Kobe or LeBron, who is the king of crunch time?

Interesting article I found on ESPN under the "Heat Index" section. It proposes the question: between Kobe and LeBron, who is better in crunch time? One might quickly jump out and decree that Kobe Bryant is certainly better than LeBron James, but why would one assume that? Answer: Highlight reels of numerous game winners from Kobe. According to the article and the stats they have provided the real answer is LeBron James.

over 1 year ago The One Who Wears The Crown 10 comments 0 recs |

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It seems to me that

while LeBron is more clutch during those 5 mins of crunch time, you’d still want Kobe Bryant taking the last shot. So LeBron is the better performer during the clutch and Kobe is the better closer. I agree with that. But… Where’s Wade in all of this? :O

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I can't to see what kind of shoes Michael Beasley wears! (I can't to see what kind of shoes Michael Beasley wears!)
OH! I love Michael Beasley's hair! (I can't wait to see Michael Beasley play defense!)

by (o.O) on Dec 31, 2010 11:42 AM EST reply actions

For these stats “Clutch” is defined as:
4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points

Yeah almost everybody would want Kobe Bryant taking the last shot of the game but like you said James is the better performer. Kobe and Wade are two of my favorite players of all-time(I like James as a player but he isn’t a favorite, yet) but James’s stats during the “clutch” is remarkable. At one point during the 08-09 season he was averaging a triple double and later averaged a double-double at the end of the 09-10 with 66.1 points and 15.9 rebounds(he also averaged 8.3 assists). Like you I also wondered where was Wade but then again, Wade isn’t as ‘media-hyped’ as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Also as of lately(the 09-10 season) Wade hasn’t been…er let me just show you his stats
.

For these stats “Clutch” is defined as:
4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points

Games: 33 Minutes: 144 Per: -7 FGA: 28.3 FG%: .388 3PA: 8.0 3P%:.292 FTA:12.3 FT%:67% Pts:32.6 Ast’d: 12% REB:6.3 Ast: 10.0 T/O:4.3 BLK: 2.7 STL: 2.3
What? Yeah I know it surprised me too..Maybe it’s the way clutch is defined? Although, his stats during the ‘clutch’ for the 08-09 season were much better.

Wha...What did you say?! Depending on your answer I may have to kick your ass!

"I know I've got to get stitches, so I'm real mad right now." - Dwyane Wade en route to dropping 45 on the Houston Rockets with Hakeem among the audience.

by The One Who Wears The Crown on Jan 1, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

er…posted their definition of “Clutch” twice, sorry

Wha...What did you say?! Depending on your answer I may have to kick your ass!

"I know I've got to get stitches, so I'm real mad right now." - Dwyane Wade en route to dropping 45 on the Houston Rockets with Hakeem among the audience.

by The One Who Wears The Crown on Jan 1, 2011 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

This is why I rarely defer to stats.

by (o.O) on Jan 1, 2011 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

No post-season games are included

Lame of 82games.com to leave out playoff games, IMO

by nba is the worst on Jan 2, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

I would take Dwyane Wade

In Pat we Trust
"Sorry if everyone thought we were going to go 82-0" - Dwyane Wade
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by #1Heatfan on Jan 1, 2011 10:42 AM EST reply actions

Same here. But I guess it depends on the situation I am in, as a coach. If my team was done by one, I would take Kobe. If I had to use a player to set up another player for the game winning basket I would use LeBron James. If I was down by 14 or so and needed a player to even the score and win for me I would take Wade.

Wha...What did you say?! Depending on your answer I may have to kick your ass!

"I know I've got to get stitches, so I'm real mad right now." - Dwyane Wade en route to dropping 45 on the Houston Rockets with Hakeem among the audience.

by The One Who Wears The Crown on Jan 1, 2011 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

Agree completely.

Not a Laker fan but i do respect Kobe Bryant and if i was down by one, definitely would have the ball in Kobe’s hands. And for your take on James, i would do the same but also if my team was down by say 6 or so with a minute left, i would also give it to james just because he can get to the rim and easily pick up fouls.

Dwyane Wade has been my favorite sports athlete since he joined the league, or should i say since he took Marquette to the Final 4, but yes if i needed a game to be taken over down by double digits, Wade all day.

All the proof you need is NBA Finals game 3 against the Mavs, and if i remember correctly Wade was sick, flu symptoms or some shit, and still put the team on his back and reeled off 4 strait wins. Also hitting the game winning his rookie year in the playoffs to go to the 2nd round, epic.

Wade is a very clutch player in his own right, just not all the spotlight as James or Kobe.

Im sure everyone is all too familiar with the “THIS IS MY HOUSE!” – Dwyane Wade.

Clutch.

by xMMAxTYSONxMMA on Jan 4, 2011 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

down*

Wha...What did you say?! Depending on your answer I may have to kick your ass!

"I know I've got to get stitches, so I'm real mad right now." - Dwyane Wade en route to dropping 45 on the Houston Rockets with Hakeem among the audience.

SUPREME'REEM!!!!

by The One Who Wears The Crown on Jan 5, 2011 4:56 PM EST up reply actions