How Kobe Bryant's Game Winning Field Goals Saved a Season.

by R.H Rhead on Feb 10, 2012 12:16 AM PST

Kobe Bryant Game-Winners And Buzzer Beaters 2009-10 (via KOBEBRYANT8AND24)

Dec. 04, 2009: Lakers 108 - Heat 107 (buzzer-beater, 3-pointer over Dwyane Wade)
Dec. 16, 2009: Lakers 107 - Bucks 106 (OT buzzer-beater, jumper over Charlie Bell)
Jan. 01, 2010: Lakers 109 - Kings 108 (buzzer-beater, 3-pointer)
Jan. 31, 2010: Lakers 90 - Celtics 89 (jumper over Ray Allen w/ 7.3 secs)
Feb. 23, 2010: Lakers 99 - Grizzlies 98 (3-pointer over Rudy Gay w/ 4.3 secs)
Mar. 09, 2010: Lakers 109 - Raptors 107 (fade-away jumper over Antoine Wright w/ 1.9 secs)

The 2009-2010 season may go down as the most clutch season ever for Kobe Bryant, It may go down as maybe the most clutch season in NBA history considering Kobe did it all with a severed index finger on his shooting hand.

For those who have never played the game a buzzer beater is just two points to them. They simply don't understand the level of pressure one has on him with the game in his hands. The essence of a game winning shot particularly a buzzer beater is lost in the many geek manufactured equations, such as PER for example.

PER doesn't give extra points for clutch buzzer beaters. PER does not differentiate value, meaningless points scored in the fourth when the game are equaled to game tying or winning field goals.

In this case Kobe Bryant's game winner meant more than many people failed to realize. These shots were the difference in the Laker's championship chances.

That year the Lakers went 57-25 winning the Pacific Division Championship, not to mention a number 1 seed in the playoffs. One must wonder how that scenario would have played out had Kobe missed those game winning shots.

Had Kobe not beat the odds the L.A Lakers would have finished with 51 wins and 31 losses placing them at a 5 seed in the Western Conference. Yes they still would of made the playoffs, however they way they were playing in the early stages of the post-season its quite possible they would of been a early first round out at worst. A hard second round out at best.

Lets not forget the Laker's were nearly eliminated twice in the playoffs that year and that was with home court advantage. These are the many situations where PER fails to evaluate a player for what they are really worth.

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Comments

Good write-up!

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Feb 10, 2012 2:35 AM PST reply actions

you are the only who actually read and commented on the article. Thanks

by R.H Rhead on Feb 11, 2012 10:03 PM PST up reply actions

You mean he's the only one who read the article and didn't comment.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. - Albert Einstein
Captain Obvious, er, MagicJohnson: Kobe, Bynum & Gasol all must step up big to beat the @Knicks.
Tweetness

by SoCalGal on Feb 12, 2012 12:43 AM PST up reply actions

no he commented

by T.Ross on Feb 28, 2012 7:46 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks for the read!

by R.H Rhead on Feb 10, 2012 7:16 AM PST reply actions

PER doesn’t give extra points for clutch buzzer beaters. PER does not differentiate value, meaningless points scored in the fourth when the game are equaled to game tying or winning field goals.

Because two points at the end of the game means the same as two points in the middle of the second quarter: they’re two points. Complaining about this is rather ridiculous. Besides, obviously Kobe had a nice string of game winners that season, but discussing his “clutch” credentials this season is basically examining a horror show of terrible decisions and bad, bad shots.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 10, 2012 9:13 AM PST reply actions

as I have demonstrated PER has many flaws some shots mean more

by R.H Rhead on Feb 10, 2012 9:32 AM PST up reply actions

I'm not saying PER doesn't have flaws, but criticizing it for not conforming to your rather warped notion of what two points means is another.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 10, 2012 9:49 AM PST up reply actions

How is it warped proved to me that What I listed in this article isn't true.

by R.H Rhead on Feb 10, 2012 10:26 AM PST up reply actions

Two points are two points.

You basically said that PER doesn’t take into account when scoring takes place and that’s apparently a mark against it, which is nonsensical. Moreover if that actually was the case, Kobe should have an even worse PER this year seeing as he’s been terrible in “clutch” situations.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 10, 2012 11:55 AM PST up reply actions

This Article isn't about this year though. Stay on topic.

by R.H Rhead on Feb 11, 2012 3:59 AM PST up reply actions

Dude, you're too much.

by SoCalGal on Feb 11, 2012 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

and some how Kobe's performance in the clutch has still been far better than lebrons go figure

by R.H Rhead on Feb 10, 2012 9:33 AM PST up reply actions

What is with the LeBron comparison here?

It doesn’t excuse Kobe for playing godawful hero ball down the stretch.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 10, 2012 9:51 AM PST up reply actions

LOL, you're not still drunk are you?

by SoCalGal on Feb 10, 2012 10:11 AM PST up reply actions

Maybe.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 10, 2012 11:57 AM PST up reply actions

Its true by the way you are off topic those shots changes the whole playoff layout

by R.H Rhead on Feb 10, 2012 10:25 AM PST up reply actions

Off topic?

