No One Wants LeBron To Take A Shot With The Game On The Line
LeBron James (photo. Mannion)
Every year, I can’t wait to read the results of NBA.com’s annual GM Survey to get an insider look into what the people running the League are thinking. And with GMs not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel, you know they have to be objective in their responses. So after reading through the 60 questions that were asked, it seemed LeBron was going to take a clean sweep: MVP, most athletic and best finisher to name a few. LBJ even got 78.6% of the vote when asked, “If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the NBA, who would it be?” But there was one question that kind of surprised me, with the reigning MVP not even receiving one vote:
Which player would you want taking a shot with the game on the line?
The breakdown was this:
1. Kobe Bryant, 89.7%
2. Paul Pierce, 6.9%
3. Carmelo Anthony, 3.4%
Now if you ask any one of your boys (even if they’re Kobe haters), more often than not they’d agree that they’d want Mamba with the ball in his hands with the clock winding down. But even with so many awards going to LeBron, you gotta find it a little troubling that not one of the other 29 GMs would give the rock to King James (and they’d rather give it to a guy like ‘Melo).
What do you think?
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October 7th, 2009 at 10:03 am
hooper5013 says:
What do you mean they would rather give it to a guy like Melo? Melo is beast and he hits shots from everywhere. Not to mention he portfolio of game winning daggers is no slouch…I would actually take melo over Paul Peirce even…I looking for Melo to grab an MVP award this year. Kids nice, he gets a lot of hate.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:06 am
K-Dub says:
I think its dead on. From Cleveland, big Cavs fan. Lebron doesn’t have many buzzer beaters and game winners. Mamba has em. Melo has em. If i could get anyone to hit the shot mamba and melo and even pierce would be up there. Not saying lebron isn’t in the top five or ten but those guys are proven finishers who have hit the shot with the game on the line time and time again.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Pakman says:
umm…i’d give to D-Wade although i was pissed with that shot against the Bulls in whatever overtime it was
October 7th, 2009 at 10:22 am
sh!tfaced says:
I’d rather have Diana Taurasi take the shot than LeBron.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:30 am
john says:
its kindof funny that desapite kobe’s horrible % and being below the league avg on late game shots over the last 5 yrs or so and not even being among the league leaders and him missing yet everyone wanting him taking that shot? it goes to show that men and women do lie…. give me melo, dwade or even tj ford instead of “mr my rep outwieghs what ive done late in games”. dont believe me go to 82 games.com and check out the study clutch shots
October 7th, 2009 at 10:32 am
J HUSTLE says:
yea kobe is #1 hands down and theres other guys who you cant go wrong with like Melo and Pierce, but how bout sum players who have stepped it up in the clutch within the past season like B-Roy and IggyDollaz? They both had some nice clutch buckets last year and Roy’s had to be the best game winner of the year. And im from Dallas so u know i gotta put in a word for Dirk. He isn’t the most consistent from clutch but i like him as my number one option for the last shot of the game more than alot of the other number one options for other teams
October 7th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Aron Phillips says:
@hooper5013
I love ‘Melo, but I’m surprised more people would rather have him take the final shot than LeBron. When you’re voted as the best finisher in the game, you’d think he could finish games too.
@sh!tfaced
I wouldn’t argue with that!
October 7th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Boofrog says:
whoa, where’s Andrew Bogut on this list?
October 7th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Yoooo says:
LeBron is not a shooter. With the game going down to the wire, you know hes just going to the rack. Melo will have you on your heels. He gets in the lane at will, but his jumper is pure as they come. Gives you more options to put the ball in the bucket than LeBron…
Unless Iguadala is the only player on the court and playing 1 on 5 I’d never let him take the final shot. I have NO confidence in him
October 7th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Joeyy says:
the fact is LeBron is not as good as a shooter as a lot of other guys, i’d rather have Ray taking the last shoot than LBJ, he’s a beast, i can’t argue with that, but to take a last shoot, you’ve got to be a very very good shooter, and LeBron is’nt that yet…
i’d go with Kobe, Dirk, Pierce, Roy, Melo, Joe Johnson, Arenas… (in no particular order after Kobe)
October 7th, 2009 at 10:50 am
ejay says:
my pick would be the old gilbert over carmelo.
Kobe
P2
Agent Zero
we can always count on jesus(ray allen) BTW
October 7th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Mellmeister says:
“and they’d rather give it to a guy like ‘Melo”
—— Aron Philips, are you outta ya mind?
why would ya say somethin’ like that… if you play ball and then you’d know that ‘Melo can ball with the best. and Yes, I’d give him the rock when the game’s on the line… LBJ’s game winner against was 80% luck… and you’d see that in his face, he had that “thank god we’re not swept” look. but Melo, you know he’d take that shot and know that his ill intention of knockin’ you is with it.
I don’t like Kobe but on those situations i’d give it to Kobe… with pierce, yeah nuthin’ bad about it… but i’d choose Melo over pierce. His Shooting Stroke from any side of the court is as good as the other two mentioned..
@4 True that… I’d give the Ball to B-Roy over LeBron. but not Iggy… he’s just like king james, “NO FINESSE”
October 7th, 2009 at 10:55 am
ERIC says:
LeBron cannot hit his free-throws which also makes him a liability.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Taj says:
Ray Allen has to be in the top 5 as well!
Mamba
P Double
Big Shot Bob
Ray Ray
LBJ
October 7th, 2009 at 11:04 am
gregory says:
Kobe’s game winning shot ability is so overrated. He’s been horrible at it the last five years. For total number of field goals in the fourth quarter, I’ll take him equally with Lebron and Wade but for that last pesky field goal, I’d put Lebron over Kobe.
Maybe the best at game winning shots is Ginobili. He never gets mentioned but a couple of years ago he went on something like a four out of seven game stretch with game winners. He’s second to no one in that situation.
Chris Paul is really good at the end of games too. And unlike most players, his game winners almost all come right at the rim.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Yoooo says:
^ Guys a moron
October 7th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Mellmeister says:
Lebron James is Strong, Quick, and Athletic. has all the characteristics of a strong franchise player… he’s someone you’d have rebounding and starts the fastbreak and finishes it as well, he’s a “video game created player come to life” and is how you dreamed yourself to be if you were balling. but still there are some aspects that you miss out, if you’re strong like him, you’d miss out on finesse… his shooting isn’t something depend on. you know he can shoot but not the best one, i’m not saying he can’t ‘coz his jumpshot ain’t pretty… i’m just saying because that’s what he’s lackin’. Kobe didn’t have that type of jumper before… he also relied in his athleticism… just like LBJ now.
when you’re strong at something, there’d always be a downside to it. Like Melo is a Pure Scorer, but a lousy defender… He adjusted his game, and started to play defense, his Scoring got lower. same thing with mamba… this ain’t fantasy, it’s reality… and LBJ would have that as well, but he doesn’t have right now.
And it comes down to a point of sayin’ that,
“LeBron James isn’t a complete player after all.”
And He’s also Human… like the rest of us…
**Pinoy Pride reppin’ Shaolin**
October 7th, 2009 at 11:10 am
gregory says:
Carmelo’s luck with the game winners hasn’t been all that good the past few seasons. Aside from his big three against the Mavs, which should never have happened because he had gotten fouled, he’s been really off at the end of games. He couldn’t miss his first couple of seasons. One time he was caught in the corner with a guy draped all over him with the time running out and he just spun and flung the ball to the hoop and it went in. At one point I think he was something like 6/10 in game winners which is absurd because even 20 percent is considered to be excellent but he hasn’t been able to duplicate his midas touch lately.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:15 am
SJ says:
I’d have to have Duncan or Manu with the ball with seconds left. Either one will get the ball in the hole damn near every time.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:15 am
SJ says:
Add to previous post: …or get to the line to finish off the kill.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Mellmeister says:
@13
that was a couple of years ago… sleep on it.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:32 am
dagwaller says:
Kobe in the clutch – overrated.
Pierce and Melo in the clutch – appropriately rated.
