Clutch vs. Not Clutch

[Moranis]

34 points, 14 rebounds with 6 fourth quarter points (all foul shots, btw) = Clutch

30 points, 13 rebounds with 9 fourth quarter points = Not Clutch


Those are the lines from Kevin Durant last night and Lebron James from game 5.  Durant is being praised every where far and wide about how clutch he is and he takes over and James is getting killed for failing to show up when it matters.  I just don't get it.  The hate and nonsense Lebron gets is absolutely ridiculous.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Well, scoring in the 4th quarter doesn't equal clutch. Where was James in the final 5 or so minutes? And more importantly in the closing seconds of each game with a chance to win or tie it?

That said, I don't know why Durant is being praised for being clutch last night, I wouldn't call it that. But he was a huge factor in getting back into the game. Still the fact remains that he has a proven himself as a clutch player numerous times, particularly in closing minutes and final seconds of the game.

LeBron James has kept failing in these instances. Though I hate James, I think his critics are being completely unfair with him, but fact still remains that under these circumstances he has kept failing.

[Brendan]

I agree... to an extent. Anyone who thinks Lebron is a "choker" is probably wrong. I just don't think we know how to quantify that, and qualifying it requires psychic.

On the other hand:

1. Lebron has clearly NOT taken his game to the next level. His foot work is not great, his outside shooting is mediocre, and his foul shooting is closer feels more like Rondo's than Pierce's. These are all workable areas - in fact these are all things Pierce has gotten much better at over his career.

2. Lebron says things that are stupid: "worldwide brand", the decision, "gave us a chance". He betrays a lack of caring about his craft, supported by number one, that says: I accept my physical gifts make me great, and feel no need to improve further. It's like big baby staying fat, but much worse.

3. He does keep losing important games. Fairly or (in my opinion) unfairly he will be held accountable for those losses, because he is the best player on his team. Just like Pierce was blamed for never delivering, until he did. The difference is that Lebron has talented side kicks in Wade and Bosh, and so his excuses are weak. (He cannot really say "bad chemistry" - he chose this team and destiny, he cannot really say bad coaching (never a good look), and he is the guy who is supposed to create.)

Lebron is a great player and I think good enough and young enough that he will win a title - and when that happens, he will be seen as a top 10 guy, and maybe even on the all time starting five, but for now, people love to see greatness fail and watch hubris in action as much as they love to see immortality through success, maybe more.

[Moranis]

Well, scoring in the 4th quarter doesn't equal clutch. Where was James in the final 5 or so minutes? And more importantly in the closing seconds of each game with a chance to win or tie it?

Game 5 under 5 minutes
defensive rebound - 3:30
Layup blocked by KG - 3:18
missed 3 pt - 1:13
Layup made - 0:09

Game 4 under 5 minutes
enters game - 3:38
layup blocked by KG - 3:13
1 of 2 foul line - 2:56
missed 3 pt - 1:32
3 pt made - 0:37 (to tie)
forced offensive foul on KG - 0:21

Not exactly terrible. 


How about the Thunder game 5 under 5 for Durant
missed 2 pt - 4:46
def. reb - 2:30
2 of 2 foul shots - 0:00 (game out of reach)

[Brendan]

Also clutch as a last part of the game is probably a stupid stat - it's more clutch to crush the other team's spirit and chance of winning with a stomping, than it is to let the game stay close.

Clutch should be more about "big game" play, than about "last minute shots".

[jgod213]

Yeah i think the whole LeBron "no clutch gene" thing gets a little blown out of proportion, but he does himself no favors by settling for 3's as evidenced by your shot breakdown there.

As Van Gundy said during game 5, LeBron ought to set up shop on the elbows a lot more than he does.  Maybe he gets goated into playing Paul Pierce ball from the 3-pt line, i dunno, but he doesn't need to settle for long jump shots - especially in the late 4th.

[Celtics4ever]

He was avoiding shots and passing them up in the fourth of last game.   However, LeBron has been argubly the best player on either side of this series and I hate the guy.   Pressure will be on tonight so we shall see....

