 |
| See? Always cool under pressure. |
In the NBA, it takes more than teamwork, 20-second time-outs, and two-minute commercial breaks to close out close games. The real key is a clutch superstar capable of creating his own shot if everything else breaks down. When it comes to the five guys below, there's no desperate pump fakes, no low-percentage fadeaways, and definitely no Vince Carter.
1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Experience: Three straight titles alongside Shaq, over the course of which he progressively became the go-to guy in the clutch.
Standout skill: Nobody has a killer instinct like his. He will do anything to get the ball in the last ten seconds, create a shot with his nearly unlimited range, and wiggle out of court dates.
Fatal flaw: That same killer instinct makes him about as popular with his teammates as the media—just ask the most dominating big man of our era. (Though I recommend asking him as a nonmedia member.)
2. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
Experience: 2004's Finals MVP has been the point guard in charge of the league's most disciplined team for the past two-plus years.
Standout skill: Mr. Big Shot knows exactly when his team needs him to drill timely jumpers throughout crunch time. (Now that Larry Brown isn't around anymore, he's allowed to take them, too!) He also hasn't missed an important free throw since Isiah Thomas was still on the up-and-up as an executive.
Fatal flaw: Three of his teammates are just as dangerous in the half court set, so it's not always his Mr. Big Shot to take.
3. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Experience: Thirty-seven playoff games, including the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in playoff history, a 21-point turnaround against the Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Standout skill: Like the rest of these guys, he can shoot from deep and get right to the hoop, but what sets him apart is enough size to take pretty much any 1¿4 down on the block.
Fatal flaw: You occasionally get more flailing arms and frowns than quality shots and wins due to his tendency to ride the refs like Heath Ledger rides cowboys.
4. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Experience: It's his third year in the NBA, and he's about to make his third straight playoff appearance, where he's been draining game winners since the first round of his rookie year.
Standout skill: Flash can get into the lane and to the rim better than anyone else in the league, meaning you either get a high-percentage shot or a higher-percentage free throw attempt.
Fatal flaw: The only thing keeping him from the top of this list is the fact that his three-point shot is uglier than Popeye Jones in drag.
5. Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
Experience: Won the All-Star Game and regular season MVP along the way to single-handedly carrying his 2001 team to the Finals.
Standout skill: Nobody in the league can stay in front of him, especially when he unleashes a crossover that's broken the ankles of everyone from Antonio Daniels to MJ.
Fatal flaw: He's attacked for selfish play so often, he's starting to look for Chris Webber at the end of games, which is more hopeless than looking for AI at the 2008 Olympics.
Honorable mentions: LeBron (basketball's A-Rod); T-Mac (creaky back); Dirk (yells at his teammates in crunch time¿what's German for "Not cool, dude"?); Michael Redd (hasn't played on a significant team yet); Robert Horry (needs to be set up by teammates); Sam I Am (extra old/ugly/terrestrial).