Kevin Durant is Clutch, But Who Takes the Last Shot for Memphis Tonight?
By Jason McIntyre
Kevin Durant is 4-for-4 attempting go-ahead field goals in the final 24 seconds of 4th quarter in last 2 playoffs; rest of NBA is 2-for-23.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 6, 2013
Not convinced? Four shots too small of a sample size? Well here’s more:
Final 7:30/Grizzlies at Thunder, Game 1
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 5, 2013
Grizzlies Durant
Pts 10 12
FG 2-12 6-8
The knock on Memphis (and Denver, before it was bounced) was that it didn’t have a clutch performer. So Sunday’s loss is sure to spark more of that (sometimes silly), “who gets the ball with the game on the line?” chatter. Sunday, down three with one last shot … Quincy Pondexter got the ball to take the game-tying 3-pointer. Pondexter is a backup. Among Memphis regulars, he was their best 3-point shooter (39 percent). What does a huddle sound like when a coach draws up a play for … Quincy Pondexter?
Pondexter was fouled on the play, but didn’t make all the free throws, and the Thunder escaped. In Game 2, who gets that shot, Tayshaun Prince? Mike Conley?