Boston Celtics' Midterm Report Card: What Is Paul Pierce's Grade This Season?
The Boston Celtics are atop the Eastern Conference as the season is nearly halfway over. Their 27-7 start through 34 games this season is two games better than last season, despite numerous injuries and lineup changes that the team has had to endure to this point.
Yet, injuries have also been positive for the C's, allowing bench players like Nate Robinson, Glen Davis, and Daniels to play more minutes and gain experience before the playoffs.
In his years with Boston, Doc Rivers has been an advocate in depth and developing the bench, which is precisely what the circumstances have allowed for.
The Celtics have been playing sound basketball as they approach the midway point of the season. Sweeping the hyped up Miami Heat, beating the NBA best San Antonio Spurs, and winning 14 games straight in December was not a bad way to start.
With the second half of the season left to play, health and bench production will continue to be the emphasis for Rivers and company.
Here are the letter grades that each Celtic has earned so far and why.
Ray Allen: B+
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Before the loss to Orlando that snapped the C's 14 game win streak, Allen was somewhat lost in the mix. It was as if that game knocked some sense into the veteran.
Since the Christmas game, Allen has been on a tear, shooting above .500 in all six games and scoring a team high 31 points in the win against San Antonio last night. His 31 points came on a 13-16 shooting night, which came on clean mid-range looks.
He will get an A when he makes a conscious effort to utilize this part of his game more. His bread and butter is the way he moves without the ball: His ability to come off screens and take quick jumpers off of clean looks.
Look for Allen to get going and start to help more offensively with the absence of Garnett for the next few weeks.
Delonte West: N/A
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Just for laughs, I thought West had to be mentioned.
The Celtics brought in West and have found themselves without him for the majority of the season. The former Celtic has only played in five games this season for the team.
Although, not to be mistaken, he is crucial piece to the Celtics playoff run.
As Eddie House and Sam Cassell were, and Nate Robinson is now, West will be a crucial player to the team nearing the season’s end and playoff time in the guard rotation. His veteran leadership at the point guard is precisely what Rivers wants to back up Rondo.
Look for Robinson to back up Allen at the shooting guard position and Daniels to see limited minutes come playoff time.
Photo by Associated Press
Nate Robinson: B+
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Secretly of course, Nate couldn’t be any more pleased that Delonte West is still out with a lingering wrist injury.
Last year, Robinson’s playoff play was crucial in the Celtics’ run at a potential 18th banner, especially in the conference finals.
During Rondo’s absence, Robinson played heavy minutes, three times putting in over 40. He is streaky and at times inconsistent, but has been all that Rivers wants from him.
Since Rondo's return, Robinson’s 15-20 minutes a game have been vital in giving the C's a boost in the second and third quarters of games. With the second half of the season coming up, expect Rivers to give Robinson more time to keep Rondo fresh and in good health for the playoffs.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis: B+
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This was a tough call to say the least.
Losing Garnett to injury, no Perkins, and having Erden and both Jermaine and Shaquille O’Neal in and out of the lineup is a lot to deal with. In that sense, Davis has been exceptional, logging on a heavy burden of minutes and creating opportunities on the offensive end.
His quick feet and defensive skill set have proven positive as well.
As you can see to your left, Davis takes one for the team on a regular basis, leading the league in offensive fouls drawn. Taking into account his height, one might even say he’s one of the more efficient big men in the league off the bench.
For that I say a B+ instead of a B.
Yet even still, he is inconsistent. The last two games he has had three rebounds total, but three games ago he had 11. His shooting percentage is almost always below .500, and he has taken at least 14 shots the last six games.
That can be a problem. Overall, well done Big Baby.
Shaquille O'Neal: B+
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Whats there not to love about the guy?
Whether its constant tweeting or conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra in Symphony Hall, he's been quite the character both on and off the court for the C's.The acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal has had both its lovers as well as doubters when the move was made early August.
Approaching the first half of the season, it has proven to be a positive transaction, as O’Neal has made good use of his minutes on the floor. He has averaged 10 points, 5.2 rebounds, and a block per game. What makes these marks all the more impressive is that O’Neal does it while playing a mere 21 minutes per game.
With Kendrick Perkins yet to play this season and Jermaine O’Neal in and out of the lineup with injuries, Shaquille has proven to be a great asset.
Rivers brought him in for matchups against the league's more dominant interior forces, like Orlando’s Dwight Howard, who he held to a 1-4 shooting performance in route to six points.There is a good chance his play on Howard will be a key factor in their playoff run this season.
So far, I don’t think Rivers could be any more pleased with the big fella.
Semih Erden: D
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If one is to look at potential, there’s a plethora when it comes to Erden. The 6'11", 240 pound forward from Turkey is only 24 but has plenty to learn.
At times he looks lost out there and never seems to find a rhythm, even when he gets solid minutes. One game earlier this season he managed to get 41 minutes, where he was only able to get 10 points and 7 rebounds against a soft Bobcats team on the interior.
