I have come to appreciate the importance of stopping a run through either making a shot or stopping a shot even more. This term is commonly known as clutch, but I didnt want to use the word clutch as I believe it may be confused with being able to step up big during the final minutes of a game. What I am talking about is much broader than that. Being clutch or being able to change the tide is alot more than that, its stopping a run when its necessary, hitting crucial shots, making crucial rebounds. The best example is Shane's big 3, Scola's big 2 when everyone else was cold. How we handle these plays will dictate how we can win any playoff series (yes we do have a small chance against the lakers). Because we dont have a superstar who can light it up, we have to always make big plays in order to stay close to a offensively brilliant team and try to force them to make mistakes down the stretch with our defense. What gives me confidence is that all our players are able to make these plays and consquently if we do this consistently, we will give us the best chance against any team.
shane's hit those shots fairly consistently in the past, he'll hit a 3 to estend the lead into a "safe" zone when the other team was just starting to come back, usually around the 3-4 min mark, pretty much what he did last night. His other long three last night had the same effect, and the one he barely rattled out in the corner earlier in the 4th could have had the same effect. On Scola's big jumper with just under a min left, shane got himself open in the corner as well. Seems like he likes taking those momentum stoppers.
I wonder if folks would have gotten angry at Scola for shooting when Battier was open if he had missed that shot. I certainly wouldnt because thats Scola's shot.
Thats scola's shot, I want him to take it if and whenever he is open its kind of like Juwan howard's mid ranger except better
Personally, i was hoping he'd pass because shane looked right on target that night, he was WAYYY too open, and Roy jumped at Scola to defend the shot, plus scola had been hitting front rim on those early on, so after 30+mins it may have been short.....but i wasnt pissed since he can hit it and he didnt hesitate one bit (which is when he usually makes them).
Shane continues to make big plays after big plays as well as Chuck and some of the guys. When we crumble in the past after the opposing teams big runs, this time and last time we were able to hold our own. I was so ecstatic at work that I jumped out of my seat when the box scores showed that we won. Unfortunately, my director didn't appreciate my love for the rockets