You’re the one who brought up the LeBron comparison uninvited. And sure, those last minute shots were important that year, but it’s deeply ironic that you’re bringing an article like this forward when Kobe’s decision making down the stretch has lost us a fair share of games this year.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 10, 2012 11:57 AM PST up reply actions

actually the games have been lost due to no bench play, poor small forward play

by R.H Rhead on Feb 11, 2012 3:54 AM PST up reply actions

You know, it's ironic when you're asking other people to stay on topic and go ahead and introduce irrelevant tangents yourself.

Yes, the Lakers have suffered as a whole from bad bench play and having squat at the three, but we’re not talking about that. We’re referring solely to end game execution, at which Kobe has been beyond terrible this year.

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 11, 2012 11:45 AM PST up reply actions

lmao he flagged you for a troll, Ben

how you doin'
Twitter: @bluefalcon916

by bluexfalcon on Feb 12, 2012 11:48 PM PST up reply actions

LOL

by SoCalGal on Feb 13, 2012 8:21 AM PST up reply actions

ROFL

@brosales12

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu

by Ben R on Feb 14, 2012 3:07 AM PST up reply actions

and second chance opportunities If it wasn’t for Kobe the Lakers would be bottom feeders of the Western Conference. However what you are talking about has nothing to do with the article. I suggest we get on topic.

by R.H Rhead on Feb 11, 2012 3:57 AM PST reply actions

You know you're perfectly welcome to start your own blog. In the meantime, stop telling people to stay on topic. This isn't school.

by SoCalGal on Feb 11, 2012 11:24 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs

Why reply to a article if you are not addressing its contents?

by R.H Rhead on Feb 11, 2012 10:01 PM PST up reply actions

So your material isn't worthy of begging questions or corollaries outside of your own narrow band of expectations?

How unfortunate.

Look R.H Rhead. Please spend some time getting familiar with the community you’re in before you start dictating song and verse. We don’t stick to the score here: we improvise right from the first bar.

"Please tell me some of these stories about Los Angeles being the basketball capital of the world." - Red Auerbach

"质量是我们的尊严。服务是我们的电梯。" ("Quality is our dignity. Service is our lift.")

"make em eat your bubbles" - Cup Noodles

by Koshu on Feb 12, 2012 3:52 AM PST up reply actions

well as a normal human being I like to talk about the topic and natural transitions, and I love a good debate but the responses were not even on the topic at hand I guess that’s what happens when someone can’t prove what you have written is wrong they change the whole subject.. I guess. Anyone see Kobe’s game winner yesterday adding to the list

by R.H Rhead on Feb 13, 2012 5:46 AM PST up reply actions

How to successfully win all arguments, a lesson by R.H. Rhead.

When presented with arguments to the contrary of your point, make baseless claims, and provide no evidence whatsoever for your arguments, just state them. Then, proceed to go off topic. However, continually make the case the person refuting you is off topic in order to bring attention away from the argument itself. To top it all off, be a smug and condescending douche about how no one can prove you wrong, because you’re obviously always right.

You’re welcome, SS&R, R.H. Rhead here has taught us all a valuable lesson.

by Aethereal on Feb 13, 2012 8:48 AM PST up reply actions 5 recs

PS, you're the one who made the first off topic post. <3

by Aethereal on Feb 13, 2012 8:49 AM PST up reply actions

"Natural transitions".

Well, you impugned the value of PER as a measure of "clutch"ness, but since when does a measure of efficiency (by any definition) have anything to do with the ability of Kobe, or anyone else, to make clutch shots? That’s like cursing a screwdriver because it sucks at driving nails.

I suppose if you wanted to, you could take PER, or whatever measure, and pull in data re: shots taken with the game on the line as time expired and come up with something more to your liking. Any thoughts on this? Or can we simply be content as fans — to whatever degree we’ve had the handicap of having “never played the game” — to validate the greatness of Kobe’s late-game heroics during 2009-’10 through our first-hand memories of those moments, whether formed live or via broadcast? In the meantime, as Ben pointed out, bashing PER makes no sense.

Anyway:

Due to the above, PER became open season for discussion/debate regarding your take on it.
You spoke of buzzer-beaters as a general concept for which the value is under-appreciated.

Therefore, the edges of the scope of the topic at hand are blurry.

Kobe hit a game-winning shot yesterday? I suppose we could discuss/debate whether or not what Kobe accomplished (in spite of himself) during the fourth quarter yesterday meets your criteria for a buzzer-beater, but given that it didn’t occur during the 2009-’10 season, by your own admonitions . . . . .

. . . it’s off topic.

"Please tell me some of these stories about Los Angeles being the basketball capital of the world." - Red Auerbach

"质量是我们的尊严。服务是我们的电梯。" ("Quality is our dignity. Service is our lift.")

"make em eat your bubbles" - Cup Noodles

by Koshu on Feb 13, 2012 12:31 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs