Horry....one of the most clutch ever?????

Here's an article from the good folks at basketballnews.com:

The great debate

Where does Robert Horry rank among the best clutch players in the game?

Wednesday, May 22, 2002

It was a statement that rocked the office and had more than a few people questioning his sanity, but managing editor of special projects Mike Holbrook started a firestorm by uttering the words, "Robert Horry is one of top five clutch players of all-time." And he’s sticking to that original statement, at least to a point. He later modified that statement to say that Horry is one of the best clutch players of the last 10 years, but the words still had been said. Associate editor Ken Bikoff doesn’t quite agree, and now it’s time to hash it out.

Today’s topic: Where does Robert Horry rank among the best clutch players in the game?
Mike Holbrook: I clearly overstated my position when I declared Horry as one of the most clutch players of all-time. However, I will go to my grave believing that Horry is a difference-maker in the clutch, especially the playoffs. Sure, he’s had the benefit of playing with some of the greatest players in the game’s history, but he genuinely has been a big factor in helping those players achieve the ultimate goal of winning championships. Look, there’s no question that Horry is dead weight for much of the season, particularly the regular season. But that’s the price you pay to get what he offers come playoff time. I mean, when the games REALLY mean something, you’ve got to admit that Horry’s play rises dramatically. He’s won four titles and is on his way to a fifth by playing solid defense, being a veteran leader and knocking down clutch three-pointers. The man is fourth all-time on the career playoff three-point list with 176 in 143 career playoff games. And is it just me or did most of them come in the fourth quarter or down the stretch to decide the outcome of a game? Look at this year. Horry was a dog during most of the regular season with 6.8 ppg and 5.9 rpg. But in the playoffs, he has raised those numbers to 9.0 points and 7.5 rebounds. In Game 3 of the first-round series against Portland, he hit a decisive three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to play to win the series. In Game 5 of the conference semis against San Antonio, he hit a key three-pointer in the final minute to break open a close game. Then, in Game 1 of the conference finals in Sacramento, Horry rose up and had a spectacular all-around game, with 18 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. That’s pretty clutch to me.

Ken Bikoff: He’s clutch, there’s no question about that. But top five of all-time? We were making calls to have your head checked before you backed off of that statement. But even in the NBA right now, I don’t think that Horry ranks among the top five. Give me Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan (still), Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki or John Stockton with the ball in their hands and the clock winding down over Horry every time. Horry has made some big ones, but it’s not like he needed to shoot over someone with a hand in his face every time. You said it yourself. He has benefited from playing with some of the top players in the game, and he gets some wide-open looks because of all the attention that Kobe and Shaq — and Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler in years past — draw. Just about any NBA player can hit a wide-open jumper and Horry simply seems to be in the right place at the right time. Horry does the little things that make his team successful, but I wouldn’t put him among the top clutch guys in the game.

Holbrook: Fine, but you’ve got to give Horry his due as a big-time playoff performer. As much as he benefits from Shaq and Kobe, he also plays an integral part in giving them room to maneuver inside by stepping out and knocking down shots from the outside. And unlike Chris Webber, Horry actually knows what playoff intensity is all about and how to box out and play defense! For cripes sakes, Webber has looked scared of Horry in the Kings-Lakers series, hasn’t he? I mean, Horry’s just making me look good when he’s out there grabbing 20 rebounds a game.

Bikoff: Horry has played well in the Kings-Lakers series, and like I said, he does the little things, but Horry isn’t the reason the Lakers win or lose. He’s not the most clutch player on his own team — I’ll take Kobe with the clock winding down any day. As for Webber looking afraid against Horry, well, I agree with you there, but that’s mostly because C-Webb has a heart-shaped hole in his chest right now (although if you had the chance to give your heart to Tyra Banks, wouldn’t you?). Historically Horry has turned his game up a notch in the playoffs, but I find even that offensive because I have no use for a player who obviously doesn’t give his all during the regular season. But I’m wandering off the subject. Horry is a very good playoff player, but he’s simply not in the same class of the Reggie Millers and Bryants of the world. He may have four championship rings on his hand, but the Rockets and Lakers would have won their titles whether Horry was on the floor or not. To say that Horry is the best clutch player in the game is crazy talk in my world, and I don’t think coaches in the playoffs are telling their players, "Whatever you do, keep the ball out of Robert Horry’s hands."

Holbrook: Agreed. But you’ve got to give him his due. The man comes up big when he’s under the brightest of the bright lights. He’s done it over the long haul too. All those things you’ve always heard about players not being able to just turn on a switch don’t apply to Horry. It’s truly amazing. During the season, Phil Jackson’s got to be pulling his hair out when he looks at the immense talent contained in Horry and sees Horry sleepwalk through another ho-hum seven-point, five-rebound game. The ideal situation would be to give Horry an extended vacation from November through April — maybe Club Med or somewhere in the Caribbean — as long as he stays in playing shape. Then, bring him back when the season winds down and heads into the playoffs. He’s truly invaluable to the Lakers, whether you want to believe it or not. He’s a calming influence and a leader who’s been through the playoff wars. He keeps his cool and settles down his teammates when things aren’t going their way. And he does the little things (a steal here, a block there, a great bounce pass, a three-pointer) that must be done on the way to a championship. He might be one of the most fascinating players in the history of the game. It almost defies logic to see a guy who does so little for most of the year come back and do so much come crunch time. Barring Kobe, there is no other Laker that I would want to take a potential game-tying or game-winning shot. And that’s the ultimate compliment to pay Horry, don’t you think?

Bikoff: The ultimate compliment to pay Horry would be to say that he is one of the most consistent players in the game, but it simply isn’t true. Although his eight-point, 20-board performance in Game 2 vs. the Kings was spectacular, his eight-point, three-rebound outing in Game 1 of the Spurs-Lakers series didn’t exactly have San Antonio quaking. I realize that you are concentrating more on when he is scoring his points rather than how many he scores, but a clutch player is someone who can be the difference maker. I don’t see Horry in that light, and to say that he’s one of the best clutch guys around just doesn’t fit.

 

Hey hey, take it up with the folks at basketballnews.com. I thought they were praising him, but it the column turns out to be utter nonsense....NONSENSE I TELL YOU. UTTER.