Most clutch playoff performances

[Rose'sACL]

My definition of clutch is when a player performs really well under pressure. the amount of pressure plays a big role.

my first nomination for this is 45pts by lebron against Celtics in 2012 ECF game 6. clearly the most clutch performance in recent history. No player in the history of game(even Jordan) had as much pressure before any of his games. lebron did have a big part in building that performance by failing in finals the year before but pressure is pressure.

What are your picks for most clutch playoff performances?

[riseagainst]

Dirk in the 2011 finals as a whole.
Huge underdog. Beat 3 superstars teaming up. Against all odds.

[HelterSkelter]

Jordan in Game 6 of '98 finals..

quick two.. great steal.. great shot..

[Rose'sACL]

Dirk in the 2011 finals as a whole.
Huge underdog. Beat 3 superstars teaming up. Against all odds.
did you even watch those finals? i am asking for a single game performance here.Also, his WCF was way better than his finals. His finals were just a little above average for any superstar. he did hit some big shots though.

[Nick Young]

Kobe-any playoff run of his
Dirk-2011
Baron Davis-2007 PHUCK THE JAZZ

[I<3NBA]

Dirk in the 2011 finals as a whole.
Huge underdog. Beat 3 superstars teaming up. Against all odds.
you could argue there was no pressure on him. the time he had pressure (when his team were favorites), Dirk failed spectacularly.

[Rose'sACL]

Why do people still not get the meaning of clutch? post about great permances by players in a single game when they had a lot of pressure on them. dirk till game 5-6 of 2011 finals had very little pressure on him from other people. He actually had more pressure during WCF as media had them as favorites unlike in the finals where Heat were the favorites.

[DaSeba5]

2006 Finals game 3: Wade with 42 points and 13 rebounds. The Heat comeback down 13 points in the 4th Q, and then they went on to win 4 games in a row.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNBmR09eUPU

[TheMarkMadsen]

Kobe game 4 2000 finals

4th quarter/OT 2000 game 7 WCF

2009 WCF game 3 & 6.

[Dro]

Reggie....1994, 1995, 1998, 2000

[riseagainst]

did you even watch those finals? i am asking for a single game performance here.Also, his WCF was way better than his finals. His finals were just a little above average for any superstar. he did hit some big shots though.

like you said, clutch.

[riseagainst]

you could argue there was no pressure on him. the time he had pressure (when his team were favorites), Dirk failed spectacularly.

like I said, the 2011 finals. Not talking about other playoff series.

[CelticBaller]

Why do people still not get the meaning of clutch? post about great permances by players in a single game when they had a lot of pressure on them. dirk till game 5-6 of 2011 finals had very little pressure on him from other people. He actually had more pressure during WCF as media had them as favorites unlike in the finals where Heat were the favorites.
Dirk was known as a choker before 2011. His whole legacy depended on that great run he had, so yes he was under pressure. Im wondering when did you start to watch basketball.

[tmacattack33]

This is true.

Some things get labeled as clutch when in reality the player had little pressure to make the shot or perform well.

For a super-star (who cares about his legacy), things like level of popularity and past reputation of being clutch comes into play here.

For a role player, the legacy stuff hardly matters, and the pressure for them is the money. So their contract situation comes into play here.

[Solefade]

This is true.

Some things get labeled as clutch when in reality the player had little pressure to make the shot or perform well.

For a super-star (who cares about his legacy), things like level of popularity and past reputation of being clutch comes into play here.

For a role player, the legacy stuff hardly matters, and the pressure for them is the money. So their contract situation comes into play here.

:applause:

[tmacattack33]

Dirk was known as a choker before 2011. His whole legacy depended on that great run he had, so yes he was under pressure. Im wondering when did you start to watch basketball.

Yeah, Dirk's playoff run had a high impact on his overall legacy.

So what he did was definitely clutch.

[leMVP]

Lebron's game 6 is what defines his legacy, it's not clutch in the way we know it.

it's of the same caliber as Jordan's final game as Bulls, Something that defines player's legacy, he ended up big.

For me as lebron's fan, it's his most important game ever. until he retires.

[GaryRaymond23]

Probably Chris Bosh's 0-5 shooting performance of Game 7 last year.

No I don't know, Wade's 06 Finals game was pretty impressive, Dirk had a few in his title run - LeBron's had quite a few lately.

