Jordan actually missed more game winning shots than he made, if I remember correctly. And since his career fg% is above 50%, you could say that he actually performed below his standards in clutch situations. Of course, I'd agree with you that defenses tend to clamp down, etc, in those situations. But he was still missing plenty of them. You just tend not to remember those .
But his playoff ERA is still much lower at 2.84. I actually think you made a better case for Stewart being clutch by including only his playoff year regular season stats -- it better proves that he raised his level of play when his team was in the playoffs. Showing his entire career numbers leaves open the possibility that he played too long past his prime, thus causing his career numbers to suffer.
Check this out. http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/2809078.htm According to this Steve Nash, and Dirk Nowitzki are 1st, and 2nd as far as clutch performers in the NBA.
1) I wouldn't call his playoff ERA "much lower." Stewart played consecutive seasons 14 times. He only had consecutive ERAs within 0.46 runs (3.30 - 2.84) 3 times -- and one of those times was within 0.45 runs. 2) If Stewart really were clutch, then why wouldn't he be better in even more important games? LCS: 12 games, 8-2, 2.37 WS: 10 games, 2-4, 3.47 What kind of clutchness would abandon Dave when he needed it the most? Doesn't it make more sense to say that he happened to have some good games in the LCS, instead of that he choked in the Series? I'm willing to agree to disagree, but I personally don't think that there's any winning argument that can be made against haven's linked-to articles.
