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.
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/2013/0...ory/tim-duncan
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.
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 ? Why doesn't you do this the rest of the year?
Good post......I have to agree with you.
I agree with this too. Horry could have been a perennial All-Star if he put in the work.
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
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 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
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.
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?
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.
This mother er![]()
The Finals always count. Playing is playing.
It's amazing that the Spurs lost because Tim had to kill a ing ant on the floor.
so 2005 doesnt count except for that game in 2005 where he did good
Definitely Robert Horry.
Joe Johnson was pretty clutch too. Paul Pierce. Mehmet Okur. But this is all from Timmy's era.
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 compe or 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.
Last edited by Arcadian; 04-06-2018 at 06:05 PM.
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
Duncan eliminates the Sonics with this game winner
Duncan hits the 3 against the Suns to send the game to OT
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.
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
and watching ibaka get away with hacking tim followed by a goaltend on the manu shot still infuriates me
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