I guarantee Daryl Morey isn’t one of the people that voted for Kobe.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:32 am
gregory says:
@19, uh, yeah. Rock on dude. Ginobili had like 7 game winners in 2008. Is that too far away for you? Do you want to base end of game clutchness just based on last season?
October 7th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Ross says:
Crab Dribble!!!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:34 am
bigdoggchad says:
@16 Melo had a few more last year. 2 against the Thunder and a couple others I can’t remember off the top of my head.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Posterboy15 says:
Vince Carter Is The Only One That Has Hit 2 reverse alley oop Gamewinning Dunks.Thats Just Sick In It self(Please People Youtube Vince Carters Gamewinners By Each Year Haters would probly hate less).He also hits about 2 or 3 every year..statistically since Lebron came in the League Vince Is Number 2 behind Kobe Bryant In Game Winners, yes look it up..He Proved It again last year against Toronto and Atlanta..games probly didnt mean much but the point is he does time and time again and it went unrecognized in New Jersey in the publics eye..The guy’s range is ridiculous as well he shoots from half court with a perfect jumpshot form. I swear he is the most hate superstar and highly underrated star..Im glad he is going to be on national exposure again, people who dont know nuthin about basketball will look dumbfounded when they see wut Vinsanity can still bring to the court and a REAL TEAM…PEACE..
October 7th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Rizwan says:
Paul Pierce is suprising for me. Not in my top five. No love for Dwayne Wade is criminal!
Anyone who criticised me for having Lebron as #4 on my go to guy list can suck it!!!!!!!!!
30 GMS, one of them must be right!!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:44 am
LakeShow84 says:
I wouldnt even want Lebron to take a last second FT..
That game winner he hit you could the disbelief in his own face that he hit it.. When a real KILLA takes a last second shot its pure confidence (with maybe a little luck but still mainly confidence).. Whenever u take the last shot u WANT to take it cuz u KNOW ur going to make it.. Lebron looked like a kid who finally lost his virginity @ 22..
And best finisher?? Tony Parker.. No physical advantages besides speed and he finishes amongst the trees..
Whats so impressive about a man running into everyone and drawing phantom fouls?? i gives a fluck if hes “strong” enough to finish.. half of his “beautiful” drives is charges.. PERIOD..
October 7th, 2009 at 11:44 am
gregory says:
Another thing about best in game winners, I don’t think Pierce is all that special in that category. And I love Pierce, he’s my favorite player. He misses far more than he makes at the end of games, which means he’s almost like everyone else. What’s he really good at is assisting on game winners. Over his career I think he’s like first or second in his time frame. I’d imagine that most people think he’s determined to shoot no matter what but he dishes it off a lot. He had several to Glen Davis last season. Almost of Ray Allen’s game winners come off his passes. That’s a huge contrast to Kobe for instance, who would try headbutting the ball if his arms had suddenly fallen off as the clock ran down.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:45 am
jace says:
lets face it… lebrons not on that level of clutch.
i think id even take dwade before lebron in clutch situations. maybe dwade doesn’t have a reliable jumper like the top 3.. but i think he’s proven he can get to that level when the heat were in the finals. his team has just been less than mediocre the past 3 years.. soo he hasnt been in that situation.
lebron would prolly pass it anyway… maybe hes too unselfish. none of the players in the top 3 are pgs.. maybe lebron thinks too much like a pg for a guy in his position. lebrons j isn’t as good as those other 3 anyway too. so its prolly best he keeps his passing options open. i havent watched every lebron game ever.. but that gamewinner against orlando in the playoffs.. prolly the only one ive seen be an actual gw.. and i dont expect to see many from him..
October 7th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Lee says:
I think Melo hit 2 game winners on Durrant last season, one was nice just after Durrant thought he’d won the game … that was cold !!!
October 7th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
john says:
a GUY LIKE MELO??? are you serious??
melo is nasty, can hit from just about anywhere, and has proven that he is clutch. many more game winners than lebron. let lebron get a jump shot before you have him take a last second shot over melo.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
schoops says:
Melo is clutch.
