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

[blake]

I don't know that I want Kobe anymore.  Scott Brooks and Durant showed last night that you can put length on him and Kobe doesn't have the quick step anymore to get around him.  So Kobe was stuck in jacking up 3s.  Also of note was that Kobe didn't go to the free throw line in the game.  Not very clutch at all.

That being said, every time the Thunder made a big shot during the game Kobe would calmly dribble the ball downcourt and jack up a 3...swish.  That would happen before we were done celebrating the bucket on the other end.  He has an amazing way of taking a crowd out of a game.

[Hoops]

Wait, you ever wanted Kobe in the first place?

[Roy Hobbs]

In terms of the best "closer", for the third year in a row Lebron James led the NBA in scoring in the "clutch", i.e., down the stretch in close games.  He scored, rebounded, and assisted more than Kobe, and shot a higher percentage:

2010 stats: http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM

2009 stats: http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

2008 stats: http://82games.com/CSORT11.HTM

2008 "Super Clutch" stats: http://82games.com/SCSORT11.HTM

Also, the last time 82games.com looked at game-winning shots, Lebron led Kobe both in terms of number and percentage:

http://82games.com/gamewinningshots.htm

In other words, "Kobe as the ultimate closer" may be more perception than reality.

[ACF]

In all fairness (you know I hate the guy, too) Kobe's finger looks (and probably feels) terrible. And that's not an excuse, it's an explanation.

[blake]

Wait, you ever wanted Kobe in the first place?

Sorry I should have added a sentence before that one.

If you would have asked me 4 years ago if I wanted Kobe or Lebron I would have chosen Kobe.  I don't know that I want Kobe anymore.

[nickagneta]

In terms of the best "closer", for the third year in a row Lebron James led the NBA in scoring in the "clutch", i.e., down the stretch in close games.  He scored, rebounded, and assisted more than Kobe, and shot a higher percentage:

2010 stats: http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM

2009 stats: http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

2008 stats: http://82games.com/CSORT11.HTM

2008 "Super Clutch" stats: http://82games.com/SCSORT11.HTM

Also, the last time 82games.com looked at game-winning shots, Lebron led Kobe both in terms of number and percentage:

http://82games.com/gamewinningshots.htm

In other words, "Kobe as the ultimate closer" may be more perception than reality.

Data sample
Regular Seasons: '03-04, '04-05, '05-06, '06-07, '07-08, '08-09 (thru 2/4)
Playoffs: '03-04, '04-05, '05-06, '06-07, '07-08

Roy, that last second shot data is dated. It's missing last year's playoffs, the last 2 1/2 months of the 2008-09 regular season and this whole year's regular season, a season in which Kobe had at least 6 or 7 game winning shots. Given he's only 3 shots behind LeBron in that category, I would guess he could well be leading that category right now.

[Roy Hobbs]

In terms of the best "closer", for the third year in a row Lebron James led the NBA in scoring in the "clutch", i.e., down the stretch in close games.  He scored, rebounded, and assisted more than Kobe, and shot a higher percentage:

2010 stats: http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM

2009 stats: http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

2008 stats: http://82games.com/CSORT11.HTM

2008 "Super Clutch" stats: http://82games.com/SCSORT11.HTM

Also, the last time 82games.com looked at game-winning shots, Lebron led Kobe both in terms of number and percentage:

http://82games.com/gamewinningshots.htm

In other words, "Kobe as the ultimate closer" may be more perception than reality.

Data sample
Regular Seasons: '03-04, '04-05, '05-06, '06-07, '07-08, '08-09 (thru 2/4)
Playoffs: '03-04, '04-05, '05-06, '06-07, '07-08

Roy, that last second shot data is dated. It's missing last year's playoffs, the last 2 1/2 months of the 2008-09 regular season and this whole year's regular season, a season in which Kobe had at least 6 or 7 game winning shots. Given he's only 3 shots behind LeBron in that category, I would guess he could well be leading that category right now.

Regardless, though, let's say Kobe has surpassed Lebron slightly in game winners.  Since Lebron leads Kobe in points, rebounds, assists, and FG% in close games (for each of the past three seasons), and is (whatever way you slice it) very close to Kobe in game winners, isn't it fair to say that Lebron is a better closer?

Last time 82games.com compiled the data, Lebron was a better overall fourth quarter scorer than Kobe, as well, in case people think the "clutch" aspect skews things.

[Fafnir]

Plus lets throw out offense. Who would you rather be the defender in a key situation, or go up for a rebound your team had to have? Kobe, or LeBron?

[Who]

LeBron James has my vote for the best closer in the game.

I think Dirk Nowitzki and Brandon Roy would be my #2 and #3 respectively.

From there, things get unclear ... Ginobili, Wade, Carmelo, Durant, Granger, Nash, Kobe, Deron, Paul and Dwight Howard (defense/rebounding rather than scoring) in some order.