Final grades

The Celtics 2012-2013 team photo.

With the end of the season comes the final grades for each member of the Celtics.

Let's not waste any time. Here are the grades:

PLAYERS:

Kevin Garnett (A-) The Big Ticket -- you ever notice no one calls him that anymore? -- turned in another solid season. Given the circumstances -- a 36-year-old in his 18th season who has logged nearly 48,000 minutes in the regular season -- his season was great. He averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and shot 49.6% in 68 games. Garnett battled through a variety of ailments towards the end of the season, but that didn't stop him from performing. He turned in a double-double in each of the last five games of the first round series against the Knicks. He was (and still is) the league playoff leader in rebounding, pulling down 13.7 boards a game. KG even garnered a fifth-place vote for the MVP. Again, the numbers aren't off the charts, but considering the context, Garnett was phenomenal.

Paul Pierce (B) Even in his 15th season, Pierce proved he is still the Celtics' best all-around player. The Truth finished the regular season averaging 18.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game and shot 43.6%. He turned in his highest rebounding and assists numbers since the 2005-2006 season, and the spike on these numbers was a result of an increased workload after Rajon Rondo went down for the year. After a prolonged slump during the doldrums of winter, Pierce finished the regular season on a high note, scoring 17.8 points on 48% shooting over his final 22 games. Pierce also suffered his share of minor maladies towards the end of the season, from a pinched nerve in his neck to a nagging left elbow injury. Pierce's playoff performance was pedestrian at best. He had at least 5 turnovers in each game of the series, shot 37% from the field and 27% from three-point land. There were times throughout the year where Pierce showed his age, but more often than not, he showed why he is still the best player the C's have.

Rajon Rondo (B+) You know what's fascinating about Rondo's season? When he went down on January 25 in Atlanta, Rondo turned in his league-leading fifth triple-double. At season's end, he still led the league in triple-doubles. He also led the league in assists (11.1) when he went down, and by the end of the year he was still on top -- no one else even finished in double-digits. Here's what we do know: the Celtics are not a better team without Rondo. That was proven in the playoffs. Here's what we don't know: can the Celtics build around him, and how is he going to bounce back after ACL surgery?

Brandon Bass (C+) After a breakout 2011-2012, Bass settled down a bit this year. His minutes were in flux, as he was in and out of the starting lineup all year, and Jared Sullinger got some of his minutes. However, when the team needed him most, Bass stepped up. With Sullinger hurt, Garnett battling injuries and Chris Wilcox's inconsistencies, Bass answered the bell. Bass did whatever the Celtics needed him to do on a given night. He would rebound, score, defend, anything. Doc Rivers called Bass the MVP of Game 4 against the Knicks for his defense on Carmelo Anthony. He earned Rivers's trust after defending LeBron James pretty well during last year's Eastern Conference Finals. I give him a C+ because of a.) how poorly he started the season, and b.) the expectations on him coming into this year.

Jason Terry (C) Honest to goodness, I was never able to make up my mind on Terry. At times I loved him, at times I couldn't stand him. Terry was average, inconsistent, mediocre, whatever adjective you'd like. He had his ups and downs. When I first heard of the Terry signing, I wasn't opposed to it. It's impossible to replace Ray Allen, but signing an NBA champion and former Sixth Man of the Year isn't that bad of an option. To his credit, he did not have a defined role until the latter part of the season. Throughout his career, he has thrived in the sixth man role, and he never got to do that until the end of the season and the playoffs. Terry kept telling everybody that he was a big game player, and although it took him a while, he backed up the talk. His 9 overtime points kept the series alive in a Game 4 victory over the Knicks. Take away his pitiful Game 1, and he had himself a great series. Terry acknowledged after Game 6 that he hopes to get back to that sixth man role, and he wants it to be set in stone. Terry, soon to be 36, can still play, but let's hope he can regain his old form.

Jeff Green (B+) Jeff Green's improvement -- in his health and in his game -- was the most encouraging sign of the season. Green is not an All-Star yet, but he proved as the season went along that he is not that far from being one. He has another level, something he and Rivers have acknowledged. Hell, even Kevin Garnett said Green will go down as one of the best of all time. Yeah, he said that. I was Green's biggest critic all season because he is just so talented, and it appears that at times he wastes it. At times he'll show flashes of greatness, then at times he'll look completely lost. When Green is engaged and in attack mode, he is nearly unstoppable. He put up 43 points against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. He guarded the opposing team's best player nearly every night (from Carmelo Anthony to Kevin Durant). From February 1 to the end of the playoffs, Green averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and shot 48.2%. Likewise with Rondo, there's one thing we need to find out about Green: can the Celtics build around him?

Courtney Lee (C) Lee came into this season with high expectations. In four seasons with Houston, New Jersey and Houston, Lee was a career 10.1 points per game scorer, shot 40% from beyond the arc and was a good defender. Needless to say, Lee didn't live up to expectations. He got off to a horrible start. He was lost on defense and couldn't throw the ball in the ocean if he were standing on the beach. But it wasn't because of a lack of effort. Lee fell out of Doc's rotation during the playoffs, but the C's could have used a defender to stay in front of Raymond Felton. Look for Danny Ainge to shop Lee during the offseason, but his age -- he'll turn 28 in October -- and team-friendly contract will likely keep Lee in the mix for next season.

