Anybody ever check out 82games.com's "clutch" stats? They keep track of what every player in the NBA does during clutch situations (defined as 4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points), then project that over 48 minutes to see how a player's clutch time performance compares to their overall performance. Here's the link for the season thus far:
http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTMA few things jump out at me:
1) LeBron has been performing at an insane level during crunch time (even considering the small sample size): 87.1 points on 67% FG shooting, 17.4 boards per 48 minutes in 5 games. His assist-to-turnover ratio is through the floor (4.4 assists vs. 8.7 TOs), though, suggesting he's forcing it.
2) Melo is still one of the most clutch players in the NBA. They did a study a few years ago and he was hitting by-far more game-winning buzzer beaters than any other player. This year he is averaging 68 points per 48 minutes of crunchtime, on 61% FG shooting, spread across 9 games.
3) Most importantly, the Celtics have three RIDICULOUS options in crunch time. And they are playing their roles to the T.
Paul Pierce: the initiator. Pierce is averaging 45 points (48% FG, 50% 3-ptrs) and 11 assists per 48 in clutch time across 10 games. Combine that with the fact that only 36% of his points are assisted and he is averaging 5.5 TOs along with the 11 assists and it is clear that Pierce is the one with the ball in his hands, making things happen on offense in the clutch.
Ray Allen: the finisher. Allen is averaging 33 points per 48 on 53% shooting from the field and 50% from 3-point range (on almost 11 attempts/48) in the clutch. 75% of his points are assisted and he's not doing much in any other category, but he is clearly the long-range marksman that finishes the shots on offense.
Kevin Garnett: the finisher part 2 on offense, the Mantis on defense. For all of the guff that Garnett gets about being "clutch", he has been absurd in crunch time thus far this season. On offense, he is shooting 69% from the field on his way to averaging 26 points/48 minutes in clutch situations. 100% of his points were assisted, showing that Garnett is purely being used as a finisher on offense. KG has been even more dominating on the defensive end, averaging 20 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per 48 in the clutch.
Bottom line: The team knows itself extremely well at this point, they know their roles, and they are producing at extremely high levels when it gets down to the wire. Considering how many of their games end in blowouts, if they can continue to perform at this level when games ARE close then things look pretty good this year...
Topic: Clutch Celtics (Read 1056 times)