[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

Last night, Kevin Durant "closed" the game with his buzzer beater. 2 seasons ago, Kobe Bryant hit an infamous 3-pointer at the buzzer over D-Wade in Staples Center to "close" the game. My issue with this term is that it is majorily utilized for game-winning, buzzer beating plays. While that is very crucial for "closing" out a tight game, what about for the players that makes sure the game doesn’t get to that point, where they have a comfortable lead halfway in the 4th quarter and keep it that way at the end of a game. Or even how about the players that  "close" out games when the free-throw game is played in the final seconds?

Overall, I just feel this term "closer" is not being used in its entirety, and with that said, what are your thoughts on the term and what do you consider makes a "closer"?

[Anton123Participant]

 Can a defensive player be a "closer"? Like completely shutting down the star of the team in the last 2 minutes of the game

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

Never thought about that one, Anton. Good call.

[mookieParticipant]

Thats a good point about the closer being a defensive player.  Some coaches do sub defense for offense to close out close games.  Theres definitely merit to that.

My only thing though is in terms of a defensive closer, I think that kinda leaves the game up to the refs.  A closer can play solid d and contest the shot and force a miss, but how many times have the refs called a foul for no reason in that situation?  Especially if its a superstar shooting against a scrub.  I guess being the offensive closer you have the ball in your hands and its your world.  Yeah the refs can call travel when they feel like it or an offensive foul but that i think is alot more rare than a defensive foul in the closing seconds.

[Future_Scout’s board]

if that’s the case…. westbrook was a closer yesterday. any1 saw the defense on terry in the clutch????

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

A closer is a player who’s hands you can put the ball in and know that he’ll deliver down the stretch of a game. Regardless if it’s making the "right" passes, making free-throws, hitting the game winning shot, etc. You know he’ll rise to the occassion when the pressure is at it’s peak and won’t shy away from the moment. You know he’ll want the ball and make the right decisions.

Hitting game winning shots is a big part of being a closer, but not the only part. The reason people make such a big deal about hitting game winning shots is because it’s the arguably the most high pressure moment that determines if you’ll lose or go home. It’s that moment where you’ll often either be praised or blamed for the outcome. Closers want that responsibility.

And yes, you can be a closer on defense too. This why I was so disgusted at LeBron James during last year’s NBA Finals (after being impressed with the way he keyed in on Derrick Rose vs the Bulls). Not only did he stink it up at the offensive end, he also got his ass busted by Jason Terry, who talked sh*t before the game, and then when out and delivered while being defended by James.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Another aspect of being a great closer is not turning the ball over or wasting possessions. I can’t stand "closers" who turn the ball over during big moments of the game. Like Danny Granger did yesterday.

[bloodshyParticipant]

Usually I just think of a "closer" as the guy that seems to have ice in his veins when it comes to knocking down that last shot with the game on the line.  This is a critical skill that teams must have to be great in my opinion.  MJ was the greatest "closer" in this sense I’ve ever seen.

A defensive closer is a huge value that no one talks about, which can be just as important and should probably get far more play.

Also, a player that knows how to identify that moment before the game actually gets close and steps on the opposition’s neck to keep it from getting close is equally as valuable.  However, identifying people with this specialty would be very difficult since the game never got close so it’s always hard to say for sure.  That said, I think Pops is a coach that definitely has this knack.  His teams rarely let the game come into question once he builds a lead.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

Two words, Michael Jordan

[dede21]

 Durant and Kobe game winners are very bad examples both of those were lucky shots, Durant’s shot was very inaccurate for a midrange shot but got a lucky bounce and Kobe banked in that three lol.  You could say guys who missed game winners were more clutch because both of those shots were so far off of the aiming point despite going in.  Being clutch is not about results it is about math.  

 

Are you going to determine whether Tom Brady is clutch by if a defender bats down a pass or if Welker catches a ball?

 

Are you going to say a guy who hits a lucky infield hit to win the game is clutch and a guy who hits a 430 foot out is a choker lol?

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