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Hardwood Paroxysm presents: 2015 NBA playoffs – Did that really just happen?

By HP Basketball Network

May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) makes the game-winning shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) in the fourth quarter in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs 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 guard Chris Paul (3) makes the game-winning shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) in the fourth quarter in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) makes the game-winning shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) in the fourth quarter in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs 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 guard Chris Paul (3) makes the game-winning shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) in the fourth quarter in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

We’ve had some incredible moments thus far in the NBA playoffs, some of which border on unbelievable. Seriously, if someone had told you, at the beginning of the year, that Austin Rivers would start TWO playoff games, you would have died laughing, right? And yet, that exact thing happened. Now, Hardwood Paroxysm brings you our most unbelievable moments of the 2015 NBA playoffs.

Apr 27, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) goes to the basket against Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) in game five of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. The Bucks won 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) goes to the basket against Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) in game five of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. The Bucks won 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

WOW.

by Corbin Smith (@corbinasmith) — Podium Game

I can’t believe Kris Middelton got his hand chopped off. In a contract year for him, a real shame. I can believe Mike Dunleavy got away with it, though.

May 4, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) walks off the court after a 99-92 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) walks off the court after a 99-92 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Derrick Rose is Derrick Rose

by Ian Levy (@HickoryHigh) — Hardwood Paroxysm

I had grown accustomed to things a certain way. By “things,” I mean Derrick Rose. He had been gone for so long I just, sort of, forgot. I mean, he’s been around, physically. He’s played in games over the past three seasons. Not as many as he’d like or as we planned on. But he’s still been in and around the NBA. But not in the way I remembered. Not in the way he was when he was MVP and leaping over anything in his path.

I never really thought I’d see that Derrick Rose again because, I honestly forgot he existed. I long since reconciled that injuries would rob him of some of that specialness. He showed up and was thoroughly drab and ordinary (when he was physically able to show up), so it all felt frictionless and comfortable. Depressing, but with nothing to really present an intellectual challenge. The slope was smoothly downward.

I never thought I’d see Derrick Rose in control of a playoff game again. Not the way he has been this year. Maybe with the seeds of veteran savvy he’d plant in his garden of discontent. But not physical control. Not by blowing past people, doing a circus act at the rim, stepping into smooth pull-ups or moving faster than the speed of defensive thought. I never thought I’d see him sow fear again, shake the faith of perimeter defenders in their own abilities or in the laws of physics. I never thought he’d be back on that tier, where just being on the floor could change the air pressure in an arena. Specifically getting thick around the necks of an opponent.

I’m glad he’s back.

Next: Otto Porter Becomes Otto-Matic

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