[CelticG1]

I don't care about Durant lebron was pathetic in the 4th just standing in the corner

[BudweiserCeltic]

Well, scoring in the 4th quarter doesn't equal clutch. Where was James in the final 5 or so minutes? And more importantly in the closing seconds of each game with a chance to win or tie it?

Game 5 under 5 minutes
defensive rebound - 3:30
Layup blocked by KG - 3:18
missed 3 pt - 1:13
Layup made - 0:09

Game 4 under 5 minutes
enters game - 3:38
layup blocked by KG - 3:13
1 of 2 foul line - 2:56
missed 3 pt - 1:32
3 pt made - 0:37 (to tie)
forced offensive foul on KG - 0:21

Not exactly terrible. 


How about the Thunder game 5 under 5 for Durant
missed 2 pt - 4:46
def. reb - 2:30
2 of 2 foul shots - 0:00 (game out of reach)

You can't go about nitpicking, and one game is not representative of the whole.

Have you read this column by any chance?
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/44191/a-better-option-than-a-superstar

At the time it was written, Durant was hitting 62.5% of his shots in under 5 minutes of a close game, LeBron just 37.5%.

But of course, this is a team game. Many times Duran isn't in the picture because it's Westbrook or Harden taking some of the big shots which is completely fine. Same thing with LeBron with Wade. But when his number has been called, he hasn't stepped up consistently. That he did some great things in Game 4, doesn't absolve him from the rest of the body work.

Also, "not exactly terrible" is just not good enough for a superstar like LeBron, I'm sorry. Would you be comfortable with someone at a critical moment of the game who's "not exactly terrible"? No. I want someone who has shown he can get it done with minimal instances of failure.

[Fafnir]

Game 5 under 5 minutes
defensive rebound - 3:30
Layup blocked by KG - 3:18
missed 3 pt - 1:13
Layup made - 0:09

Didn't he drive and dish for two pretty wide open shots too? I know he did at least once right after the Pierce 3.

The worst part of his game 5 performance was his lack of effort getting back that helped Pierce get two ftas.

[Fafnir]

34 points, 14 rebounds with 6 fourth quarter points (all foul shots, btw) = Clutch

30 points, 13 rebounds with 9 fourth quarter points = Not Clutch


Those are the lines from Kevin Durant last night and Lebron James from game 5.  Durant is being praised every where far and wide about how clutch he is and he takes over and James is getting killed for failing to show up when it matters.  I just don't get it.  The hate and nonsense Lebron gets is absolutely ridiculous.

Agreed, its annoying how KD gets elevated as the "anti-LeBron" and if OKC wins he'll be "better". Durant is amazing but team success is about the team.

OKC has a lot more talent 2-15 than the Heat, which is remarkable given how good Wade/Bosh are. The disparity once you get past the top 3 is massive. Haslem/Battier/Chalmers compared to Ibaka? OKC looks to be amazing for a long time....

I really wonder if Durant is going to end up going through some similar polarizing of fans like LeBron/Kobe did later on.

[BudweiserCeltic]

34 points, 14 rebounds with 6 fourth quarter points (all foul shots, btw) = Clutch

30 points, 13 rebounds with 9 fourth quarter points = Not Clutch


Those are the lines from Kevin Durant last night and Lebron James from game 5.  Durant is being praised every where far and wide about how clutch he is and he takes over and James is getting killed for failing to show up when it matters.  I just don't get it.  The hate and nonsense Lebron gets is absolutely ridiculous.

Agreed, its annoying how KD gets elevated as the "anti-LeBron" and if OKC wins he'll be "better". Durant is amazing but team success is about the team.

OKC has a lot more talent 2-15 than the Heat, which is remarkable given how good Wade/Bosh are. The disparity once you get past the top 3 is massive. Haslem/Battier/Chalmers compared to Ibaka? OKC looks to be amazing for a long time....

I really wonder if Durant is going to end up going through some similar polarizing of fans like LeBron/Kobe did later on.

