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Hardwood Paroxysm Presents: Our Fantasy Playoff Matchups

By HP Basketball Network

Feb 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (88) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (88) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) moves the ball against Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) moves the ball against Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Lillard vs. Paul: Trail Blazers vs. Clippers

By Daniel Leroux (@DannyLeroux) — Mid-Level Exceptional

Damian Lillard’s playoff performance last season brought him a new level of fame with good reason: his swagger, immense talent and flair for the dramatic make him special even at a position chock-full of quality players.

Chris Paul has been the best Point Guard in the NBA for a vast majority of the last decade and could end his career as one of the best players in league history to never win a Most Valuable Player award. Some may point to his lack of playoff success but I see someone who never had all of the pieces in the right place to get close to a championship. Regardless of how you feel about CP3, he has made a career out of making opposing Point Guards miserable and ratchets that up a few notches in the playoffs. As someone who covered last season’s Warriors/Clippers seven game series, Chris Paul’s play proved to be the difference as he frequently made Stephen Curry work substantially harder for worse results while forcing an uncreative coach to try to concoct new ways to win.

During these playoffs, Chris Paul will turn 30 and with his injury history none of us can know how long he can stay close to his prime. Basketball fans have already experienced CP3 duel with Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker and Mike Conley in recent seasons. Lillard stands as the last Western Conference Point Guard for Paul to battle and the series would also feature quality players all over the floor from LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin trying to establish themselves as the best Power Forward in the conference to the cavalcade of fun swingmen including recent addition and LA native Arron Afflalo.

NBA fans deserve to see Lillard vs. Paul and there is no time like the present.

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