Avery Bradley (B) During the first two months of the season, Bradley was deemed the savior. It was all about Bradley coming back, and then we will be able to judge this team. Bradley's return put Terry back in his usual role and Lee back on the bench. For the first month, he was the savior. His defense was dynamite and his jump shot continued to improve. When Rondo went down, Bradley's responsibilities increased, and his game went south. He was severely exposed during the playoffs for his lack of ball-handling skills. During the fourth quarter of Game 6, we saw the real Avery Bradley, a guy who can wreak havoc on defense and capitalize in transition. For the first time in his NBA career, Bradley will have a full, healthy offseason. He will get a full training camp as well. With Rondo alongside him next year, expect Bradley to return to form.

Jared Sullinger (A-) I would have given Sullinger an A+ if it weren't for his foul troubles throughout the season. Sully proved to be a steal as the 21st pick in last year's draft. He was arguably the team's best rebounder. He took charges and did the little things. And, he can score. No wonder why this kid was an two-time All-American at Ohio State. The C's, along with every other NBA team, knew the risk with picking Sullinger: his back. After having surgery in February, let's hope the back isn't an issue anymore. Because when Sullinger is on the floor, he can make a big impact.

Chris Wilcox (D) Wilcox played well for most of 2011-2012 before having to undergo heart surgery. As Wilcox regained his stamina this season, he started playing well. Then, his game basically fell off a cliff. His defense was a train-wreck, and we all know that if you can't play defense for Doc Rivers, you're probably not going to play. He did flourish with Rondo because he was a big guy that Rondo could run with in the open floor. He had some bright spots, but he fell out of favor with Rivers as the season went along. Don't expect to see him around next season.

Jordan Crawford (D+) Crawford was brought in to be a scorer. He did that at times. Most of the time, he did nothing. Except for jawing with Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton after Game 5 in New York, a game in which Crawford didn't even see the court. He's young and immature. He had his issues with Washington, but Rivers and company were willing to look past them and see how he was first-hand. He's not a defender. He's not a point guard. He's a scorer. He did that to an extent, but he just didn't fit in my opinion. But what do I know.

Fab Melo (Incomplete) Melo played in 5 games this season. He went back and forth from the D-League to the big club all year long. Melo is raw and needs a lot of work, but he has potential.

Shavlik Randolph (B-) In 16 games played, Randolph did a nice job with the C's. He was this year's Greg Stiemsma...almost. Randolph was a rebounding machine, averaging 12.2 rebounds per 36 minutes. He did what you would want a backup center to do: block shots, grab boards and clog up the paint on the defensive end. He moved ahead of Chris Wilcox in the rotation, and deservedly so. I hope the Celtics hang on to Randolph. Bring him into training camp, see what he can do over a full season, and I don't think anyone will be disappointed.

D.J. White (Incomplete) White only saw 86 minutes in 24 regular season games. That isn't enough to garner a grade.

Terrence Williams (C+) Williams played well during his stint with the Celtics, but it took him a while to get on Doc's good list. When asked after Game 5 when he started to trust Williams, Rivers responded, "During the game." Williams is athletic, can handle the ball and can rebound. He's big for a point guard; he's 6'6''. Rivers viewed him during the season as a point guard because he excelled in that role. His defense is questionable, and his offense needs to improve. Overall, he's not a bad guy to have around next season.

COACHING:

(B+) Over the past few seasons, Rivers has been widely regarded as the best coach in the league, and rightfully so. He has earned that distinction. He's a players' coach who protects his guys but will hold them accountable. I think the one knock on Doc for this season was his inability to get these guys to buy in. He tried reaching them, but it was to no avail. It took him a while -- let's face it, it took a major injury -- for this team to come together. But hey, at least something did it. When everyone decided to listen and quit the "hero basketball," the Celtics turned it around. Rivers had a difficult time of finding a rotation for the playoffs with all the injuries and the late additions to this team (the three players from China and the Jordan Crawford trade), so I'll cut him some slack on that. Resting his veterans -- and the minute restriction plans -- did pay off, as Garnett, Pierce and Terry were able to play big minutes and perform in the playoffs. Bottom line: Rivers did a very good job this season.

MANAGEMENT:

(B) I sound like a broken record, but it's true: Danny Ainge and company did a great job over the offseason of reloading this team. The Celtics brass re-signed Garnett and Bass, signed Terry and Barbosa, traded for Lee and drafted Sullinger and Melo. Many felt the C's were the Heat's only competition in the Eastern Conference. However, injuries and inconsistencies shook any plans of title contention. At the trade deadline, Ainge tried to trade Garnett and Pierce but felt he wasn't getting enough in return. He acquired a scorer -- albeit one with character issues -- for an offensive spark off the bench. With all the cap restrictions and what not, Ainge did all he could. Now comes the real test, and where Ainge will make his money: this offseason. What will he do? Who knows. I doubt Ainge even knows.