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2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 10: Routine Warriors Dominance, Raptors Got The Powell And Happy Trails, Trail Blazers

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) and center Jakob Poeltl (42) celebrate a basket during the fourth quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 118-93. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) and center Jakob Poeltl (42) celebrate a basket during the fourth quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 118-93. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Playoffs
Apr 24, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jose Calderon (13) reacts after making a basket against the Washington Wizards in the second quarter in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

More Like Jose Scalderon, Amirite?

Like we mentioned with Norman Powell, the best part of the postseason is when unheralded, unappreciated bench players step up and swing a playoff series. In a 2017 postseason that’s included big-time performances from Gerald Green, Joe Johnson, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee, we can now add Jose Calderon to the list.

When the Wizards went up 2-0 over the Atlanta Hawks in their first round playoff series, it felt like an inevitable sweep. Even when the Hawks decisively took Game 3 at home, a John Wall takeover and bounce-back Game 4 win seemed like a logical expectation for Washington.

But then Calderon entered the game and defied all logic.

His numbers weren’t anything special, with the 35-year-old backup putting up 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. But in his 20 minutes off the bench, he was an unstoppable +29 for the Hawks, who watched a nine-point deficit when Calderon first entered the game metamorphose into a six-point lead when he finally got a breather 11 minutes later.

In the fourth quarter, his tip-in on a fast break extended Atlanta’s lead to eight with just over nine minutes remaining, helping the Hawks brace for Washington’s final comeback attempts.

Considering Atlanta got Calderon off of waivers because the Warriors released him the same day they signed him, that’s a pretty cost-effective playoff X-factor.