Most Clutch Players

[RonnieBrewer (Reverse Layup)]

Most Clutch Players
By  Israel Gutierrez
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Apr 1, 2007, 04:00 

Is there such thing as clutch?

The word that is tossed around so frivolously implies that a player can
enhance his level of play when the game is on the line.

It might just be that the great players are able to maintain their level of
play come crunch time, making it appear they're raising their level of play
at the right time. Or it might actually be that while everybody else on the
floor is on the verge of collapsing under the pressure of the big moment, the
clutch players are able to keep their cool and perform as if it were no
special occasion.

So is there such a thing as clutch?

Really, it depends on your definition. But in the NBA, there are plenty of
dramatic, "clutch" situations, creating plenty of opportunities for players
to prove they fit any definition of the term.

So by position, the All-Clutch Team in the NBA goes like this:

Point guard: Chauncey Billups

The Pistons point guard already gets the edge because of his catchy Mr. Big
Shot nickname that came about three seasons ago. But it's not just his
willingness to take the big shots that makes Billups the ideal point guard in
this situation; it's his ability to get off the shot with relative ease
regardless of the quality of defense being played.

That comes from Billups having such a strong base that regardless of when he
takes the shot, and from what position, he has enough strength in his legs to
make it a comfortable shot. And as long as his form up top stays true, the
shot has a very good chnce at going in.

Plus, Billups has been in so many of these situations, he has talked himself
into believing that every late shot he takes will go in.

Second team: Sam Cassell. If this were two years ago, Cassell might hold the
title, but his age has caught up with him. Still, if he's healthy, he's
taking and making many big ones.

Honorable mentions: Gilbert Arenas, Steve Nash, Mike Bibby and Jason Kidd


Shooting guard: Kobe Bryant

Similar to Billups, what makes Bryant so effective in late game situations is
his ability to make almost any shot a quality shot. But what puts Bryant even
a level above Billups in this position is that even the shots that look bad,
whether it includes some fadeaway action or has two hands contesting it, are
good ones because Bryant is that skilled.

Most of the desperate shots Bryant takes late in games, he could take in the
first three quarters and they would be considered OK options by Bryant and
his teammates.

Bryant has also proved clutchability on the biggest of stages, whether it be
a put-back late in the Finals against the Pacers, a mid-range jumper in the
first round against the Suns or a fadeaway three-pointer to send a critical
regular-season game into overtime against the Trail Blazers.

Second team: Dwyane Wade. The Heat's ailing star has a way of becoming the
game’s best mid-range shooter when it matters most.

Honorable mentions: Ben Gordon, Tracy McGrady, Manu Ginobili, Richard Hamilton


Small forward: Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony proved his value in late moments last season, taking and making
seemingly every big shot the Nuggets had. Anthony's quickness at his position
makes a nightmare to cover in these situations, because just as easily as he
can drive to the basket and either finish or draw a foul, he can also rise up
for a jumper that's deadly anywhere from 20 feet and in.

Having Allen Iverson on his team takes the slightest bit of an edge off
Anthony in this case, because the veteran guard might want to take a handful
of those shots himself rather than give the ball up to Anthony. But this is
based on a player's ability in tough moments, not opportunities.

Second team: Paul Pierce. He has an uncanny ability to find his balance and
make tough shots, especially in big spots.

Honorable mention: Tayshaun Prince


Power forward: Rasheed Wallace

What makes Wallace big in these spots is that he doesn't actually care that
much that it is a big spot. For the same reason that Wallace didn't enjoy
being the main guy in Portland ─ because he didn't care to carry that kind
of responsibility alone ─ is the reason he thrives in these spots. For him,
it's like any other shot, so he doesn't place any extra pressure on himself
to make them.

Plus, Wallace is such a talented and versatile player that his big shot can
come from the post, in the mid-range or deep on the perimeter. Not that many
big men are prepared to defend the three-point line, especially when they're
trained to protect the paint in late situations. But Wallace loves to drift
to the edges and shoot a dagger through his opponent's heart.

And occasionally he'll bank in a 65-footer to send a game to overtime (by
the way, with Billups and Wallace both on this team, is it any wonder why
the Pistons are so good and so confident?)

Second team: Chris Bosh. He's becoming almost as versatile as Wallace, but
still has more spring in his jump to get a good look over defenders.

Honorable mentions: Jermaine O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Udonis Haslem


Center: Mehmet Okur

Not too many teams are going to allow a dominant center to get off a shot
near the basket. It's the first rule of defending in late-game situations:
no layups.

That makes a player like Okur so valuable in these situations. Not only is
he big enough to finish near the rim if the opposition is silly enough to
allow him to get there, but he can hit the long-distance jumper at a healthy
percentage.

After hitting a handful of critical shots this season, Okur is starting to
like that role of big-shot big man. And we all know just how much confidence
matters in spots like these.

Second team: Amare Stoudemire. His combination of freakish athleticism and a
consistent mid-range shot make him a dual threat in big moments.

Honorable mention: Yao Ming


                                http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_21462.shtml 

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) 
◆ From: 219.135.156.200
→ RonnieBrewer: PG: Devin Brown
→ RonnieBrewer: SG: Shandon Anderson
→ RonnieBrewer: SF: Byron Russell
→ RonnieBrewer: PF: Scott Padgett
→ RonnieBrewer:  C: Michael Ruffin
→ yellowboy:大家早點睡 記得起來看比賽
→ RonnieBrewer:反正我不用上場..........
推 luche:大家一定要熬夜守護爵士 免得起不來
→ sam369:熬夜也會讓男生下面起不來阿
→ TimChiu:brown is a sf..
→ ammon:他在黃蜂有打PG
→ sam369:
推 TimChiu:@_@
推 luche:勸大家不要再睡覺了 看完太陽曬昏小牛 再看爵士打爛火箭
推 gratitude:healthy FG%