Hoops Habit
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
2015 NBA Playoffs
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 /

Winner: Chris Paul‘s Playoff Legacy

Remember that time when it was OK to criticize Chris Paul because he had never been to the conference finals before? Well, I don’t care if last night’s Game 7 victory was only in the first round, it mattered. Probably more than anything that could happen from here, to be perfectly honest.

CP3 still needs to win one more series to make it to the conference finals. But last night’s Game 7 performance was one for the record books. He played through the pain of a strained hamstring to the tune of 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including the clutchest go-ahead basket you could imagine over Tim Duncan.

CP3’s playoff legacy was unfair as it was, but in the biggest game of his career, he came up big despite playing on a bum hamstring. I don’t care what was wrong with the Spurs on the other end; that was the biggest game of his career and he delivered. Even if his Clippers get swept in the next round, can we agree that these stupid narratives about his playoff ineptitude are badly misguided?

Loser: Spurs Fans

Look, I live with a San Antonio Spurs fan. I know better than most the pain of losing in the first round after bringing home a championship in 2014. But guess what, Spurs fans? You got beat by a better team.

From here, the future is a series of question marks. Kawhi Leonard is about to make bank on his new contract extension, but where do Duncan, Ginobili and Danny Green fit in? Will they accept lesser deals so the Spurs have a hope of signing LaMarcus Aldridge? It remains to be seen.

The Spurs have nothing to be ashamed of. They lost to a superior team in the first round and they have five championships to their name. But it’s still worth wondering whether this was the last game we’ve ever seen Tim Duncan play. There’s not shame in five championships in 18 years, but you have to feel for Spurs fans hoping this would be the year that San Antonio finally repeats.

Next: Bulls vs. Bucks