I always enjoyed Shaq's dominance in the early 2000's

Rondo's had some eye opening stat lines as well

I mean there's a handful every year ..

[Dro]

Lebron's game 6 is what defines his legacy, it's not clutch in the way we know it.

it's of the same caliber as Jordan's final game as Bulls, Something that defines player's legacy, he ended up big.

For me as lebron's fan, it's his most important game ever. until he retires.
:biggums: Are you his only fan?

[PJR]

2006 Finals game 3: Wade with 42 points and 13 rebounds. The Heat comeback down 13 points in the 4th Q, and then they went on to win 4 games in a row.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNBmR09eUPU

Was there live and in person. Tremendous performance. :applause:

[Dro]

Was there live and in person. Tremendous performance. :applause:
I remember that. I thought for sure Dallas was going to be up 3-0.

[leMVP]

:biggums: Are you his only fan?

Others would argue, so i didn't generalize the assumption, baka.

[Magic 32]

my first nomination for this is 45pts by lebron against Celtics in 2012 ECF game 6. clearly the most clutch performance in recent history.

Would have been a lot more meaningful, if it had happened in the 2011 series.

Facing elimination against a team that you beat in 5 games the year before (now 2 years removed from their last hurrah) is a lot less impressive.

I'm still amazed that the Heat put themselves in that situation in the first place.

The 2012 Celtics were done.

[K Xerxes]

Lebron's game 6 is what defines his legacy, it's not clutch in the way we know it.

it's of the same caliber as Jordan's final game as Bulls, Something that defines player's legacy, he ended up big.

For me as lebron's fan, it's his most important game ever. until he retires.

:biggums:

Jordan's legacy was already well past 'defined' in that final game. He had won 5/5 with 5FMVP and 5MVPs. He was already GOAT. That last game was the icing on the cake of a spectacular and superlative career.

LeBron was in limbo for much of the time preceding game 6 Boston. After his egregious performance in 2011, no one gave a shit about how he performed in the regular season... or the first round, or whatever. It was win it all or bust.

Jordan never allowed that happen because he pretty much always stepped it up when required, unlike LeBron who has shrivelled up at times and somewhat invited this almost insurmountable pressure and expectation on him.

In isolation though, Game 6 Boston is in the top 5 performances I've ever seen. Maybe top 3. Definitely the best and most important game of his career. But let's not act like he didn't cause some of it.

[Rose'sACL]

Would have been a lot more meaningful, if it had happened in the 2011 series.

Facing elimination against a team that you beat in 5 games the year before (now 2 years removed from their last hurrah) is a lot less impressive.

I'm still amazed that the Heat put themselves in that situation in the first place.

The 2012 Celtics were done.
it was heat who put themselves in that position. Boston was still a good team with great defense. The difference was no bosh for most of that series and wade scoring about 21 ppg instead of 30 ppg he put in the year before that against celtics.
it is harder to play with a player who has always been putting up nearly 27-28 ppg a game and suddenly starts playing like a 20ppg guy rather than playing with a guy who has always been a 20ppg type of player.
Keep hating like an idiot you are.

[SamuraiSWISH]

:biggums:

Jordan's legacy was already well past 'defined' in that final game. He had won 5/5 with 5FMVP and 5MVPs. He was already GOAT. That last game was the icing on the cake of a spectacular and superlative career.

LeBron was in limbo for much of the time preceding game 6 Boston. After his egregious performance in 2011, no one gave a shit about how he performed in the regular season... or the first round, or whatever. It was win it all or bust.

Jordan never allowed that happen because he pretty much always stepped it up when required, unlike LeBron who has shrivelled up at times and somewhat invited this almost insurmountable pressure and expectation on him.

In isolation though, Game 6 Boston is in the top 5 performances I've ever seen. Maybe top 3. Definitely the best and most important game of his career. But let's not act like he didn't cause some of it.
:applause:

[DMAVS41]

you could argue there was no pressure on him. the time he had pressure (when his team were favorites), Dirk failed spectacularly.

How you know when you are an all time great player?

When 23/11/3 on 53% TS...while coming up super clutch in basically the deciding game 5 crunch time and having a 29/15/2 57% TS elimination game 6 is....

failing spectacularly

[Shade8780]

http://ceoseats.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/death-stare.gif

[DirkNowitzki41]

Dirk game 4 vs thunder in 2011. Mavs were down by 15 with 5 minutes left, and in those 5 mins, Dirk scored 12 points, hitting tough shot after tough shot as they went on to win in OT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcRxWV_de4c

starts at 2:32


you could argue there was no pressure on him. the time he had pressure (when his team were favorites), Dirk failed spectacularly.

:coleman:

dont be so mad

[Stringer Bell]

James Worthy in game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals.

Walt Frazier in game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. I get tired of hearing about the Willis Reed story and not the great game Frazier had.

[iTare]

Bron vs Detroit mentioned yet?

[LAZERUSS]

Chamberlain "the choker"...


The idiotic Bill Simmons claims that Wilt "shrunk" in the post-season, particularly in BIG games.

Had he actually done any real research into Wilt's post-season career, he would have found that Wilt averaged 27.0 ppg in his 35 "must-win" and/or clinching games. Meanwhile, his starting opposing centers averaged 14.5 ppg in those 35 games. He also outscored his opposing starting center in 29 of those 35 games, including a 19-0 edge in his first 19 games of those 35. Furthermore, in his 13 games which came in his "scoring" seasons (from 59-60 thru 65-66), Chamberlain averaged 37.3 ppg in those "do-or-die" or clinching games. And there were MANY games in which he just CRUSHED his opposing centers in those games (e.g. he outscored Kerr in one them, 53-7.)

Wilt had THREE of his four 50+ point post-season games, in these "elimination games", including two in "at the limit" games, and another against Russell in a "must-win" game. He also had games of 46-34 and 45-27 (and only 4 months removed from major knee surgery) in these types of games. In addition he had games of 39 and 38 in clinching wins.

In the known 19 games in which we have both Wilt's, and his starting opposing center's rebounding numbers, Chamberlain outrebounded them in 15 of them, and by an average margin of 26.1 rpg to 18.9 rpg. And, had we had all 35 of the totals, it would have been by a considerably larger margin. A conservative estimate would put Wilt with at least a 30-5 overall edge in those 35 games. He also had games, even against the likes of Russell, and in "must-win" situations, where he just MURDERED his opposing centers (e.g. he had one clinching game, against Russell, in which he outrebounded him by a 36-21 margin.)

And finally, in the known FG% games in which we have, Chamberlain not only shot an eye-popping .582 in those "do-or-die" games, but he held his opposing centers to a combined .413 FG%. BTW, he played against Kareem in two "clinching" games, and held Abdul-Jabbar to a combined .383 shooting in those two games (23-60), while shooting .545 himself (18-33).

The bottom line, in the known games of the 35 that Wilt played in that involved a "must-win" or clincher, Wilt averaged 27 ppg, 26.1 rpg, and shot .582 (and the 27 ppg figure was known for all 35 of those games.)

And once again, Chamberlain played in 11 games which went to the series limit (nine game seven's, one game five of a best-of-five series, and one game three of a best-of-three series), and all he did was average 29.9 ppg (outscoring his opposing center by a 29.9 ppg to 9.8 ppg margin in the process), with 26.7 rpg, and on .581 shooting. Or he was an eye-lash away from averaging a 30-27 game, and on nearly .600 shooting, in those 11 "at the limit" games.


Oh, and BTW, Chamberlain's TEAMs went 24-11 in those 35 games, too.

That was the same player that Simmons basically labeled a "loser", and a "choker", and who "shrunk" in his BIG games.

[LAZERUSS]

And these...


Ok, here are the known numbers in Wilt's "must-win" playoff games (elimination games), and clinching game performances (either deciding winning or losing games), of BOTH Chamberlain, and his starting opposing centers in those games.

1. Game three of a best-of-three series in the first round of the 59-60 playoffs against Syracuse, a 132-112 win. Wilt with 53 points, on 24-42 shooting, with 22 rebounds. His opposing center, Red Kerr, who was a multiple all-star in his career, had 7 points.

2. Game five of the 59-60 ECF's against Boston, a 128-107 win. Chamberlain had 50 points, on 22-42 shooting, with 35 rebounds. His opposing center, Russell, had 22 points and 27 rebounds.

