Is clutch a thing?

C

CP87

Well-Known Member
I have never been fully convinced that some people are "clutch." That is, that they have some sort of special, psychological makeup that allows them to perform extra well when the game is on the line.

Was MJ clutch, or was he just a better basketball player than anyone else? Was Tiger clutch, or was he just a better golfer than anyone else?

However, watching Sandfort in the 3-pt content last night was such a microcosm of the McCaffrey era Hawks and their anti-clutchness. He needed 16 pts to advance to the next round, he had 9 points through the first 2 racks (of 5 total racks), and then he whimpered home with 6 points over the last 3 racks, barely missing out on advancing. Perfect McCaffrey Hawks: lots of potential, moments of brilliance, couldn't come through when it actually mattered.

Is there a reason why McCaffrey's Hawks were so anti-clutch? Or was it just a combination of not enough talent and bad luck?

What makes a person clutch? A team?

What are the best examples of true "clutchness" that you can think of?

Take this discussion wherever you want to go with it...
 
JBo I think was a good somewhat recent example of it. He made lots of big shots not just game winners which he hit at least a couple of those off the top of my head. But he also hit shot clock beating ones in clutch spots. When you're an undersized not overly athletic guy like him you gotta make up for it somehow to compete at the D1 level. I admired that about him as much as anything I'd say he's as clutch of a player as we've had going back aways
 
CP87 said:
I have never been fully convinced that some people are "clutch." That is, that they have some sort of special, psychological makeup that allows them to perform extra well when the game is on the line.

Was MJ clutch, or was he just a better basketball player than anyone else? Was Tiger clutch, or was he just a better golfer than anyone else?

However, watching Sandfort in the 3-pt content last night was such a microcosm of the McCaffrey era Hawks and their anti-clutchness. He needed 16 pts to advance to the next round, he had 9 points through the first 2 racks (of 5 total racks), and then he whimpered home with 6 points over the last 3 racks, barely missing out on advancing. Perfect McCaffrey Hawks: lots of potential, moments of brilliance, couldn't come through when it actually mattered.

Is there a reason why McCaffrey's Hawks were so anti-clutch? Or was it just a combination of not enough talent and bad luck?

What makes a person clutch? A team?

What are the best examples of true "clutchness" that you can think of?

Take this discussion wherever you want to go with it...
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Jack Nicklaus
 
Hawkfnntn said:
JBo I think was a good somewhat recent example of it. He made lots of big shots not just game winners which he hit at least a couple of those off the top of my head. But he also hit shot clock beating ones in clutch spots. When you're an undersized not overly athletic guy like him you gotta make up for it somehow to compete at the D1 level. I admired that about him as much as anything I'd say he's as clutch of a player as we've had going back aways
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It seems like a lot of it comes down to confidence bordering on cockiness, doesn't it? Like there needs to be a complete lack of self-doubt in order to come through when it matters most.
 
CP87 said:
It seems like a lot of it comes down to confidence bordering on cockiness, doesn't it? Like there needs to be a complete lack of self-doubt in order to come through when it matters most.
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Very much so I agree. All those kinda bleed together to make a guy like that do what he did. Even Steph Curry back when he was in college. He was small/skinny. Hence why he didn't get big time offers. But dude literally grew up in NBA locker rooms. He always had the mental confidence in what he could do.

The guys that aren't as physically gifted gotta make up for it with skill and the mental side. Nothing on a basketball court would intimidate a Steph Curry. Those are the guys that don't wilt under pressure they want the ball. Coaches look for those guys and would love a roster full of em. At least 1 anyway
 
One of the best examples I can think of is 2008 Olympic Men's BB. USA was coming off its first defeat since using pros (2004 they got bronze), and there was huge pressure for them to win. There were tons of superstars on that team: Kobe, Dwyane, LeBron, C. Paul, Bosh, Carmelo, D. Howard...but when things got tight in the Gold medal game vs. Spain, most of them didn't want to step up. They shied from the moment. All except Kobe MF Bryant. Kobe wasn't the best player on that team, but he was absolutely the best player in that game when it mattered.

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If anyone has ever been in a high stakes environment, got really nervous, and played like shit, then they are proof that anti-clutch exists. If anti-clutch exists, then there's no doubt clutch exists too. I agree that is just a cocky, full of themselves attitude that kinda makes you a douche in everyday life, but also makes you more sure of yourself when it matters. Fine line.
 
Northside Hawk said:
Jordan Bohannon and Connor McCaffery were the most clutch Hawkeye players of the Fran era, maybe of the past quarter century. But all people wanted to do was rag on them
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Bohannon made more shots in the last minute of a one possession game than everyone else combined for the last 20 years. That's a made up stat by me but I bet it's close. I remember when Marble made one in the play in game against Tennessee and it was the first one in over 5 years. It was a big stat back then. After that, Uthoff made one against northwestern. Since them we've had quite a few but a big chunk of them were Bohannon.
 
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