Players More Clutch Than Tim Duncan?

[Thomas82]

What players would you say have been more clutch than Tim Duncan in NBA history, more specifically in the playoffs? The only ones I can see putting ahead of him without too much backlash are Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and possibly Bill Russell.

I'm asking because I saw a list ranking TD as the 10th most clutch player ever, but it was from May 2013. Here it is if you want to look at it:

http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/05/the-25-most-clutch-performers-in-nba-playoff-history/tim-duncan

[Ice009]

Tim's easily top 5 for me, or at worst 5-10 range cause I have't seen players before 1990 play live, but as far as big men go, I'd rate him number 1.

Most of the great big men sucked in the clutch.

[Gagnrath]

Is going to come across as stupid, because he is in my opinion a player wasted a lot of talent being a lazy bum however Robert Horry was amazingly clutch. In some ways I would rate him as being only clutch. I mean Big Shot Bob had s*** for season and career averages much everywhere he was and all right starter or high-quality Reserve had s*** for season and career averages much everywhere he was and alright starter or high quality reserve but get that guy in a big regular season game or the playoffs and all of a sudden look the man decided to play what the hell? Why doesn't you do this the rest of the year?

[Thomas82]

Tim's easily top 5 for me, or at worst 5-10 range cause I have't seen players before 1990 play live, but as far as big men go, I'd rate him number 1.

Most of the great big men sucked in the clutch.

Good post......I have to agree with you.

[Thomas82]

Is going to come across as stupid, because he is in my opinion a player wasted a lot of talent being a lazy bum however Robert Horry was amazingly clutch. In some ways I would rate him as being only clutch. I mean Big Shot Bob had s*** for season and career averages much everywhere he was and all right starter or high-quality Reserve had s*** for season and career averages much everywhere he was and alright starter or high quality reserve but get that guy in a big regular season game or the playoffs and all of a sudden look the man decided to play what the hell? Why doesn't you do this the rest of the year?

I agree with this too. Horry could have been a perennial All-Star if he put in the work.

[Ice009]

Horry, I view more as a SF. I don't consider him a true big man. He's definitely one of the most clutch players ever, though.

The funny thing with him is, I recall someone once asked him if he'd rather be Karl Malone and have no rings or be himself, and he said he'd rather be Karl Malone.

[Brunodf]

Horry, I view more as a SF. I don't consider him a true big man. He's definitely one of the most clutch players ever, though.

The funny thing with him is, I recall someone once asked him if he'd rather be Karl Malone and have no rings or be himself, and he said he'd rather be Karl Malone.
Sometimes people want what they can't have

[spurraider21]

he's had his fair share of super unclutch moments, to be fair. his complete brickfest in game 5 of the 2005 finals (bailed the fuck out by big shot bob)... and missing the baby hook and tip-in against battier in game 7 of 2013. those moments definitely stick out

[duncan2k5]

he's had his fair share of super unclutch moments, to be fair. his complete brickfest in game 5 of the 2005 finals (bailed the fuck out by big shot bob)... and missing the baby hook and tip-in against battier in game 7 of 2013. those moments definitely stick out

2005 definitely doesn't count... Dude was playing hurt, AND he put the Spurs on his back in the second half of the clinching game... Which was definitely a must win for us because we wouldn't have won the next game in Detroit

[SpursforSix]

he's had his fair share of super unclutch moments, to be fair. his complete brickfest in game 5 of the 2005 finals (bailed the fuck out by big shot bob)... and missing the baby hook and tip-in against battier in game 7 of 2013. those moments definitely stick out

Agreed.

Not saying that Duncan wasn't greatness but I think everyone remembers the clutch performances more than the non-clutchs.

He played in 18 straight playoffs (251 games). That's a lot of opportunity.

I don't know that he was disproportionately more "clutch" than any other great player.

[Darius Bieber]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2818167/duncanmiss.gif

[spurraider21]

Agreed.

Not saying that Duncan wasn't greatness but I think everyone remembers the clutch performances more than the non-clutchs.

He played in 18 straight playoffs (251 games). That's a lot of opportunity.

I don't know that he was disproportionately more "clutch" than any other great player.
my take as well.

[cd98]

Kobe hit a lot of clutch shots. I guess you have to define clutch. Tim made a lot of important baskets and defensive plays, but I only remember 1 game winner, 1 tie, and one that should have won the game but for a game clock (game shall not be named). So what is clutch? Play solid all game or best player in the last two minutes, or best player in the last 10 second?

[romad_20]

2005 definitely doesn't count... Dude was playing hurt, AND he put the Spurs on his back in the second half of the clinching game... Which was definitely a must win for us because we wouldn't have won the next game in Detroit

Spurs won in 7. There was no next game in Detroit

[cd98]

Spurs won in 7. There was no next game in Detroit

Yes, someone needs to go back and watch those championship DVDs. We'll have plenty of time come May.