I’m excited to see how Bron does w/o the normal refs at the end of games. If this were last season I’d take Bron in an instant just because you KNOW he’s getting a call. This year, maybe not.
Note: I am not saying Bron is not nasty or that he’s not clutch… I’m just saying refs don’t give us a chance to see whether he is or isn’t sometimes.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
spindlest says:
Lebron’s an iffy shooter from range and from the line, so I’d rather have a guy who could hit a tough fadeaway or something like that if it comes to it. LBJ would be good against a team without much D in the paint, but against a top defensive team, I’d go for someone else to take the last shot.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Mellmeister says:
@gregory
True that… but mayne i’d still choose Melo over ‘Bron when the game’s on the line… i’d tell you what’s running on the GM’s mind why they didn’t choose LBJ.
there are two thing that you could do with the game on the line, let’s just say your team’s down by two and there’s only 8 seconds left on the clock…
1) take a three pointer to seal the win
2) take a mid range jumper of the screen or create your shot while you’re on it.
3) drive strong to the hoop to get two points to tie the game or get fouled so you could take free throws…
here’s the reason why they chose Melo over LeBron:
1) I’d take Melo!!! no questions about it… he can seal the deal from beyond the arc.
2) You know how dangerous melo is from the perimeter… i’m not saying ‘bron ain’t… but melo’s more efficient.
3) Taking it hard to the rim… of course that’s for King James… but if he doesn’t make the shot and gets fouled… can you depend on him to make the freethrows to tie it up?
Just a thought…
**Pinoy Pride reppin’ Shaolin**
October 7th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
ab_40 says:
these three guys hit at least five game winners intheir respective careers either in the reg. season or in the playoffs. LeBron hit two both last season. not to say he can’t but he isn’t a proven commodity like these three guys
October 7th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
CHAMPY says:
all this talk about lebron kobe and melo and no mention of wade???? i saw someone up there put dirk and joe johnson in a list and not put wade…..wades been hitting big shots since his rookie year….bron kobe and melo all deserve mention but IMO i want wade with the ball at the end of the game…its either him or kobe…no one else should be above them
October 7th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
kowtz says:
I woudl rather give Fish the last shot than Le Bron…
October 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Claw says:
Went to http://www.82games.com/gamewinningshots.htm
that lists game winning shots by player.
Guess who was first – Lebron with 17, Vince, Ray Ray, then Kobe with 14. Lebron’s shooting percentage 34% and Kobe’s is 25%. Now Melo has had 13 but hitting at a 48% clip.
Lebron has made the most but Melo is the most efficient.
I guess GMs don’t look at stats but go by “gut feel”. That was none drafted Blair in the first round.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Mellmeister says:
3 things… i stand corrected…
October 7th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Mellmeister says:
@39
That’s great stats fo’ ya all ya to check!!! nice one mayne!!!
October 7th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Maynard says:
Lebron has the two game-winners against Washington in the ’06 playoffs, the Orlando shot this year, 29 of 30 against the Pistons in Game 5 in ’07 when any miss would have been a loss. And that’s just the playoffs, when everyone’s watching.
No love lost. BS premise.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
flavur says:
Yeah lebrons only had two gamewinners one against golden state which he looked like a kid that got a surprise gift for christmas and the game winner against Orlando which he again looked surprised I’m surprised that Dwyane Wade wasn’t voted with all the gamewinners he’s taken this year.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Celts Fan says:
I’m only surprised DWade’s not on the list. Bron’s around 5th, after the 3 listed and Wade (who I’d put 2nd after Kobe.)
October 7th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Big V says:
Jesus Shuttlesworth FTW.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Drink the Haterade says:
The diff is that Kobe has hit clutch shots during the playoffs just about his whole career. The others haven’t done as much.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
j-dub says:
Melo is the most clutch player in the league, Aron.
http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM
Seriously, you should know this.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
UncheckedAggression says:
This kind of reminds me of the BS that went on in baseball for so damn long. The “experts” would lobby for certain players and claim they were amazing in the clutch, but the stats proved that there was no such thing. The only real way to look at this objectively is to look at the stats. I do know that Kobe’s fg% in the 4th quarter (or maybe it was the last 5 minutes or something?) has been fairly low the last couple seasons.
