NBA: The All-Surprise First And Second Team Of The NBA Playoffs

Joe Johnson, Utah Jazz, SF (First Team)

Iso Joe has been bathing in the fountain of youth since the regular season ended. He has doubled his scoring average from the regular season (9.2 to 18.2) and a lot of that has to do with taking advantage of his opportunity.

This isn’t Joe’s first rodeo. His savvy veteran experience has allowed him to play almost 32 minutes of smart, clutch basketball that the Jazz desperately need.

When you’re on an island with Iso Joe with seconds left, you might as well pack your bags and get ready for the next game. He left his defender, the Clippers crowd, and Steve Ballmer looking like their puppy just died.

Here is another dagger from the cold-blooded Iso Joe from Game 1. Having a closer that you can go to when your team needs a bucket is crucial, and Joe Johnson brings that to this multidimensional Utah Jazz team.

Thon Maker, Milwaukee Bucks, PF (First Team)

The average fan would never be able to tell this kid is playing in his first NBA postseason. Out of nowhere Thon Maker played meaningful minutes, and contributed in big chunks to the young Bucks’ success. During the regular season, Maker averaged only four points and two rebounds in a very limited role, only seeing the court for an average of 9.9 minutes per game.

This postseason, he was given an opportunity to show he belongs.

Through the six games that he played, Maker averaged roughly 20 minutes per game and was relied on heavily for rim-protection and paint scoring. He logged six points, three, rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the playoffs.

His 7-foot-4 wingspan was causing problems all over the floor for the Raptors, forcing DeMar DeRozan, the team’s rim-attacker, into acrobatic shots in the late.

Nene, Houston Rockets, C (First Team)

Nene, being one of the big advantages for the Rockets against the Thunder, was actually quite surprising. He is in his 15th year in the NBA and a traditional back to the basket, strong bruiser down low on a team that set the record for most three-pointers attempted since Naismith created the sport.

He can’t find a single F to give. During the short series against the Thunder, Nene averaged nearly 14 points and seven boards per game while shooting an extremely efficient 85 percent from the field. In Game 4, however, he was an extraterrestrial being.

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In that throwback performance, Nene shot a perfect 12-12 from the floor, while pouring in 28 points and securing 10 rebounds. On a night when James Harden was arguably at his worst, Nene stepped up.