3. Game six of the 59-60 ECF's against Boston, in a 119-117 loss. Wilt had a 26-24 game, while Russell had a 25-25 game.

4. Game three of a best-of-five series in the first round of the 60-61 playoffs , and against Syracuse, in a 106-103 loss. Chamberlain with 33 points, while his opposing center, the 7-3 Swede Halbrook, scored 6 points.

5. Game five of a best-of-five series in the first round of the 61-62 playoffs, against Syracuse, in a 121-104 win. Chamberlain had 56 points, on 22-48 shooting, with 35 rebounds. Kerr had 20 points in the loss.

6. Game six of the 61-62 ECF's, and against Boston, in a 109-99 win. Wilt with 32 points and 21 rebounds. Russell had 19 points and 22 rebounds in the loss.

7. Game seven of the 61-62 ECF's, against Boston, in a 109-107 loss. Wilt with 22 points, on 7-15 shooting, with 21 rebounds. Russell had 19 points, on 7-14 shooting, with 22 rebounds in the win.

8. Game seven of the 63-64 WCF's, and against St. Louis, in a 105-95 win. Wilt with 39 points, 26 rebounds, and 10 blocks. His opposing center, Zelmo Beaty, who would go on to become a multiple all-star, had 10 points in the loss.

9. Game five of the 63-64 Finals, and against Boston, in a 105-99 loss. Chamberlain with 30 points and 27 rebounds. Russell had 14 points and 26 points in the win.

10. Game four of a best-of-five series in the 64-65 first round of the playoffs against Cincinnati, a 119-112 win. Chamberlain with 38 points. His opposing center, multiple all-star (and HOFer) Wayne Embry had 7 points in the loss.

11. Game six of the 64-65 ECF's, against Boston, a 112-106 win. Chamberlain with a 30-26 game. Russell with a 22-21 game in the loss.

12. Game seven of the 64-65 ECF's, and against Boston, a 110-109 loss. Wilt with 30 points, on 12-15 shooting, with 32 rebounds. Russell had 15 points, on 7-16 shooting, with 29 rebounds in the win.

13. Game five of a best-of-seven series, in the 65-66 ECF's, and against Boston, in a 120-112 loss. Wilt had 46 points, on 19-34 shooting, with 34 rebounds. Russell had 18 points and 31 rebounds in the win.

14. Game four of a best-of-five series, in the first round of the 66-67 playoffs, and against Cincinnati, a 112-94 win. Wilt with 18 points, on 7-14 shooting, with 27 rebounds and 9 assists. His opposing center, Connie Dierking, had 8 points, on 4-14 shooting, with 4 rebounds in the loss.

15. Game five of the 66-67 ECF's, and against Boston, in a 140-116 win. Chamberlain with 29 points, on 10-16 shooting, with 36 rebounds, 13 assists, and 7 blocks. Russell had 4 points, on 2-5 shooting, with 21 rebounds, and 7 assists in the loss.

16. Game six of the 66-67 Finals, and against San Francisco, in a 125-122 win. Chamberlain with 24 points, on 8-13 shooting, with 23 rebounds. His oppsoing center, HOFer Nate Thurmond, had 12 points, on 4-13 shooting, with 22 rebounds in the loss.

17. Game six of the first round of the 67-68 playoffs, against NY, in a 113-97 win. Wilt had 25 points, and 27 rebounds. His opposing center, HOFer Walt Bellamy, had 19 points in the loss.

18. Game seven of the 67-68 ECF's, against Boston, in a 100-96 loss. Wilt with 14 points, on 4-9 shooting, with 34 rebounds. Russell had 12 points and 26 rebounds in the win.

19. Game six of the first round of the 68-69 playoffs, against San Francisco, in a 118-78 win. Wilt with 11 points on 5/9 FG, 25 rebounds and 1 assist. Thurmond had 8 points in the loss.

20. Game four of the 68-69 WCF's, against Atlanta, in a 133-114 sweeping win. Chamberlain with 16 points on 5/11 FG, 29 rebounds and 10 blocks. His opposing center, Zelmo Beaty had 30 points in the loss.

21. Game seven of the 68-69 Finals, against Boston, in a 108-106 loss. Chamberlain had 18 points, on 7-8 shooting, with 27 rebounds. Russell had 6 points, on 2-7 shooting, with 21 rebounds in the win.

