Contender or Pretender? Warriors at Wolves GDT

[FNG]

I have to agree that we are clearly a pretender as long as we are leaning on Ant to make the clutch shot at the end of games. A contender needs to be able to rely on its best player to come through in the clutch...think Steph, Jokic, Luka, SGA etc. When your best player is a 44% career shooter, but is shooting 2 for 19 (um, that's 10.52%) with a chance to tie or take the lead in the last 24 seconds, can it be any clearer that our highest scorer is not the clutch player we need to really be a contender? Ant is a remarkably talented player, and when the game is not on the line, as good a 3-point shooter as any. But you either have the clutch gene, or you don't. And 2 for 19 is damning evidence. Finchie obviously is aware of this stat...that's why he drew up the final play in the Memphis game to try to get a corner three from either Donte or Mike (but of course Ant took the play in a different direction...go back and look at Donte's frustration when he realizes Ant isn't running the play that was called!). Ant is going to continue to lead us in scoring, but continuing to rely on him in the clutch is the definition of insanity. 2 for 19...my god!

So to be clear, we have read the finished book on Ant in the clutch? What was it that MJ said about failing?

Nope, the book on Ant is far from finished...he's only 23. And some day he may become a clutch scorer. Jayson Tatum had poor clutch shooting stats early in his career, but has good clutch stats now. But I don't think anyone here would describe him as being effective in the clutch based on his last 19 shots.

[Lipoli390]

I have to agree that we are clearly a pretender as long as we are leaning on Ant to make the clutch shot at the end of games. A contender needs to be able to rely on its best player to come through in the clutch...think Steph, Jokic, Luka, SGA etc. When your best player is a 44% career shooter, but is shooting 2 for 19 (um, that's 10.52%) with a chance to tie or take the lead in the last 24 seconds, can it be any clearer that our highest scorer is not the clutch player we need to really be a contender? Ant is a remarkably talented player, and when the game is not on the line, as good a 3-point shooter as any. But you either have the clutch gene, or you don't. And 2 for 19 is damning evidence. Finchie obviously is aware of this stat...that's why he drew up the final play in the Memphis game to try to get a corner three from either Donte or Mike (but of course Ant took the play in a different direction...go back and look at Donte's frustration when he realizes Ant isn't running the play that was called!). Ant is going to continue to lead us in scoring, but continuing to rely on him in the clutch is the definition of insanity. 2 for 19...my god!

So to be clear, we have read the finished book on Ant in the clutch? What was it that MJ said about failing?

Nope, the book on Ant is far from finished...he's only 23. And some day he may become a clutch scorer. Jayson Tatum had poor clutch shooting stats early in his career, but has good clutch stats now. But I don't think anyone here would describe him as being effective in the clutch based on his last 19 shots.

Is Ant a clutch shooter? No. Could he become a clutch shooter as his career progresses? Yes. As you pointed out, that’s what happened with Tatum. The only thing I’ll add is that Ant’s “clutch” shooting is the least of this team’s problems. We lost the game last night in the 1st quarter, long before anyone was taking clutch shots. I’ll worry about Ant’s clutch shooting when we’re in the 4th quarter of game 7 of the Western Conference or the NBA finals. In the meantime, we may not even be a play-in team this season largely because we have the 22nd ranked offense in the NBA. If only our problem was not scoring in the clutch. We’re just not scoring, period, exclamation mark.

[Phenom]

I think it starts with sitting Rudy in these offensive situations. He seems to more often be out there in these possessions. I'd like to see the best 5 out lineup and preferably get Ant going to the rim. He tends to improvise too much when he has the ball around the perimeter. The best clutch shooters have a repeatble go to move. Ant's last shot this game was more along the lines of his repeatable shot, he just didn't make it. I would be fine if he took that same shot in future situations.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Is there any information on where those 19 clutch shots are taken?

Anecdotally and without evidence... Edwards seems to be a graduate of the Gilbert Arenas School of Heroism. I remember ranting about Arenas when he was the ESPN poster boy for clutch shots... even though taking a tough three pointer is just not the high percentage play.

Looks great though when they occasionally go in.

[kekgeek]

Is there any information on where those 19 clutch shots are taken?

Anecdotally and without evidence... Edwards seems to be a graduate of the Gilbert Arenas School of Heroism. I remember ranting about Arenas when he was the ESPN poster boy for clutch shots... even though taking a tough three pointer is just not the high percentage play.

Looks great though when they occasionally go in.

I’m guessing you are not a TikTok guy Abe. But the link below are his first 18 shots. He missed number 19 against the warriors to tie the game.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2eRf4wP/

[rapsuperstar31]

Is there any information on where those 19 clutch shots are taken?

Anecdotally and without evidence... Edwards seems to be a graduate of the Gilbert Arenas School of Heroism. I remember ranting about Arenas when he was the ESPN poster boy for clutch shots... even though taking a tough three pointer is just not the high percentage play.

Looks great though when they occasionally go in.

I’m guessing you are not a TikTok guy Abe. But the link below are his first 18 shots. He missed number 19 against the warriors to tie the game.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2eRf4wP/

Almost every single one was a quality shot that he can make. The first Houston game miss from point blank that goes in and out and we lose in overtime hurt the most of those. Several missed bunnies in there close to the hoop.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Is there any information on where those 19 clutch shots are taken?

Anecdotally and without evidence... Edwards seems to be a graduate of the Gilbert Arenas School of Heroism. I remember ranting about Arenas when he was the ESPN poster boy for clutch shots... even though taking a tough three pointer is just not the high percentage play.

Looks great though when they occasionally go in.

I’m guessing you are not a TikTok guy Abe. But the link below are his first 18 shots. He missed number 19 against the warriors to tie the game.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2eRf4wP/

Almost every single one was a quality shot that he can make. The first Houston game miss from point blank that goes in and out and we lose in overtime hurt the most of those. Several missed bunnies in there close to the hoop.

So 12 out of 19 were three pointers... including the last 5 (it appears they were in order of his career)? Two more were 15+ foot fadeaways against heavy pressure.

Two were in rhythm off a pass. He made one of those.



[Note: The halfcourt heave shouldn't really count.]