Boston Celtics: Top 5 most underappreciated seasons in team history

CLEVELAND - MAY 11: Paul Pierce #42 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with Tony Allen #42 while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 11, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. Boston won the game 120-88 to take a 3-2 series lead. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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5. Tony Allen — 2009–2010 season

With a glance of the 2009–2010 Celtics, it can be easy for one to be surprised to see that this team somehow made an NBA Finals appearance. The team finished with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference and the renowned Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were gradually moving away from their prime days.

The role players on the team deserve much credit for stepping up over the season, such as with Tony Allen. In his sixth season with the Celtics, Allen was not much of a force on offense like many of his bench counterparts. He played in 54 games while averaging a then career-low 6.1 points per game and 1.3 assists per game.

However, the defensive end is where Allen provided much of his impact, especially over the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference Playoffs, Allen was met with two of the toughest matchups of his career: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Head coach Doc Rivers did not place Allen as the primary on-ball defender against these two future Hall of Famers. But when Rivers rolled him out on the floor, Allen often had the responsibility of tracking both players while also applying immediate on-ball pressure.

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Allen went on to have his most memorable duel of his career over the 2010 NBA Finals against Kobe Bryant. While Kobe ended up winning Finals MVP for the series, it did not come easy against Allen.

Kobe later called Allen the best defender that he had ever faced.

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