Fact: Kobe will more often take a fade-away over 2 defenders than pass it towards the end of the game. That is reflected in his fg%. I’m not saying that other players don’t have their faults, I’m just pointing out that Kobe was ranked 1st and still has a major flaw in the way he approaches end-of-game situations. Kobe’s absolute confidence in himself has helped shape him into one of the all-time greatest scorers. Many people are drawn to this confidence and have an inflated sense of just how good he is in those situations.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Kyle says:
Lebron doesn’t even wanna take the shot himself. He’d pass it to Kobe if he could.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
jryu says:
the thing with paul pierce is that he has one go to move in the clutch..
start on the left side, pump fake, drive right, and either pumpfake again and draw a foul or pull up at the free throw line for a fade away jumper.. EVERYTIME
derrick rose figured this out and blocked his shot during the playoffs last year. i dont know how more nba coaches dont know he’s gonna do this..
October 7th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Amp says:
All those guys r good. But I take ray allen over all. The true breath taker.
October 7th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
K Dizzle says:
@ “That’s a huge contrast to Kobe for instance, who would try headbutting the ball if his arms had suddenly fallen off as the clock ran down.” “Fact: Kobe will more often take a fade-away over 2 defenders than pass it towards the end of the game”:
It’s not too late to go back and watch Finals hilights and see Kobe in the post, double team comes, Kobe kicks out, Jameer eats an elbow and Fish cashes a triple. For every argument against Kobe, and all the stupid junk from “82games.com”, fact is damn near 90% of voters RIGHT NOW want the ball in Kobe’s hands. I keep readin how Kobe “over the past 5 years missed this many shots and jacked this”.
Try to understand, that right now, Kobe now ain’t Kobe from 2004 or even the dude who got rolled by Boston. Kobe not only hits the dagger shot, he’ll make the dagger pass. Behind the back on a break, no look to Gasol for a dunk in the 4th quarter of a Finals game? Multiple postup kickouts to Ariza and Fish for wide open threes? How many times kobe passed it and his teammates didn’t come through? Ariza “travellin” in San An comes to mind after Kobe hit that ridic pull up triple then found Ariza who kinda choked up, but the lesson was learned by the time the Finals rolled around.Kobe will hit the shot and will find you if the double comes.
The vote wasn’t even close and haters still wanna stew lol
Respeck still due
Lakers are comin…
October 7th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Asunia W. Robertson says:
…and why exactly is this “a little troubling”? It is what it is. That’s not taking anything away from LeBron. As Run-DMC would say “it’s like that, and that’s the way it is!”
October 7th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Sounds accurate to me. LeBron might make the pass to the dude shooting the open shot, but unless it’s a dunk or wild and crazy wishful thinking three I don’t want Bron with the ball.
October 7th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Ian says:
k dizzle
how is the 82games.com FACT wrong the the the casual espn fan right?
fact is kobe shoots in the 20s when it comes to game winners so i rather have like 20 players taking the last shot of the game.
im sorry but who gives a shit what the voters want facts are facts.
October 7th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Seareaa says:
This questions all depends on how much time is on the clock. I am a huge Cavs fan but I will be the first to admit that LeBron is not the best shooter for a last second shot. But if there are a few ticks on the clock, enough time to take it to the hole, then LeBron has to be at the top of the list.
I do think you will see his shot as well as his post up game significantly improve this year.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Claw says:
I’m a LBJ guy and never liked Kobe’s attitude but do respect him and he isn’t shy about taking that last shot but just doesn’t hit a good clip because he usually is double teamed because everybody knows he won’t pass up that shot.
Lebron isn’t guaranteed on the FT line so that hurts him but you can hate him for passing the rock but wouldn’t you rather get your guy a wide open shot instead of heaving it over two guys?
Saying that I’m impressed by Melo, shooting nearly 50% is ice cold.
To take from Tyron:
Numbers don’t lie (or is that thugs?)