It's hard not to like someone like Durant, so we'll see. But I wouldn't short change Battier and Chalmers, they've constantly hit big shots for Miami, particularly from 3-pointers.

What has been consistent with Miami though, is not really missing shots, but just poor decision making from LeBron and Wade in a consistent basis in critical moments, then missing free-throws at a decent clip does them no favors.

[mctyson]

Durant just happens to be the perfect foil for Lebron in the media, since they are both All NBA players.

The fact is, neither of those players are as clutch as Paul Pierce.

End of story.

[Fafnir]

34 points, 14 rebounds with 6 fourth quarter points (all foul shots, btw) = Clutch

30 points, 13 rebounds with 9 fourth quarter points = Not Clutch


Those are the lines from Kevin Durant last night and Lebron James from game 5.  Durant is being praised every where far and wide about how clutch he is and he takes over and James is getting killed for failing to show up when it matters.  I just don't get it.  The hate and nonsense Lebron gets is absolutely ridiculous.

Agreed, its annoying how KD gets elevated as the "anti-LeBron" and if OKC wins he'll be "better". Durant is amazing but team success is about the team.

OKC has a lot more talent 2-15 than the Heat, which is remarkable given how good Wade/Bosh are. The disparity once you get past the top 3 is massive. Haslem/Battier/Chalmers compared to Ibaka? OKC looks to be amazing for a long time....

I really wonder if Durant is going to end up going through some similar polarizing of fans like LeBron/Kobe did later on.

It's hard not to like someone like Durant, so we'll see. But I wouldn't short change Battier and Chalmers, they've constantly hit big shots for Miami, particularly from 3-pointers.

Chalmers is a very good set shot shooter, he's made himself into a good PG fit for what LeBron/Wade like. But he' still only shooting 34% from 3pt territory. Most of those are really open too.

Battier is only shooting 29% from 3pt territory this post season, with a pretty awful overall scoring efficiency. Battier is really showing his age, okay but no longer a high level role player anymore. He's done about as much as Pietrus this post season.

LBJ has been awesome, but he's getting worn down by the minutes and burden this team places on him in all areas. Wade's below his usual performance combined with the rather weak supporting cast are what's dragging the Heat down. (Especially defensively)

[BudweiserCeltic]

34 points, 14 rebounds with 6 fourth quarter points (all foul shots, btw) = Clutch

30 points, 13 rebounds with 9 fourth quarter points = Not Clutch


Those are the lines from Kevin Durant last night and Lebron James from game 5.  Durant is being praised every where far and wide about how clutch he is and he takes over and James is getting killed for failing to show up when it matters.  I just don't get it.  The hate and nonsense Lebron gets is absolutely ridiculous.

Agreed, its annoying how KD gets elevated as the "anti-LeBron" and if OKC wins he'll be "better". Durant is amazing but team success is about the team.

OKC has a lot more talent 2-15 than the Heat, which is remarkable given how good Wade/Bosh are. The disparity once you get past the top 3 is massive. Haslem/Battier/Chalmers compared to Ibaka? OKC looks to be amazing for a long time....

I really wonder if Durant is going to end up going through some similar polarizing of fans like LeBron/Kobe did later on.

It's hard not to like someone like Durant, so we'll see. But I wouldn't short change Battier and Chalmers, they've constantly hit big shots for Miami, particularly from 3-pointers.

Chalmers is a very good set shot shooter, he's made himself into a good PG fit for what LeBron/Wade like.

Battier is only shooting 29% from 3pt territory this post season, with a pretty awful overall scoring efficiency overall. Battier is really showing his age, okay but no longer a high level role player anymore. He's done about as much as Pietrus this post season.

Oh, I'm not merely speaking of how well they've played this postseason, but talking about the hitting a big shot when they need it, seems like when called upon, these two seem to hit the shot.

And they also have James Jones, who I think is being miss used. He also hits big shots when needed.

What I'm getting at, is that with ball handlers like LeBron and Wade are, they have plenty of players who can space the floor very well, and can usually hit the big shot when needed given LeBron and Wade do their job.