The Torch has now been Passed / Durant / Best Closer?

[moiso]

Lebron is by far the best player in the league right now.  The one I would pick second is Howard.  Kobe is still the best closer- the scariest with the game on the line- but I would rank Durant better overall.

[nickagneta]

I hate the guy. I hate the Laker. I hate the person, I think he's a scumbag. But he's still the best closer in the game and one of the two best players in the game.

LeBron took that title three years ago for me in the ECF, and hasn't given it up since.

Kobe can be well defended and forced to take bad shots by just one player now. LeBron requires at least 2, usually 3 to keep him away from the rim. Now that his jump shooting is respectable he's the best.

Durant still has to prove it in more than one playoff game.

Tell that to the six or seven teams Kobe beat with last second shots this year including these Celtics. LeBron had the chance to beat the C's with a last second shot this year, he missed. Kobe had that same chance and beat the C's.

Respect your opinion, but in my book, that best closer is still Kobe.

[Fafnir]

I hate the guy. I hate the Laker. I hate the person, I think he's a scumbag. But he's still the best closer in the game and one of the two best players in the game.

LeBron took that title three years ago for me in the ECF, and hasn't given it up since.

Kobe can be well defended and forced to take bad shots by just one player now. LeBron requires at least 2, usually 3 to keep him away from the rim. Now that his jump shooting is respectable he's the best.

Durant still has to prove it in more than one playoff game.

Tell that to the six or seven teams Kobe beat with last second shots this year including these Celtics. LeBron had the chance to beat the C's with a last second shot this year, he missed. Kobe had that same chance and beat the C's.

Respect your opinion, but in my book, that best closer is still Kobe.

Kobe had a good year of making difficult jump shots in the clutch. LeBron can get those same shots, as well as dunks/layups in those situations. To me a closer isn't the guy you want for a jump shot with 5 seconds left. A closer takes the game over with 2 minutes left and wins it for his team. No one is better than LeBron at that.

I'll have to dig up the studies but overall I know Kobe doesn't shoot a good percentage in late game situations. Its in the 30% range, he just made quite a few this year.

I just had a random though Nick, the Celtics a pick 4 slots higher because Kobe hit that shot over Ray Allen. If we end up with another Rondo home run I might have to send him a gift basket....

Of course you could say the same thing about the Nets.....

[moiso]

I hate the guy. I hate the Laker. I hate the person, I think he's a scumbag. But he's still the best closer in the game and one of the two best players in the game.

LeBron took that title three years ago for me in the ECF, and hasn't given it up since.

Kobe can be well defended and forced to take bad shots by just one player now. LeBron requires at least 2, usually 3 to keep him away from the rim. Now that his jump shooting is respectable he's the best.

Durant still has to prove it in more than one playoff game.

Tell that to the six or seven teams Kobe beat with last second shots this year including these Celtics. LeBron had the chance to beat the C's with a last second shot this year, he missed. Kobe had that same chance and beat the C's.

Respect your opinion, but in my book, that best closer is still Kobe.

Kobe had a good year of making difficult jump shots in the clutch. LeBron can get those same shots, as well as dunks/layups in those situations. To me a closer isn't the guy you want for a jump shot with 5 seconds left. A closer takes the game over with 2 minutes left and wins it for his team. No one is better than LeBron at that.

I'll have to dig up the studies but overall I know Kobe doesn't shoot a good percentage in late game situations. Its in the 30% range, he just made quite a few this year.

This year it seemed like 100% in the final seconds.  He had a record number of last second game winners- 6 or 7 I believe.

[Fafnir]

This year it seemed like 100% in the final seconds.  He had a record number of last second game winners- 6 or 7 I believe.

Yeah I think ESPN said it was a record. If you want a last second jump shot to win Kobe is your guy this year. I've just seen LeBron just blow apart teams in the fourth way too often in the last few years. Just getting to the rim at will....

[muddy02]

I hate the guy. I hate the Laker. I hate the person, I think he's a scumbag. But he's still the best closer in the game and one of the two best players in the game.

LeBron took that title three years ago for me in the ECF, and hasn't given it up since.

Kobe can be well defended and forced to take bad shots by just one player now. LeBron requires at least 2, usually 3 to keep him away from the rim. Now that his jump shooting is respectable he's the best.

Durant still has to prove it in more than one playoff game.

Tell that to the six or seven teams Kobe beat with last second shots this year including these Celtics. LeBron had the chance to beat the C's with a last second shot this year, he missed. Kobe had that same chance and beat the C's.

Respect your opinion, but in my book, that best closer is still Kobe.

Kobe had a good year of making difficult jump shots in the clutch. LeBron can get those same shots, as well as dunks/layups in those situations. To me a closer isn't the guy you want for a jump shot with 5 seconds left. A closer takes the game over with 2 minutes left and wins it for his team. No one is better than LeBron at that.

I'll have to dig up the studies but overall I know Kobe doesn't shoot a good percentage in late game situations. Its in the 30% range, he just made quite a few this year.