October 7th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Big Sia says:
Uhh…
VC
October 7th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
kirk says:
DIME MAG, Melo is a beast and arguely the best scorer in the game today. He’s pretty much clutch. The reason they didn’t choose lebron is because he is score 34 and 39 points and still lose.
Aint hating just Facts
PS Lebron travels on every highlight dunk
October 7th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
knock knock says:
LOL how has lebron hit 20 game winners in the past 7 years. Besides the 5 step football run he did on washington, i count about 3 game winners of his all time. That’s sorry.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
doc says:
First of all when you said they give it to a guy like Melo what does that mean.Melo gonna get at least 1 MVP before he’s done.The Truth won a chip and his stroke and free throws is where a great vet of his status supposed to be.And Kobe is the most feared closer since MJ and best ever behind MJ.So what the hell is you suprised about?MVP comes through quarters 1 through 4.Id rather Steve Kerr shoot a last second 3 pointer than D Wade or Chris Paul to are you suprised by that?
October 7th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
dreams says:
fuck this shit, another lebron james article?
Dime’s pretty much calling every pro GM an idiot for not giving him the last shot of the game.
LebronJamesMag.com lol
October 7th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Colton says:
any votes for ray allen?
October 7th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
JJ says:
Derek Fisher is better than LeDiva!
October 7th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
LakeShow84 says:
OOOOOOOOO Kdizzle eaten em up!!
@ Ian – YOUR KILLING ME!!! lol i got a question for you since you bring up “what the voters want”..
Who the fuck is 82game anyways.. ill take the word of the men who actually EVALUATE ALL THE TALENT IN THE NBA on a daily because its their 6am-9pm job..
Like i said you can compile all the stats to show whose junk is larger but it dont matter when the REALITY of the play is right in front you.. And to say Kobe isnt THE killer when the game is on the line.. Man.. Shit Kobe is one of the only superstars who dont really get superstar calls.. Dwade game 5 Finals anyone?? Lebron his whole career anyone?? Pierce game 4 Finals anyone??
Listen to DOC who waved the white flag in the face of us Laker fans for a moment “And Kobe is the most feared closer since MJ and best ever behind MJ”..
How does that make u feel Spurs fan
October 7th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
douglas copeland says:
fantastic bias dime.bron getting the clean sweep.Kobe beat him in like 10 more categories best perimeter defender,most intelligent ball player behind nash,he was 4th as far as what GMs consider to be the best defender in the league, 2nd best team leader in the league(Bron wasn’t even mentioned in any of these categories the ones that he beat kobe in which were very few,atleast Kobe was in the conversation.Most Athletic we know that he’s younger than Kobe and starting a franchise today ofcourse you gotta go with the younger Bron but Kobe lapped this cat in almost all of the categories no competition at all.The game winning shot turnout with Bron getting no votes suprises dime…why doesn’t that suprise me.Bron owns dime mag as far as i’m concerned. You guys put out so much bogus,bias and slanted propoganda out about Bron that it aint even funny no more.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
douglas copeland says:
lakeshow 84 ian’s a bitter dude,he’s mad because he sees the light at the end of the tunnel for his antiquated and decrepid spurs so he’s like a bear caught in a bear trap fighting with every once of energy to avoid the inevitable…the demise of his retirees aka the spurs and he takes a stab at Kobe any chance he gets because Kobes made a living out of punishing the spurs and…well…now he’s back on top doing what haters like Ian said he couldn’t do…defending a title this year on his way to his 5th ring…while the spurs are gripping to make it out of the 1st round..I wish we got to play them again this year so we can punish them in the playoffs like we did n 08…we couldn’t play them last year because they got beat by the Mavs.lol.lol.that’s a joke.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
heartbreaker85 says:
lebron isn’t top 3 coz he doesnt have any creativity with the ball.
his go-to-moves in the clutch are;
1. take the three
2. drive and dunk
3. drive and kick
meaning, top notch squads with great defenses can prepare for it
kobe, melo, pierce– they can all create with the ball and have that stop and pop threat in their game
ben gordon and dirk nowitzki round out my top 5, wouldnt place pp that high though
that’s gospel.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Nevacare says:
I like D-Wade to take the last-shot myself.D-Wade is clutch & he forces contact & draws the fouls.Kobe gets the calls & hits his free-throws more consistently than Bron. Melo is cool but i don’t think he’s in the convo with Pierce,Bron,D-Wade or Kobe.I take Lebron to start my franchise also.
