The Clutch Debate
Recently there has been a lot of talk about Clutch specifically directed towards Kobe Bryant, the (thought to be) "clutchest" player in the league. I have debated with people who say there is something called clutch, and people who deny it and say it’s just the best player having the ball. I do believe in clutch (I've typed that so many times that now when I think about it how cool is that word. Clutch) Specifically, I believe Kobe is the clutchest player in the league simply because he has something no one else has. The Unguardables. That's what I call them, they are those 4-7 jumpers that Kobe takes, usually with around 7 minutes left in the fourth, to either get his team back in, or to put them up front.
This is how I describe these shots 1. He is being played with tight man to man defense on the wing usually around the wings. 2. The shot looks like an awful decision and its completely forced. 3. You know it’s going to happen (the only time I thought it was going to happen and didn't was game 7 Boston in 08 and game 7 in Boston 2010) you just have to sit there and watch. Even if these shots aren't measured as clutch by 82 games, and even if they’re not in the last two minutes make no mistake these shots are clutch. These shots usually come when his team needs it the most. For example, in game 6 against the nuggets in 2009 the shots came with 5 minutes to go in the first half. After the game George Karl sighed and said: "No. 24 had a great five minutes at the end of the (first half) that no one in basketball could have covered him. He made about four shots in that stretch that I think Jesus would have had trouble covering. And those took the game from a manageable game to 13 (points)."
The one thing worrying me is that Kobe either can't or doesn't want to take those shots anymore. In game 7 I was watching waiting for The Unguardables but they never came. He then proceeded to brick four in a row and decided to stop going 1on 1. At the time there were only two logical explanations. Either Kobe was off the mark or Paul Pierce SHUT HIM DOWN. Paul Pierce shutting him down made the most sense but still didn't work out well.
Kobe hadn't been playing against lock down defenders much in the playoffs. The Complete list: Sefelosha (an athletic good defender) Durant (a "getting there" defender) Wesley Mathews (above average but still young) Grant Hill (good defender not great but I would put him on the opponents best player). No one there really played “MY GOD THAT MAN IS GOOD” defense and Paul was by far the best defender he faced in the playoffs. (Ray Allen also did a good job on him) So is he simply not able to do it anymore? Or, does he just not want to (tired, knees hurt, saving himself). Let me explain, in the Lakers loss on Friday these where his shots, starting from the two minute mark.
This is how I describe these shots 1. He is being played with tight man to man defense on the wing usually around the wings. 2. The shot looks like an awful decision and its completely forced. 3. You know it’s going to happen (the only time I thought it was going to happen and didn't was game 7 Boston in 08 and game 7 in Boston 2010) you just have to sit there and watch. Even if these shots aren't measured as clutch by 82 games, and even if they’re not in the last two minutes make no mistake these shots are clutch. These shots usually come when his team needs it the most. For example, in game 6 against the nuggets in 2009 the shots came with 5 minutes to go in the first half. After the game George Karl sighed and said: "No. 24 had a great five minutes at the end of the (first half) that no one in basketball could have covered him. He made about four shots in that stretch that I think Jesus would have had trouble covering. And those took the game from a manageable game to 13 (points)."
The one thing worrying me is that Kobe either can't or doesn't want to take those shots anymore. In game 7 I was watching waiting for The Unguardables but they never came. He then proceeded to brick four in a row and decided to stop going 1on 1. At the time there were only two logical explanations. Either Kobe was off the mark or Paul Pierce SHUT HIM DOWN. Paul Pierce shutting him down made the most sense but still didn't work out well.
Kobe hadn't been playing against lock down defenders much in the playoffs. The Complete list: Sefelosha (an athletic good defender) Durant (a "getting there" defender) Wesley Mathews (above average but still young) Grant Hill (good defender not great but I would put him on the opponents best player). No one there really played “MY GOD THAT MAN IS GOOD” defense and Paul was by far the best defender he faced in the playoffs. (Ray Allen also did a good job on him) So is he simply not able to do it anymore? Or, does he just not want to (tired, knees hurt, saving himself). Let me explain, in the Lakers loss on Friday these where his shots, starting from the two minute mark.
1:53 misses a hard 10 footer not his usual clutch shot but it's still one he likes.
1:13 misses a three pointer. Really Kobe a 3 in clutch your trying to pad your clutch stars here. your shotting 31% from behind the ark and when your team needs you your going to go and jack up a three.
:49 seconds left 8 foot pull up jumper now there down 5
:32 seconds left Kobe makes two freebies
:20 Kobe chucks another three
:8 and another
:2 and another one
That’s four out of seven. FOUR OUT OF HIS SEVEN LAST SHOTS WHERE THREES. Yes I understand the last two were desperation heaves but the first two weren't and 2/5 is still awful shot selection, especially for someone who isn’t great from downtown and has such a good post game and shooting touch. So does Kobe simply no longer want to take these shots? Is he worn out? Another possibility is that defenses are so focused on him he can't do anything. When the Lakers outscored the Rockets by eight last night in OT they did it by playing offKobe. When they gave Kobe the ball they struggled in the end of the fourth, but when they played off of him they did great. When the playoffs roll around maybe we will find our answer. However we still no there is something as clutch because all we have to do is look at Robert Horry. Someone who is not a great shooter, not a great scorer, but whenever anyone needed him in the clutch the man was money. That is what Clutch is. Look at Chauncey Billups, he was the third leading scorer on the 04 Pistons yet he always delivered in the last five minutes of a close one. Do you know why? Because the man is clutch. Kobe might not be clutch now but the man is one of the all time greatest players in the end of the game. If you want more proof remember last season. He alone had six game winners, if that's not clutch nothing is.
People claim we don't remember his misses. Do we remember his makes? Does anyone remember this Lakers victory 108-107. That shot looks impossible to make especially with one of the top defenders in the league right in his face, but Kobe made that and he wouldn't normally. That is what clutch is stepping up to the plate and making shots you wouldn't normally. Kobe is clutch.
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