Playoff Revelations: Jose Calderon

Playoff Revelations honors playoff players without big names, but who are having a big impact in the postseason.

I was afraid the Raptors would be mauled this evening by the Nets, because that would've made the timing of this post a little awkward. But the Raptors were able to cling to their lead and earn a victory, due in large part to backup point guard Jose Calderon.

I like TJ Ford, too, but when he left the game after Vince Carter sat on his head, the Raptors didn't lose much ... no disrespect to Ford (and given his history, obviously, everyone hopes he's fine), but I think the Raptors are a slightly better team with Calderon in.

He's the type of point guard who constantly puts pressure on a defense. You turn your head for half a second, and he's using his phenomenal quickness to get to the rim and lay it in. He's just always looking for the best possible way to attack the defense ... he not only scores, he dissects. His assist/turnover ratio is 4th in the league, and his jumpshot's been deadly this year, too. And on top of all this, he's got a pretty big pair of cebollas. If he's starting, I think he'll be one of the league's better point guards over the next 6-7 years.

He had 25 in the Raptors Game 5 win, brining them back to within a game of New Jersey as the series heads back to Jersey. Calderon did roll his ankle in the game, and the extent of the injury isn't known ... if he's able to go Friday night, and TJ Ford is not, it would not be the worst thing in the world for the Raptors.