22. Game five of a best-of-seven series (the Lakers were down 3-1 going into the game) in the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, and against Phoenix, a 138-121 win. Wilt with 36 points on 12/20 FG 14 rebounds and 3 assists. His opposing center, Neal Walk, had 18 points in the loss.

23. Game six of the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, against Phoenix, in a 104-93 win. Wilt with 12 points on 4/11 FG, 26 rebounds, 11 assists and 12 blocks (unofficial quad). Jim Fox started that game for Phoenix, and had 13 points in the loss.

24. Game seven of the first round of the 69-70 playoffs, against Phoenix, and in a 129-94 win, which capped a 4-3 series win after falling behind 3-1 in the series. Wilt with 30 points on 11/18 FG, 27 rebounds, 6 assists and 11 blocks. Fox had 7 points in the loss.

25. Game four of the 69-70 WCF's, against Atlanta, in a 133-114 sweeping win. Wilt with 11 points on 5/10 FG, 21 rebounds and 10 blocks. Bellamy had 19 points in the loss.

26. Game six of the 69-70 Finals, against NY, in a 135-113 win. Wilt with 45 points, on 20-27 shooting, with 27 rebounds. Nate Bowman had 18 points, on 9-15 shooting, with 8 rebounds in the loss.

27. Game seven of the 69-70 Finals, against NY, in a 113-99 loss. Wilt with 21 points, on 10-16 shooting, with 24 rebounds. HOFer Willis Reed had 4 points, on 2-5 shooting, with 3 rebounds in the win.

28. Game seven of the first round of the 70-71 playoffs, against Chicago, in a 109-98 win. Wilt with 25 points on 7/12 FG,18 rebounds and 9 assists. 7-0 Tom Boerwinkle had 4 points for the Bulls in the loss.

29. Game five of the 70-71 WCF's, against Milwaukee, in a 116-94 loss. Wilt had 23 points, on 10-21 shooting, with 12 rebounds, 6 blocks (5 of them on Alcindor/Kareem.) Kareem had 20 points, on 7-23 shooting, with 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the win. Incidently, Wilt received a standing ovation when he left the game late...and the game was played in Milwaukee.

30. Game four of the 71-72 first round of the playoffs, against Chicago, in a 108-97 sweeping win. Wilt had 8 points on 4/6, 31 rebounds and 8 assists. Clifford Ray had 20 points in the loss.

31. Game six of the 71-72 WCF's, against Milwaukee, in a 104-100 win. Chamberlain with 20 points, on 8-12 shooting, with 24 rebounds, and 9 blocks (six against Kareem.) Kareem had 37 points, on 16-37 shooting, with 25 rebounds in the loss.

32. Game five of the 71-72 Finals, against NY, in a 114-100 win. Chamberlain with 24 points, on 10-14 shooting, with 29 rebounds, and 9 blocks. HOFer Jerry Lucas had 14 points, on 5-14 shooting, with 9 rebounds in the loss.

33. Game seven of the first round of the 72-73 playoffs, against Chicago, in a 95-92 win. Wilt with 21 points on 10/17 FG, 28 rebounds, 4 asissts and 8 blocks. His opposing center, Clifford Ray, had 4 points.

The article about this series sad that Wilt blocked Chicago from playoffs after blocking 49 shots in 7 games.

34. Game five of the 72-73 WCF's, and against Golden St., in a 128-118 win. Wilt with 5 points on 2/2 FG, 22 rebounds, 7 assists. Thurmond had 9 points on 2/9 FG, 18 or 15 rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes in the loss.

35. Game five of the 72-73 Finals, against NY, in a 102-93 loss. Wilt with 23 points, on 9-16 shooting, with 21 rebounds. Willis Reed had 18 points, on 9-16 shooting, with 12 rebounds.

That was it. 35 "must-win" elimination and/or clinching post-season games.


Of course, while the Wilt-bashers will attempt to disparage Chamberlain with his decline in scoring in the post-season (of which only 52 of his 160 post-season games came in his scoring prime)...they never bring up the fact that Wilt was DRAMATICALLY reducing his OPPOSING center's efficiencies in those post-season H2H's. Just ask Kareem, who shot .577 and .574 against the NBA in his regular seasons...and in the same post-seasons against Wilt... .481 and .457.