The truth about Kobe's reputation as a clutch player

[TheMACHINE]

busting out vintage ballhog kobe vids. Sweet!

[j.dizzle]

ChrisRichards

[ChrisRichards]

no one believes anything you say anymore. Go back to the NBA Forum thread list and you'll see why.

Machine, I see where your coming from. But don't let my welching creditbility affect you.

These are facts quoted from Phil Jackson himself. I didn't say those, I just passed it on.

[TheMACHINE]

Machine, I see where your coming from. But don't let my welching creditbility affect you.

[JamStone]

Everyone in the basketball universe already knows that Kobe is a ballhog, especially in a close game down the stretch. That's nothing new. And even many Laker fans and Kobe fanbois realize that Kobe's clutchness is exaggerated. But it's also not surprising that most GMs would still give the basketball to Kobe in crunchtime over any other player in the league. It's obviously not because of the clutch statistical information. The article showed that Kobe's a ballhog, takes bad shots, doesn't pass to teammates, and stagnates the offense in crunchtime. So why do all those GMs still give Kobe the ball?

It's because being clutch is not only defined by the numbers. And it's not just about the perception or reputation. It's because it's regarded that no one in the league works harder at his game than Kobe. it's because make or miss, Kobe has never showed the fear of taking a clutch shot, nor the fear of failing. It's because there isn't a defense of five guys that can force Kobe not to attempt a shot and have a chance for it to go in if Kobe has his mind set on shooting. It's because missing 100 clutch shots in a row won't stop Kobe from attempting 101.

The numbers don't lie. Kobe is not a great clutch player on offense. He shoots a poor percentage and he hurts the offense and doesn't make his teammates better. The article does a great job explaining all of this. The perception and reputation can only last so long. So why do all these GMs still want Kobe in crunchtime? It goes beyond the numbers. You don't give the basketball to Melo. You give it to Kobe. The numbers tell you not to give it to Kobe over Melo. But everything else tells you that's the right call.

[Jt.ONE]

Again with the perception. When you look at the clutch numbers, Melo>Kobe.

Just because Kobe has stacked teams, and hogs every clutch shot, doesn't make him better. It makes him a chucker.

Kobe was missing the playoffs before Gasol arrived, why wasn't he "winning " then?

reaching the playoffs with such a ty cast is within itself


tbh, gasol wasn't doing in memphis anyway

[ChrisRichards]

ChrisRichards

Why are you laughing? Do you not agree with Phil Jackson and with the stats provided by ESPN?


Seriously? Its a great article by Abbott. I feel the timing though is pretty bad considering Kobe just came off two NBA Championship seasons but its a valid argument and I don't even hate Kobe. ESPN does have bias though towards Kobe and I think this article is unnecessary, like bringing quotes frm 2004 is dumb. The article is excellent but again the timing is way off. This would be good in 2006 not 2011.

[TheMACHINE]

Everyone in the basketball universe already knows that Kobe is a ballhog, especially in a close game down the stretch. That's nothing new. And even many Laker fans and Kobe fanbois realize that Kobe's clutchness is exaggerated. But it's also not surprising that most GMs would still give the basketball to Kobe in crunchtime over any other player in the league. It's obviously not because of the clutch statistical information. The article showed that Kobe's a ballhog, takes bad shots, doesn't pass to teammates, and stagnates the offense in crunchtime. So why do all those GMs still give Kobe the ball?

It's because being clutch is not only defined by the numbers. And it's not just about the perception or reputation. It's because it's regarded that no one in the league works harder at his game than Kobe. it's because make or miss, Kobe has never showed the fear of taking a clutch shot, nor the fear of failing. It's because there isn't a defense of five guys that can force Kobe not to attempt a shot and have a chance for it to go in if Kobe has his mind set on shooting. It's because missing 100 clutch shots in a row won't stop Kobe from attempting 101.

The numbers don't lie. Kobe is not a great clutch player on offense. He shoots a poor percentage and he hurts the offense and doesn't make his teammates better. The article does a great job explaining all of this. The perception and reputation can only last so long. So why do all these GMs still want Kobe in crunchtime? It goes beyond the numbers. You don't give the basketball to Melo. You give it to Kobe. The numbers tell you not to give it to Kobe over Melo. But everything else tells you that's the right call.

Damn Jams..why you bringing logic into this thread? I was having fun. I wanted to see how long DPG will keep going this time around.