October 8th, 2009 at 12:15 am
kadyo says:
I wouldn’t want lebron to take the shot YET for the reason that he hasn’t got anything that proves he can take those shots. yes, he’s a great person to build a franchise because of his charisma, because of his teamwork, because of all the things he can do in the court. but the thing is, in order for him to win he needs to lead a game. I haven’t seen that much game wherein they were behind by heaps and had to come back to get the W. When he does that, when he gets those rings, that’s when I will say lebron is the one i’d give the ball to at crunch time. Other than that, heaps of players will be on the list like Kobe and my much preferred Ray Allen or Paul Pierce.
Cheers mates!
October 8th, 2009 at 12:29 am
futurestar says:
A guy like MELO.. what do u mean by that? the guy is awesome.. did u forget when he scored 33 points in a quarter. dude knows how to take over games..
October 8th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Ian says:
lakeshow
LOL im sorry but i didnt want to say this to u but that must be the dumbest shit u have ever posted.
who the fuck is 82games and the people who evaluate talent are right?? this isnt crunch time we are talking about its taking a game winning shot.
KOBE SHOOTS 25% period there is nothing to discuss. who gives a shit people pick him over someone like melo who hits for almost 50% tell me how can someone who evaluates talent is right and the numbers are wrong?
am i the only one who mentioned kobes overratedness in game winning shots? NO so i cant be crazy. paul fucking gasol hits for 50% on game winners but i bet those gms have never seen him do it.
look at how retarded it sounds kobe takes 4 games winners makes one BUT wait there are 3 gms there and say hum i think he won all the games because i saw a ONE replay on espn so ill go with him for my next game winner.
what dime didnt mention was that those same gms said they would pick lebron james to start a team over bryant. so are the gms still right? maybe who knows that one can go both ways because u evaluate alot of shit but how can u evaluate 25%????
stupid right i know i got a good laugh out of that post.
douglas
that is just retarded u always come up with the spurs are old thing everytime we all talk about kobe it doesnt even make sense so i wont even waste more time on u.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Roman says:
I dont find it surprising at all. Stop giving this dude credit and let him earn it. That is the problem with Lehype James. Calling him King and all that. Hasnt won anything. That’s why he walked off the floor in Orlando last year. Nobody gave Kobe nothing. He had to earn it all, so step up Lehype.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
C says:
‘A guy like Melo’??? Have you SEEN Melo’s 4th quarter numbers and his 4th quarter numbers in CRUNCH??!? Frankly i’d rather Melo than Kobe.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
nict says:
Yeah would have to say kb for sure.then sugar ray in a close second.lebron is waaay too over hyped,he doesnt even compare to kobe
October 8th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Mack Brownee says:
what about dirk for the game winner? he’s clutch
October 9th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Ed Teach says:
Its Ray Allen for me, even though he shares the ball with PP he still is nails at the end of a game. It is unbelievable how many timely big shots he makes. They aren’t all game winners but they are all clutch.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
L Jackson says:
Kobe is definitely dangerous towards the end of the game. Glad to see P2 make the list…but what about Ray Allen?? He has had quite a few late game daggers over the course of his career and especially with the Celtics (Ray has killed the Bobcats a few times with his heroics over the last few years).
And as for Lebron–cut him a lil slack..he’s only 25. He willl have some late game heroics during his career–but hopefully not against my Celtics!
October 10th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
david rothschild says:
I know I’m a homer but I’d like to see Steve Nash take the last jump shot. He’s deadly
February 24th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Austin says:
K people stop relying on the phony stats from 82games.com. They define the last shots as anything with 24 seconds or left on the clock. Since when is the last shot taken with 24 seconds? They need to do their stats with 5 seconds left, then it becomes clear how feeble Lebron is in the clutch and how dominant Kobe is.