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2015 NBA Playoffs: Winners And Losers Of The First Round

By Gerald Bourguet

May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) hug after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) hug after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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2015 NBA Playoffs
Apr 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Corey Brewer (33) warms up before game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Rockets won 111 to 99. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Josh Smith And Ex-Mavericks

One of the biggest reasons I was completely fine with what the Houston Rockets’ Twitter account sent this out after Game 5 was before the series, Mark Cuban called his opponent “trash.” You know, an opponent that had Jason Terry and Corey Brewer, two players who helped bring him a championship back in 2011.

So when it was the unlikeliest of heroes that decimated the imploding Dallas Mavericks, I was also fine with it. Josh Smith’s resurgence was good to see, but it was also hilarious, if only because everyone thought that midseason addition would backfire far sooner than anyone figured the Rajon Rondo acquisition would.

But there was just something special about watching Jason Terry and Corey Brewer put a shellacking on the Mavs in the first round after their former owner called them trash. I love owners like Cubes, because they’re good for basketball. But yeah, maybe don’t give your former players bulletin board material when your own team was trash ever since you made a bad trade.

Loser: Rajon Rondo and Mark Cuban

We’ve already covered why Cubes was a loser in this series, but it goes deeper than that. His attempt to give Dirk Nowitzki one last playoff run failed miserably. At the start of the season, the Mavs had the league’s most potent offense and it wasn’t close. But then Cuban tried to be the hero, went for the home run with the Rondo trade and struck out in the end.

Not only was Rondo hurting the team, but he was hurting the team so badly both parties agreed to fake a back injury just so they wouldn’t have to deal with the distraction of explaining how toxic that relationship had become in the middle of a playoff series. That’s really, really, REALLY bad.

It’s bad for Cuban and the Mavs, and it’s unfortunate for Dirk Nowitzki, whose best days are clearly behind him. But it’s even worse for Rondo since he’ll be a free agent this summer. How much money will his poor shooting and reputation as a locker room cancer cost him this summer? My guess would be quite a lot.

Next: Cavaliers vs. Celtics