Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – From Chris Paul’s game-winner in Game 7 of the first round to a variety of acrobatic dunks from Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan through two postseason series that went seven games apiece, the Clippers provided plenty of memorable moments and plays.
Here are the top five Clippers’ plays of the 2015 NBA Playoffs.
5) Griffin spins and elevates
As excruciating an ending it was to Game 6 against the Rockets, it took a huge run from the end of the second quarter through the beginning of the third quarter to put the Clippers in the driver’s seat. Blake Griffin played a role with plays such as this one, making Trevor Ariza pay for reaching in by spinning and throwing it down with one hand.
4) Jordan’s lob caps a win
The story of Game 4 against the Rockets was all about DeAndre Jordan, and not entirely because of the fouling. He finished with 26 points and 17 rebounds, responding to a heavy dose of first half hack-a-DJ by going 5-for-5 from the field in the third quarter. A series of three straight dunks by Jordan to get the Clippers’ lead to 23 midway through the third quarter felt like the dagger in the victory.
3) Griffin’s Euro-step slam
With 25.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game in the playoffs, Griffin had plenty of games where he showcased all his skills. Here, he showed off his ability to handle the ball by leading the break in transition. When Boris Diaw gets in front of him near the rim, Griffin pulls off the Euro step to slam dunk combination, finishing off with one hand and leaving Diaw wondering where he went.
2) Griffin throws it down on Baynes
Game 1 against the Spurs featured a handful of jaw-dropping Griffin dunks, with Aron Baynes the victim on more than one occasion. This may have been the best of that handful of jams, as Chris Paul whips a one-handed pass around Diaw to Griffin, who knows exactly how he wants to finish.
1) ) Paul sends the Clippers To Round 2 (05/02 Play 2)
When thinking back to the best moment of the 2015 NBA Playoffs, there’s no doubt which game, and which play in particular, comes to mind. It was amazing Paul was even playing after aggravating and re-aggravating his hamstring during Game 7 against the Spurs. That he was able to 9-for-13 with 27 points, sending the Clippers past the Spurs with a floater over Danny Green and Tim Duncan, made the dramatic ending to one of the best first-round series ever even more memorable.