in 10 of those appearances.

How could anyone think this man has nothing left?

Grade: A+

Avery Bradley

Postseason Averages: 10 GP, 6.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 36.8 FG%, 22.7 3PT%

It's hard to decide which is worse. Is it Bradley's 13-point drop on his shooting percentage from the field, 18-point drop on his three-point shooting rate or the fact that he only played in 10 games before leaving the postseason with a shoulder injury?

I'll go with all of the above.

While I'd love to give Bradley a failing grade, it should be noted how important he was in the Celtics' series victory over the Atlanta Hawks. His energy and athleticism was key to handling the Hawks' high-octane offense, and his 14 points, three steals and three blocks in Game 2 was pivotal to the Celtics overcoming Rajon Rondo's absence.

Grade: D+

Mickael Pietrus

Postseason Averages: 20 GP, 19.7 MPG, 3.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 32.9 FG%

Mickael Pietrus may have been horrendous as a shooter, but his defensive pressure was top notch. The Boston Celtics would not have made it to Game 7 without him.

Pietrus played LeBron James as well as any man possibly could, getting under his skin early and often. His physicality, as well as the surprising spring in his legs, was just what the Celtics needed on the perimeter, which was exactly why Doc Rivers kept him in late-game situations.

When Pietrus did find his stroke, though, he was lethal from distance. Very solid performance from the nine-year veteran.

Grade: C+

Keyon Dooling

Season Averages: 20 GP, 10.8 MPG, 2.9 PPG, 44.7% FG, 40.7 3PT%

You simply can't put a number value on energy and effort. In this case, however, you can put a letter on it. That's why Keyon Dooling will have a higher grade than most players on this roster.

Dooling was huge throughout the Celtics' series with the Heat, including a Game 4 in which he put up 10 points on three three-pointers. He also made countless stops on the defensive end of the floor, created turnovers at every turn and lifted the effort level by 100 percent.

He may not be a stat sheet stuffer, but Keyon Dooling was pivotal to the Celtics' run.

Grade: A

Marquis Daniels

Postseason Averages: 15 GP, 6.1 MPG, 2.0 PPG, 57.9 FG%

If Keyon Dooling brought the energy, Marquis Daniels brought the haymakers. Nine huge points in Game 4, as well as an influential effort in Game 5, will make any coach feel strongly about your contributions.

Daniels is another guy who didn't find much playing time, but did more than enough to contribute when he did. A solid grade for a very solid performer.

Grade: B+

Greg Stiemsma

Postseason Averages: 19 GP, 7.5 MPG, 1.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 66.7 FG%

After becoming one of the most important Celtics towards the end of the season, I was one of the many who expected rookie Greg Stiemsma to see some serious court time. That dream never came to be, as Stiemsma averaged just 7.5 minutes per game.

In the time that the Wisconsin graduate was on the floor, he played solid and intelligent basketball. Although the stat sheet won't show much, Stiemsma was a strong interior defender with Kevin Garnett resting.

Let's just hope that he sees more of the court next time around.

Grade: C+

Ryan Hollins

Postseason Averages: 17 GP, 10.0 MPG, 1.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 42.3 FG%

Ryan Hollins may not have contributed much from a statistical standpoint, but don't underestimate the value of big bodies. Hollins was key to the Celtics being able to rest Kevin Garnett and overcoming Brandon Bass' consistent foul trouble.

An important piece of the puzzle, indeed.

Grade: C

Sasha Pavlovic

Postseason Averages: 10 GP, 4.4 MPG, 0.8 PPG, 33.3 FG%, 20.0 3PT

Sasha Pavlovic hardly saw the floor during the 2012 NBA playoffs, and when he did, he wasn't very efficient. Then again, what would you expect from a guy who only saw the floor during garbage time?

Apologies, Sasha Pavlovic.

Grade: F

E'Twaun Moore

Postseason Averages: 8 GP, 2.5 MPG, 0.6 PPG, 25.0 FG%

Quite possibly the most important name on this list is rookie E'Twaun Moore, who received valuable, albeit small, minutes for his progression. Moore displayed a high level of energy and remained in attack mode for every second he spent on the floor.

While his contributions were not grand, his progression should be significantly aided by his appearances.

Grade: C

Sean Williams

Postseason Averages: 2 GP, 3.0 MPG, 0.5 RPG

Sean Williams may have the talent, but a lack of playing time will lead to nothing positive. Another garbage time player.

Grade: C

Doc Rivers

Postseason Head Coaching Record: 62-53, 1 NBA Championship

If you want a coach who will get the most out of his players, regardless of what we believe their ceiling to be, Doc Rivers will do it. In fact, Doc Rivers will do just about anything that falls in or just outside of the realm of possibility.

One cannot praise Rivers enough for what he's done this season, turning a team that was under .500 as the All-Star break approached into a legitimate NBA title contender. Rivers brought the best out of Kevin Garnett and finally found a way to coach Rajon Rondo into scoring the basketball. He also brought along Brandon Bass in a way that Stan Van Gundy, a great coach in his own right, could not.

This was a phenomenal year for the Boston Celtics as a team and franchise. All of the thank-you letters can be sent directly to Doc Rivers, who may have had his greatest performance to date.

Here's to you, Doc.

Grade: A+