I just had a random though Nick, the Celtics a pick 4 slots higher because Kobe hit that shot over Ray Allen. If we end up with another Rondo home run I might have to send him a gift basket....

Of course you could say the same thing about the Nets.....

Are you saying the nickname "The Closer" was a media (TNT) fabrication!?!!

[moiso]

This year it seemed like 100% in the final seconds.  He had a record number of last second game winners- 6 or 7 I believe.

Yeah I think ESPN said it was a record. If you want a last second jump shot to win Kobe is your guy this year. I've just seen LeBron just blow apart teams in the fourth way too often in the last few years. Just getting to the rim at will....

Yeah in the closing minutes I prefer Lebron- he can do whatever he wants, it seems.  It was just a crazy year for Kobe in the closing seconds.  Some luck must have been involved- some of them were bad shots such as fallaway 3's.

[nickagneta]

I hate the guy. I hate the Laker. I hate the person, I think he's a scumbag. But he's still the best closer in the game and one of the two best players in the game.

LeBron took that title three years ago for me in the ECF, and hasn't given it up since.

Kobe can be well defended and forced to take bad shots by just one player now. LeBron requires at least 2, usually 3 to keep him away from the rim. Now that his jump shooting is respectable he's the best.

Durant still has to prove it in more than one playoff game.

Tell that to the six or seven teams Kobe beat with last second shots this year including these Celtics. LeBron had the chance to beat the C's with a last second shot this year, he missed. Kobe had that same chance and beat the C's.

Respect your opinion, but in my book, that best closer is still Kobe.

Kobe had a good year of making difficult jump shots in the clutch. LeBron can get those same shots, as well as dunks/layups in those situations. To me a closer isn't the guy you want for a jump shot with 5 seconds left. A closer takes the game over with 2 minutes left and wins it for his team. No one is better than LeBron at that.

I'll have to dig up the studies but overall I know Kobe doesn't shoot a good percentage in late game situations. Its in the 30% range, he just made quite a few this year.

I just had a random though Nick, the Celtics a pick 4 slots higher because Kobe hit that shot over Ray Allen. If we end up with another Rondo home run I might have to send him a gift basket....

Of course you could say the same thing about the Nets.....

****!! TP4U. Thanks for the early morning drink going up through my nose line Faf. That was hilarious! Sending Kobe a gift basket.....I gotta remember that one.

[BuckeyeCelt]

Durant is a breath of fresh air into the league. A superstar you can actually root for regardless of their team. His humble nature, commitment to a young franchise, Passion on the court and his unbelievable skills should deservedly see him as the face of the League in the coming years.

...what I would do to see him in Green.

TP, agreed...nothing to hate...

[Fafnir]

****!! TP4U. Thanks for the early morning drink going up through my nose line Faf. That was hilarious! Sending Kobe a gift basket.....I gotta remember that one.

I actually just got off my phone and KG has agreed to deliver it, here's a preview:

http://www.youtube.com/v/jeev8dZ0lg0&hl=en_US&fs=1&border

I hope Kobe likes it!

[Greenbean]

Lebron feels stoppable in the 4th quarter. Kobe at times does not.

It has alot to do with the offenses they play in.

Tex Winter's offense = PHD
Mike Brown's = grade school


Edit: Re: Durant. His ceiling lies in his defense. His length and plus athleticism can make him a scottie pippen like stopper if he ever decides to put his mind to it. Yes I really did just say that. He is not as strong as Pip but he is longer and can move his feet just s well. He is only 21. Give him 3 more years and he will be a defensive stopper. I really do think he wants to be that good.

[blackbird]

Durant had a good game - I mean 19 rebounds is ridiculous - but he also shot 8 for 24. I don't really think that qualifies as a torch passing.

[jdpapa3]

82games shows that Lebron scored more and shot a higher % than Kobe in what they define as "clutch situations." And I agree with what they consider to be closing time: under 5 minutes and neither team ahead by 5.

And Dirk is the one you'd want shooting the FT's in a clutch situation: 98% on a ton of attempts.

[Greenbean]

82games shows that Lebron scored more and shot a higher % than Kobe in what they define as "clutch situations." And I agree with what they consider to be closing time: under 5 minutes and neither team ahead by 5.

And Dirk is the one you'd want shooting the FT's in a clutch situation: 98% on a ton of attempts.

TP. Dirk is just a silly shooter all around in the clutch.

Edit: Wow. Durant's numbers stink in the clutch according to 82 games. Im surprised by that. Im thinking that will get better as his career goes on.

[Onslaught]

In fourth quarters, there is no better finisher of a game than Kobe Bryant in this league. That includes LeBron, Wade, Durant and anyone else. When the game is on the line, there isn't any other player in the league I feel more confident in winning that game than Kobe Bryant.

I hate the guy. I hate the Laker. I hate the person, I think he's a scumbag. But he's still the best closer in the game and one of the two best players in the game.

I agree. I fear Kobe more then James.