[TheDoctor]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2818167/duncanmiss.gif

This motherfucker :pctoss

[Expert]

2005 definitely doesn't count... Dude was playing hurt, AND he put the Spurs on his back in the second half of the clinching game... Which was definitely a must win for us because we wouldn't have won the next game in Detroit
The Finals always count. Playing is playing.

[Expert]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2818167/duncanmiss.gif
It's amazing that the Spurs lost because Tim had to kill a fucking ant on the floor.

[spurraider21]

2005 definitely doesn't count... Dude was playing hurt, AND he put the Spurs on his back in the second half of the clinching game... Which was definitely a must win for us because we wouldn't have won the next game in Detroit
so 2005 doesnt count except for that game in 2005 where he did good

[bdictjames]

Definitely Robert Horry.

Joe Johnson was pretty clutch too. Paul Pierce. Mehmet Okur. But this is all from Timmy's era.

[spurraider21]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOGsZoEAxUQ

[Arcadian]

Not very many.

He was definitely more clutch than other great players. I'm pretty sure his last-second FG% was among the highest of his generation, and he always elevated his game in the playoffs. When we had Duncan on our team, we always knew the team would look better starting April 15th. Despite his chill personality, he was a fierce competitor who hated to lose.

People will point out 2013 Game 7 (when he was 37 years old and carrying a team), but you don't mention his brilliant performance in Game 6 that WOULD have sealed the championship (and another Finals MVP) barring missed free throws by his teammates and a coaching blunder.

[daslicer]

Duncan is probably the most clutch superstar big man ever. I say probably because I never saw Kareem and Wilt play but I did see Ewing,Olajuwon,Shaq,Mourning,Drob, K.Malone play. Under pressure in the final two minutes of the game Tim came through more times than those guys did. People can bring up him not being clutch in game 5 of the '05 Finals or him missing the lay up against Battier in the '13 finals but outside of those two moments Tim has been pretty clutch.

Some of my favorite moments of Duncan being clutch in the playoffs

In this clip the Spurs are down by 1 against the Lakers in game 2 with 18 seconds left in the game. Duncan hits the game winner. Go to the 1:39:40 to see it
edR06igTBzo

Duncan eliminates the Sonics with this game winner
8LxfOV5B9Ko

Duncan hits the 3 against the Suns to send the game to OT
trdsKp94Io0

The Spurs are only up by 1 against the Thunder in OT with 28 seconds left and Duncan hits a tough shot against Jackson and Westbrook to put the spurs up 3. I"m convinced if Duncan doesn't hit this shot the Spurs lose the game and would have lost the series in a game 7. Go to the 8 minute mark to see it.
yNGkYsMYKhE

[spurraider21]

lol that layup against the sonics as some herculean moment

to be fair, duncan's shot over shaq would have gone down as one of the greatest/most clutch moments in NBA history if fisher didnt do that thing

[spurraider21]

and watching ibaka get away with hacking tim followed by a goaltend on the manu shot still infuriates me

[Walter Donovan]

Ray AllenPERIOD.

[daslicer]

lol that layup against the sonics as some herculean moment

to be fair, duncan's shot over shaq would have gone down as one of the greatest/most clutch moments in NBA history if fisher didnt do that thing

I never said it was herculean just said it was one of my favorite clutch moments from Duncan. Still pretty amazing when you factor in Duncan rolled his good ankle in that game and ended up playing with two bum ankles.

[TheDoctor]

Ray AllenPERIOD.
MEH. Pop was clutchest in those last seconds.

[tholdren]

Some turd will say kawhi

[Ice009]

I think some of you guys are counting the last possession of a game. I was talking about the last 4-5 minutes of a game, which is what I call crunch time. TD is/was usually great on both offense and defense those last 5 minutes of high pressure games.

If we're talking last possession only, I'd probably go with a guard and the list probably changes quite a bit. Early in TD's career (I think around 2002 or 2003), I recall Michael Jordan saying he'd take Kobe first and Tim second for a last second play or shot. He said both can get any shot they want, but you can double and triple a big man and take him out of the play, whereas with a guard, that's much harder to do.

I should also mention, for a last second shot or play among true big men (guys that aren't perimeter based like Horry or Dirk), I'd always take TD ahead of anyone.

[HarlemHeat37]

Clutch in what way? If it's making game winning shots, the list is probably a bunch of players you wouldn't consider..Joe Johnson, Carmelo, Rudy Gay, etc..ironically, players who actually aren't clutch at all in terms of big game performances:lol

In that way, Tim was reliable, but not really memorable IMO..

For me, the concept of clutch being based on big shots is stupid and doesn't make much sense:lol I'd only use that word to describe performances in key games as a whole, not one stretch or shot..Duncan was definitely one of the best of all-time in big games, but you could make a list of 10 players on the same level..

[TDfan2007]

lol that layup against the sonics as some herculean moment

to be fair, duncan's shot over shaq would have gone down as one of the greatest/most clutch moments in NBA history if fisher didnt do that thing

He had just sprained his ankle a few plays before that. He came up big in that entire 4th after playing pretty lousy for most of the game. Pretty clutch imo, even if Manu made that play.

