Clutchness is not something you can quantify with stats. No one's production jumps up that dramatically in the fourth quarter or in close games. Stats measuring clutchness on 82games.com showed Horry as mediocre while Nowitski rated highly. We know that's messed up. It just depends on what criteria you use for clutch. All players are generally consistent throughout the game. All of Yao's weaknesses in the fourth are seen earlier in the game. Let's not pretend he doesn't turn the ball over or miss jumpers in quarters 1-3. It's just that much more painfully memorable when it happens in close games down the stretch.
I disagree with this. Due to small sample sizes, "clutch" stats are temperamental. They go up and down from year to year. A player can perform well in the clutch one year and poorly the next. The only thing that tends to be lasting in that regard is people's perceptions.
I still don't get the whole McGrady love-fest. I would agree he would be "clutch" if he shot close to 50% and not a reason why the Rox need to be in such close games in the first place. I see that Rafer gets slammed on this board for laying bricks thoughout the game but he does usually pull through and hits a crucial shot at the end. Is Rafer then clutch? If not, then why does McGrady get the pass?
He's soft and a very weak minded individual, no doubt, but that doesn't change the fact that he always has made good decisions with the ball late in close games.
now i am really confused. are you saying clutch only applies to a team but not any individual player? and in the denver game, did yao "deliver close and late"? i think he did - despite of the last 2 possesstions - as the game was "close and late". i understand you'rer not particularly critisizing yao. my point is yao has not been given enough chance to show if he can be "clutch" or not so far in his career and now it's time to try. clutch to me is more of a strong mentality and confidence rather than skills (which is a preassumption in this discussion). i could be wrong, but to me mcgrady is no more "clutch" than yao or anyone on this current team. if that grab of loose ball wasn't clutch, then what is? you didn't give any reasoning here; only a "no" as your conclusion.
Then maybe the Rox should just insert McGrady only in the 2 minute mark of each quarter cuz he's been horrible in the other minutes.
This season Yao is more clutch than any other real center in the league. Better than Shaq, DH, even if he is not a true center Al Jefferson etc. As far as this season even better that Duncan and he is a combo PF/C, is good to have Folpnobili, Parker and now Mason getting clutch buckets in close games. http://www.82games.com/CSORT11.HTM Sure he can't compare to the guards and wing players but we all know this is a guard league now.
Right on!!!!!!!!!! if it wasn't for Yao those last few minutes, the rockets are probably out of the game and his last two touches wouldn't have been significant.
Yao is clutch, but people keep forgetting that the other team is going to concentrate on stopping him late, and thus it is up to Yao to "TRUST" his teamates to make them pay. That is the way of the champions. DD
if Clutchness is defined by one game, grabbing one lose ball, every NBA player is clutch. If given enough (how many is ENOUGH?) chances, every NBA player is clutch too. Yao is the clutchest player on Rockets, or the clutchest center in the league does not mean Yao is clutch. Rafer is also the clutchest player ever whose last name is Alston. it is true but it does not mean anything. what the hell is clutch? Kobe is clutch, sometimes. Being not clutch is nothing to be shamed about.
Why criticize our players? They are all wearing Rocket red, we should all love them and give them respect. Stop criticizing them and making up childish names. DD
doubt you've read all my posts in this thread. yao overall is not a clutch player - in a popular sense. and one game certainly doesn't define it all. but i have reasons to believe, with the recent games being some indications, that he may be able to become one clutch player. he just needs to be given more chances. and no, not everyone can possibly be clutch. being clutch requires certain skill level to pre-qualify. think of luther head, for example.
Look at Robert Horry the clutchest man in the history of the NBA. He doesn't score much in the 4th qtr but scores them when it counts the most. It's not about how much you score in the entire 4th qtr. DD- It's nice that Yao trust his teammates but that doesn't excuse his turnovers and missing fadeaways shots over and over again during clutch time. Clutch is not the person that makes the pass to the open guy, that's pretty easy stuff, clutch is the guy hitting the open shot.
When a kidd is wrong, you will never going to make him change his mind. When a hater hate, you can stop them from hating. Ir Doesn't matter what you do, if ppl have a preconceive idea of something you will never change it. If you believe Big foot exist, that Mexicans are taking your jobs or WOMD was the reason we attack Irak, nobody will change your mind. Clutchness, heart, soft etc. are all subjective.
Clutch = hitting a game winner by being double or triple teamed, or putting the game out of reach in those final minutes. Scoring a bunch of points and even stats is not 'Clutch' i.e. Robert Horry is a 'Clutch' shooter. I say it, Yao is not 'Clutch', YET....hopefully If Yao was 'Clutch' he would have made something happen in those final seconds against the Lakers.
Sorry I only started following basketball when Yao joined the Rockets. I don't know who Larry Bird is.
