Kansas Basketball: Paul Pierce Other Former Jayhawks Impact 2011 NBA Playoffs

As a Kansas Jayhawks fan, right now feels pretty depressing.

If you're anything like me, you've been through at least three stages of grief surrounding the VCU loss.

First came the denial, the thought that what we saw in the Elite Eight never actually happened and we would soon be squaring off against Butler in the Final Four.

Shortly after that came the anger stage followed by the bargaining stage when all of us thought, "Ok, if we get back the Morris twins and keep Josh Selby, everything will be just fine and we'll get over this."

That didn't pan out either.

According to the Kubler-Ross model of dealing with a loss, a depression stage comes next. I think I'm already there.

However, all hope is not lost. If you're a Jayhawks fan, you may be too heartbroken to watch a basketball game for several months, but I think I may have the solution.

There are several former Jayhawks playing in this year's NBA playoffs and some of them play major roles for their teams. The uniform may be different, but let us rally behind our former Jayhawks heroes and cheer them on for the upcoming months.

Paul Pierce

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CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 07: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics earns a technical foul for yelling at referee Mark Ayotte #56 during a game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on April 7, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknow

Paul Pierce is the most successful former Jayhawks player in the NBA since Wilt Chamberlain.

If last night was of any indication of the rest of the series, Pierce has still got it. 

Pierce scored 18 points for the Boston Celtics in their 87-85 victory over the New York Knicks. He hit big shots in the fourth quarter, played tight defense on Carmelo Anthony (which resulted in a crucial Carmelo offensive foul) and made the game winning assist to Ray Allen.

Pierce plays a major role for the Celtics and could carry them to another deep postseason run.

Kirk Hinrich

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ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 16: Kirk Hinrich #6 of the Atlanta Hawks scores against the Orlando Magic during Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2011 at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User e

Kirk Hinrich has a different look in the NBA with his trendy rec-specs, but he still has flashes of the old Hinrich and plays for another team called the Hawks.

Hinrich is the starting point guard for the Atlanta Hawks and plays around 30 minutes a game. In their Game 1 victory over the Orlando Magic, Hinrich gave the Hawks solid production with 13 points and a ridiculous +21 margin in the time he was on the floor.

The Hawks were hoping that Hinrich would give them the playoff boost that Mike Bibby no longer could. So far, they have been right.

The Hawks are an enjoyable team to watch and it feels good to see their management side with a former Kansas Jayhawk at point guard over a man like Mike Bibby, who ruined all of our lives in 1997.

Darrell Arthur

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MEMPHIS, TN - NOVEMBER 20: Coach Lionel Hollins of the Memphis Grizzlies talks with Darrell Arthur #00 during a game against the Miami Heat at FedExForum on November 20, 2010 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies won 97-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly a

Darrell Arthur has become more muscular since the last time we saw him in the 2008 National Championship game. He gives his Memphis Grizzlies team a similar boost off the bench that he did for the Jayhawks.

Arthur only had five points against the Spurs in Game 1, but considering how Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol abused the Spurs frontline, Arthur should have his moments in future games.

He's scored over 20 against the Spurs before, and is the first option off the bench when Randolph or Gasol get into foul trouble.

Mario Chalmers

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MIAMI, FL - MARCH 06: Mario Chalmers #15 of the Miami Heat chases down a loose ball during a game against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena on March 6, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downlo

There is a lot to hate about the Miami Heat. For Kansas Jayhawks fans, Mario Chalmers is not one of them.

Chalmers is not the starting point guard any more for the Heat now that they have Mike Bibby, but Chalmers still gets around 20 minutes a game and provides Miami with a solid three-point threat.

An Eastern Conference Finals rematch between Mario Chalmers and Derrick Rose would not have the same feel as 2008, but it'd be hard not to cheer if Chalmers hits a game-winning three-point shot like he did for the Jayhawks three years ago.

Brandon Rush

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 19: Brandon Rush #25 of the Indiana Pacers tries to keep the ball from Monta Ellis #8 and David Lee #8 of the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on January 19, 2011 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowled

The Indiana Pacers have moved Brandon Rush to the bench, but he should have chances to shine in this first-round series against the shaky shooting guard situation of the Chicago Bulls.

Rush scored seven points in only 17 minutes of play for the Pacers in Game 1. He hit both of his three-point shot attempts and with the starter, Paul George, only chipping in two points, the Pacers may swap the two players, giving all of us more opportunity to watch Rush.

Nick Collison

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 17: Nick Collison #4 of the Oklahoma City Thunder fights for a rebound against Kenyon Martin #4 and Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2011 at

Nick Collison does not have nearly the same dominant role that he had for the Jayhawks in 2002 and 2003, but he plays a very important role for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

If you watch the Thunder play, Collison does not take more than a couple shot attempts per game, but he does all the little things like setting hard screens, boxing out (most of the time) and making the extra pass to an open teammate.

He comes off the bench, but stays on the floor for about 25 minutes a night. You won't see him go for a 30-point, 20-rebound game any time soon, but seeing him play a big part for an exciting Midwestern team should get all of us excited about the playoffs.

They also have Cole Aldrich on the bench. He doesn't play, but it gives us another reason to cheer for the Thunder.

Optimistic Outlook

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SAN ANTONIO - APRIL 07: Mario Chalmers #15 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts along with teammate Russell Robinson #3 after the Jayhawks defeat the Memphis Tigers by a score of 75-68 in overtime during the 2008 NCAA Men's National Championship game at the Ala

It may be several more years before we see the Kansas Jayhawks win another NCAA Championship, but there is a very high percentage chance that we could see a former Jayhawks player win this year's NBA Finals.

Of the top four seeds in each conference, the Jayhawks have a player on the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder. We also have players on underdogs like the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks who both won their first games.

The only former Jayhawks player to lose over the opening weekend was Brandon Rush, and even his No. 8 seed Indiana Pacers nearly knocked off the top-seeded Chicago Bulls.

With six of the 16 teams represented, there's definitely still something to cheer about for even the most heartbroken of Jayhawks fans.