[TDfan2007]

Clutch in what way? If it's making game winning shots, the list is probably a bunch of players you wouldn't consider..Joe Johnson, Carmelo, Rudy Gay, etc..ironically, players who actually aren't clutch at all in terms of big game performances:lol

In that way, Tim was reliable, but not really memorable IMO..

For me, the concept of clutch being based on big shots is stupid and doesn't make much sense:lol I'd only use that word to describe performances in key games as a whole, not one stretch or shot..Duncan was definitely one of the best of all-time in big games, but you could make a list of 10 players on the same level..

Yeah, just defining it by making shots is stupid, and plays to the Kobe fan "closer" narrative. It's about making the right plays, offensively AND defensively (Tim has had several game-winning blocks in his career too). For me it's more about taking over when your team needs you to, and making all of the right plays when the game is in the balance, and the pressure is at its highest.

Tim's 4th quarter performances in the closeout games of the 03 and 05 Finals come to mind. He didn't score a lot, but he made seemingly every play the team needed. He's also traditionally always elevated his play in the playoffs and in elimination games.

[TDfan2007]

Duncan is probably the most clutch superstar big man ever. I say probably because I never saw Kareem and Wilt play but I did see Ewing,Olajuwon,Shaq,Mourning,Drob, K.Malone play. Under pressure in the final two minutes of the game Tim came through more times than those guys did. People can bring up him not being clutch in game 5 of the '05 Finals or him missing the lay up against Battier in the '13 finals but outside of those two moments Tim has been pretty clutch.

Some of my favorite moments of Duncan being clutch in the playoffs

In this clip the Spurs are down by 1 against the Lakers in game 2 with 18 seconds left in the game. Duncan hits the game winner. Go to the 1:39:40 to see it
edR06igTBzo

Duncan eliminates the Sonics with this game winner
8LxfOV5B9Ko

Duncan hits the 3 against the Suns to send the game to OT
trdsKp94Io0

The Spurs are only up by 1 against the Thunder in OT with 28 seconds left and Duncan hits a tough shot against Jackson and Westbrook to put the spurs up 3. I"m convinced if Duncan doesn't hit this shot the Spurs lose the game and would have lost the series in a game 7. Go to the 8 minute mark to see it.
yNGkYsMYKhE

Another great one was the game-sealing shot he hit against Minnesota in game 1 of the 2001 first round. I just rewatched the game today!

[Slippy]

Looking at the highlights . Interesting how its mainly Manu setting timmy up for those clutch shots. Like its always been when he was in his prime for the spurs. Most notable is how Tim , Kawhi & Tony standing back waiting for Manu to make things happen.

Gotta reiterate, Manu prime is the type of closer the current spurs need.

[tholdren]

Looking at the highlights . Interesting how its mainly Manu setting timmy up for those clutch shots. Like its always been when he was in his prime for the spurs. Most notable is how Tim , Kawhi & Tony standing back waiting for Manu to make things happen.

Gotta reiterate, Manu prime is the type of closer the current spurs need.

Its why manu is the best spur of all time. He made plays.

[Horse]

lol that layup against the sonics as some herculean moment

to be fair, duncan's shot over shaq would have gone down as one of the greatest/most clutch moments in NBA history if fisher didnt do that thing
You mean if the fucking timekeeper wasn’t retarded.

[YGWHI]

Good job, as usual Thomas82 (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=4879) Thanks :toast


Duncan is probably the most clutch superstar big man ever. I say probably because I never saw Kareem and Wilt play but I did see Ewing,Olajuwon,Shaq,Mourning,Drob, K.Malone play. Under pressure in the final two minutes of the game Tim came through more times than those guys did. People can bring up him not being clutch in game 5 of the '05 Finals or him missing the lay up against Battier in the '13 finals but outside of those two moments Tim has been pretty clutch.

Some of my favorite moments of Duncan being clutch in the playoffs

In this clip the Spurs are down by 1 against the Lakers in game 2 with 18 seconds left in the game. Duncan hits the game winner. Go to the 1:39:40 to see it
edR06igTBzo

Duncan eliminates the Sonics with this game winner
8LxfOV5B9Ko

Duncan hits the 3 against the Suns to send the game to OT
trdsKp94Io0

The Spurs are only up by 1 against the Thunder in OT with 28 seconds left and Duncan hits a tough shot against Jackson and Westbrook to put the spurs up 3. I"m convinced if Duncan doesn't hit this shot the Spurs lose the game and would have lost the series in a game 7. Go to the 8 minute mark to see it.
yNGkYsMYKhE

Nice! Thanks! Great moments.

[Slippy]

Its why manu is the best spur of all time. He made plays.

In regards to making things happen on both ends coulnt agree more. I was reminiscing who out of our spurs even now puts their body on the line to take a charge. Its still Manu

[Thomas82]

Good job, as usual Thomas82 (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=4879) Thanks :toast



Nice! Thanks! Great moments.

No doubt!!