To Erden’s credit, he is the sixth choice out of the six players in the front court rotation, which can’t help his cause.
Paul Pierce: A
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“The Truth” is in his thirteenth year in the league and with the Celtics, showing no sign of pumping the brakes.
Pierce has been getting the job done and more, keeping the Celtics atop the eastern conference this season. To make matters more impressive, despite the media’s emphasis on the “aging” big three, his numbers have actually gone up.
Since last season, his rebounds have gone up from 4.3 to 5.3 a contest and his points are up to 19 a game. Pierce’s accuracy from the field has improved as well, upping his shooting percentage to over 50 and shooting 87 percent from the line, both career highs.
Another reason why he gets the A, in the absence of Rondo and Garnett, Pierce has been red hot. He has scored over 30 points twice in his last five games and is averaging 23.7 a game this month.
Pierce will only get better as the season progresses, as he continues to be the main offensive threat for the C's, especially down the stretch of games.
Jermaine O'Neal: C+
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I know its tough Jermaine, don't be too upset.
Those glory days in Indiana of sheer dominance in the past look farther and farther away for the veteran all-star.
In his first season with the C's, his performance has been hard to evaluate, considering he has suited up for 14 games and started five of them.
O’Neal is a body that Rivers has used and will continue to use, especially with Shaquille picking fouls in a hurry. He’s also a 15-year veteran who once was a superstar in this league, so his experience can only help down the stretch, even if it’s in spurts of playing time.
In 21 minutes a contest this month, he’s averaging five points and 4.7 rebounds, numbers that Rivers can live with. To his credit, last season in Miami he was given over 28 minutes a game, where he was able to do a lot more with his time on the court.
His numbers haven’t been the most spectacular, but he has played important minutes on an injury filled C's team. Look for his minutes to go down just a tad with Perkins returning soon and Big Baby stepping up his play.
Kevin Garnett: A
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Garnett is arguably having his best season as a Celtic, and there’s no secret as to why.
Since winning the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and leading the Celtics to their 17th championship in the 2007-08 season, his health has been the issue. Since his knee injury just over a season ago, Garnett has looked as healthy as he has since his last years in Minnesota.
In 30 games this season, he has put up his best numbers since his first season with the C's.
On the glass, Garnett has been active to say the least. His rebounds are up to 9.5 a game, a mark that puts him at 10th in the league this season, and 2.2 better than his average a season ago. Of the 9.5 boards a contest, 8.2 have come on the defensive end, a mark that stands at fourth in the league.
Active hands have been significant in the team’s dominance as well, as his steals are also up to 1.70 a game, a mark that ties for the highest average of his career. The commitment to defense and the “extra bounce” in his step since his recovery have been vital in the Celtics maintaining the number one defense in the NBA.
Despite being sidelined recently with a muscle injury to the calf area, MRI results came out negative, negating any possibility that the injury had to do with the surgically repaired knee. Danny Ainge says he will return in “a couple of weeks,” more than likely before the team’s road trip in late January.
Marquis Daniels: B
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Daniels is a player that Rivers seems to have a thing for, as he has played in all 34 games this season.
He is putting up 5.5 points per game, shoots 48 percent from the field, and averages almost a steal a game, despite playing just over 19 minutes a game.
What makes Daniels such a key player in the C's playoff run this season is not his numbers, but his defensive play.
On a team that prides itself on its play on the defensive end, Daniels is a work-horse. He isn’t an offensive threat like Robinson or Rondo, but it isn’t necessary on a team with the Big Three taking care of most of the scoring load.
In the second half of the season, look for Daniel’s minutes to go up in an effort to preserve Rondo for the playoffs and give the C's defensive sparks off the bench.
There’s a reason Rivers has kept him around and continues to give him minutes.
Rajon Rondo: A
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As you can see, he's getting the love, and he deserves every bit of it.
Figured I’d finish this one off with a bang.
Arguably the best Celtic this season and top point guard in the league, Rondo’s play has been off the charts. Last night’s game against the NBA best San Antonio Spurs summed it up best.
Rondo and company pulled out the win, led by Rondo’s triple double of 12 points, 22 assists, and 10 rebounds despite the absence of Garnett in the interior. His 22 assists are his second highest total this season, not to mention he added six steals and a blocked shot to the mix.
Despite injury, he's back and evidently hasn't lost a step.
Since his injury, he has left doubters dumbfounded. In three games back, Rondo has averaged 7.3 points, 15.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds a contest.
His 14.0 assists per game lead the league, with Steve Nash’s 10.5 a distant second. If Rondo is to hold on, it would rank third in NBA history for a single-season average, passing Isaiah Thomas’ 13.9 and trailing John Stockton’s 14.2 and 14.5 marks in the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons.
If the C's wish to continue their recent success and stay atop the east, Rondo's health is vital.