[TheMACHINE]

Why are you laughing? Do you not agree with Phil Jackson and with the stats provided by ESPN?


Seriously? Its a great article by Abbott. I feel the timing though is pretty bad considering Kobe just came off two NBA Championship seasons but its a valid argument and I don't even hate Kobe. ESPN does have bias though towards Kobe and I think this article is unnecessary, like bringing quotes frm 2004 is dumb. The article is excellent but again the timing is way off. This would be good in 2006 not 2011.

Phil Jackson? The guy who said all that and came back anyways and now is going for a three peat with Kobe? ok.

[Greg Oden]

tbh, gasol wasn't doing in memphis anyway

Actually he was quite busy in Memphis crying for a trade after realizing his sorry ass couldn't win 1 playoff game despite having a good supporting cast.

[jestersmash]

Overall ulative "clutch PER" per 82games

1. Ginobili 39.0
2. Stoudemire 36.2
3. Nash 35.4
4. Wade 33.7
5. Nowitzki 32.3
...
8. Lebron
...
...
...
20. Ridnour 19.2 <---
21. Bryant 19.0


NBA.com feature on clutch players -

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/feature...ame/index.html

[hater]

Lmao

[z0sa]

The knowledgeable basketball world realized a long, long time ago that Kobe warrants the description of "overrated superego chucker." Sometime around June 2004 is when it really became clear.

[j.dizzle]

TBH, Jam >>> ESPN. We all know why this article was written. Anti-Kobe articles get a ton of attention. Like CR said, this was terrible timing though.

[ChrisRichards]

Phil Jackson? The guy who said all that and came back anyways and now is going for a three peat with Kobe? ok.

Like I said, great article but Abbott made a huge mistake quoting Phil Jackon in 2004. Sure Kobe's still a ballhog but you don't use the Last Book as your reference to prove your point TODAY especially when Kobe has proved he can still win and the person who said those had a change of heart, at leat publicly.

[DPG21920]

Damn, Machine, why don't you make another sig bet to calm your nerves or something

[Rummpd]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/feature...ame/index.html

Manu anyone - over a 5 year period he was the most clutch player in the NBA by these stats at least! (Bryant not even close)

[jestersmash]

Truth be told Kobe has had his fair share of clutch shots this season so far, albeit not at a terribly good rate. He took a couple of awful ones early on but he's made up for it, sort of.

He leads the league in points scored during the "clutch" per 48 minutes, but his FG% is markedly less than his usual shooting average -



Notice of the top 15 or so "clutch" players by points scored per 48 minutes, Kobe and Lebron have the lowest FG% by far (38.5 and 33.3, respectively).

Kobe does have a nice assist to turnover ratio, though. Dirk's ratio is < 1 in the clutch. Stoudemire's is just awful.

[TheMACHINE]

Damn, Machine, why don't you make another sig bet to calm your nerves or something

Should i reserve you for the next Spurs-Lakers game?

[redzero]

TBH, Jam >>> ESPN. We all know why this article was written. Anti-Kobe articles get a ton of attention. Like CR said, this was terrible timing though.

So, you disagree with the content of the article?

[DPG21920]

Damn Jams..why you bringing logic into this thread? I was having fun. I wanted to see how long DPG will keep going this time around.

Sure you backpedaling Kobe fan. I was arguing about the article, please point out where I was wrong and Jam is right?

Of course you think someone defending Kobe is correct and try to play off your butthurt and piggy back someone elses argument because you weren't smart enough to articulate one yourself.

Classic Machine/Laker Fan.

[jestersmash]

I think if you rated the clutch players this season by efficiency, Kevin Martin might actually take the top spot. That's just based on a rough estimate. He shoots phenomenal percentages from the field and from 3, though he's not much of a team player in the clutch (0 assists to 2.8 turnovers)

[DPG21920]

Laker fan:

Jam is so awesome and smart, that is exactly what I meant when I said "Look at the scrub Melo "

[TheMACHINE]

Sure you backpedaling Kobe fan. I was arguing about the article, please point out where I was wrong and Jam is right?

Of course you think someone defending Kobe is correct and try to play off your butthurt and piggy back someone elses argument because you weren't smart enough to articulate one yourself.

Classic Machine/Laker Fan.

February 3 - we on for a sig bet muchacho?

[DPG21920]

No, I don't do sig bets. That is your thing. That is too "internetty" for me.