In NBA playoff games when you are playing to the score and the clock in the 4Q as you seek out individual matchups, 100% absolutely. Possessions in the final quarter of the game are exponentially more crucial than any other quarter during the course of the game as the effort exerted to execute is maximized. In the final 6 min even more so.....more in the final 3, etc etc. You can afford a bad defensive possession during the normal flow of a game as the offense is not as focused to exploit it (Butler settling for jumper, etc)......down the stretch of the game the offensive players efficiency will be much higher as their urgency increases (ex: Butler getting to the rim for layup).It is? The aggregate score of the series - as has been documented on Twitter and reflected here - is tied at 441. The Heat's largest margin of victory is five points so they have never won by more than two possessions. There is nothing being done by anyone by a wide margin (unless you want to count the one Boston victory by 11 points).
Miami is beating Boston but its not by a lot. This clutch thing is a random number to show...I don't know what it shows. If Boston makes their open looks, they may be up 3-1 but they did not. Why are the shots Robb designates as clutch more meaningful than a wide open miss in the first, second, third quarters or even the first seven minutes of the fourth? Are buckets at the end of games worth more in total points than those in other parts of the games?
It isn’t so much about “clutch” than it is having finishers. The Heat have Butler and we have a 1 and a 5 who are affecting how we defend down the stretch of games. You need versatile defenders against Miami to switch everything. Last night we schemed to avoid the mismatch switches that leave Theis or Kemba on an island in iso......the result was being half a step behind in going above the screens. You cannot fight through screens against the Heat or the ballhandler will gain an angle to beat you.....and if you switch you must avoid the bad matchup. This is why they have been killing it in the playoffs.....they create mismatches and opportunities with the ball.
Edit: On phone and can’t remove bold. Sorry ugh.