http://82games.com/index.htm The above site has all sorts of cool statistics for last season and articles on the game. I wanted to focus specifically in this thread on how select player perform in clutch situations (5 minutes left in 4th or overtime, score within 5 points). I was surprised how well Yao Ming performed last year in clutch situations. Overall, he averaged 25.5 points/48min shooting 52.6% from the field. In clutch situations, he averaged 31.5 points/48min shooting 65.6% from the field. Let's compare this to the other great big men in the game. Yao Ming Overall: 25.5 pp48 at 52.6% Clutch: 31.5 pp48 at 65.6% Tim Duncan Overall: 29.2 pp48 at 51.4% Clutch: 33.2 pp48 at 40.7% Shaquille Oneal Overall: 28.0 pp48 at 58.4% Clutch: 26.6 pp48 at 54.7% Kevin Garnett Overall: 29.5 pp48 at 49.9% Clutch: 24.2 pp48 at 50.1% Jermaine Oneal Overall: 27.0 pp48 at 43.5% Clutch: 22.7 pp48 at 37.7% Pretty interesting, huh? From these numbers, Yao looks to be the most clutch scoring big man in the closing minutes of close games last season, and by a fairly wide margin. My guess is that other teams didn't double team him as often in the closing minutes of games compared to these other players who are more proven, and this allowed him to be very successful.
When I look at it, I think Shaq would be a lot higher if he was actually given the ball in the last 5 minutes of the game. He either has the ball and is hacked, until the last 2 minutes; and then he doesnt get the ball unless its an offensive rebound, or an open dunk.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheMegaGreg:</div><div class="quote_post">When I look at it, I think Shaq would be a lot higher if he was actually given the ball in the last 5 minutes of the game. He either has the ball and is hacked, until the last 2 minutes; and then he doesnt get the ball unless its an offensive rebound, or an open dunk.</div> A good point. But Yao still has a VERY high field goal percentage of 65.6% compared to Shaq's 54% in the last 5 minutes. I'm think teams don't respect quite as much yet, and so he was able to get better position and see less double teams. I expect his numbers to come back down to earth this season since the opposing team will probably pay much more attention to him.
Now, I want to compare various guards. Not surprisingly, guys who can create their own shots tend to score a lot in clutch situations. Because guards will take 3 pointers too, I'll use effective field goal% (counts made 3 pointers as 1.5 field goals) instead of simply field goal%. Kobe Bryant Overall: 30.5 pp48 at 47.1% Clutch: 47.5 pp48 at 44.5% Tracy McGrady Overall: 33.7 pp48 at 47.2% Clutch: 32.1 pp48 at 40.2% Vince Carter Overall: 28.4 pp48 at 45.2% Clutch: 35.7 pp48 at 39.9% Ray Allen Overall: 28.7 pp48 at 51.4% Clutch: 42.8 pp48 at 55.3% Sam Cassell Overall: 27.1 pp48 at 51.8% Clutch: 40.8 pp48 at 48.1% Jason Kidd Overall: 20.3 pp48 at 43.2% Clutch: 29.8 pp48 at 32.9% Allen Iverson Overall: 29.8 pp48 at 41.3% Clutch: 19.5 pp48 at 29% Chauncy Billups Overall: 22.9 pp48 at 45.9% Clutch: 38.0 pp48 at 46.9% Stephon Marbury Overall: 24.2 pp48 at 46.3% Clutch: 34.4 pp48 at 58.3% Michael Redd Overall: 28.4 pp48 at 48.5% Clutch: 37.0 pp48 at 44.6% Steve Francis Overall: 19.7 pp48 at 43.6% Clutch: 26.7 pp48 at 38.4% Mike Bibby Overall: 24.3 pp48 at 51.5% Clutch: 28.7 pp48 at 44.3% I highlighted the standouts (those players who increased their scoring output by over 13 pp48). Allen Iverson is also notable for how pitiful he performed in the clutch last year (29% effective fg%!) as well being the only one from this list who's scoring dramatically decreased. That's kind of strange.
AI Is not that strange. Everyone knows he will have the ball, as he was a one man show when he played most of last year. Add that to the fact that his game has never been about shooting a high % from the floor, and you get a poor looking Clutch Preformer. He was good in the clutch at the Olympics though
Back to the big men, if you think about it, it might have to do with freethrow shooting because Yao is a good ft shooter while duncan and oneal are not. I think that is the difference.
Free throws are part of it. But Yao still has an exceptionally high field goal percentage. Some more details, comparing Yao, Shaq, and Duncan. In Clutch per 48 min stats (fgm/fga, fg%, ftm/fta, ft%) Yao: 10.3/15.7, 65.6%, 10.8/13.9, 77.8% Shaq: 9.3/17.0, 54.7%, 7.7/17.6, 43.6% Duncan: 10.6/26.0, 40.7%, 12/20.2, 59.5% Shaq and Duncan certainly had their problems at the line in clutch situations. And I think this dispels the notion that Shaq makes his freebies "when it counts." It also looks to me like Duncan tried to do a little too much at the end of close games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GiantMidget:</div><div class="quote_post">Surprised Bibby isnt considered a noteable clutch guard.</div> I forgot about Bibby (and probably some others). I added his numbers in the above post.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RJ 21:</div><div class="quote_post">Wait... You guys take 82games.com seriously? LOL!! Go ahead and keep going. This is entertaining.</div> I take it about as seriously as any other stats. What's funny about that? Is the information inaccurate?
interesting information, i'm actually kind of surprised Vince's numbers aren't that high, but that's probably because he never gets the chance/ is never in the situation that guys like cassell or kobe are in. but reall, kobe shoots that low from the field in the clutch?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Fundamentals:</div><div class="quote_post">interesting information, i'm actually kind of surprised Vince's numbers aren't that high, but that's probably because he never gets the chance/ is never in the situation that guys like cassell or kobe are in. but reall, kobe shoots that low from the field in the clutch?</div> Sure he gets the chance. Toronto didn't play any close games last year? He did alright, just shot poorly in those situations.
good point. you should also take into consideration Vince's lack of aggresiveness (free-throw line) and that he takes a lot of jump shots from 15-21 feet
There are different definitions of clutch for each position. Like mentioned before some clutch big men hit all their free throws down the stretch while a clutch shooting guard could hit a game winning shot or score in every half court set in the last 2 minutes. Just bear this in mind while you are discussing this.
