Power Ranking the Most Clutch Players in the 2013 Playoffs Right Now

Being clutch in the playoffs isn't a necessary prerequisite for championship contention, but once a team finds itself competing in a shot-for-shot fourth-quarter battle, it's quite important.

Having the mental and physical ability to either get your shot off or finish after a teammate creates opportunity is very difficult at the NBA level, at any point in the game. 

But when the clock is winding down and the difference between a make and a miss is a win or a loss, the pressure is even greater—especially in the playoffs.

Here are five players who've thrived in clutch situations—defined here as the last five minutes of a game where a team is ahead or behind by five points—so far in these playoffs. They're ranked on just how successful they've been when the stakes are higher than usual.

All statistics in this article are from NBA.com/Stats.

5. Manu Ginobili

Ginobili is set to turn 36 about a month after the 2013 NBA title is won, and so far he's having an incredibly disappointing run through these playoffs, averaging 12.9 points per game on less than 40 percent shooting from the floor.

But he belongs on this list for what stands as the most important shot of his team's season, a game-winning, wide open three-pointer from the left wing that salvaged a disastrous opening to the second round.

These playoffs have had very few true buzzer-beaters that actually close the door, and that shot certainly meant something. It's the type of shot that alters history, and had he missed it, the Spurs could be facing an even harsher situation than they are now.

Ginobili had an identical look—after making Harrison Barnes fall over with a behind-the-back dribble—near the end of Game 4, but it fell short. Despite whatever his numbers are at any point in time, you expect shots like that to go in when they're coming out of Manu Ginobili's hand.

4. Chris Bosh

You don't think of him as a clutch player, per se, but Chris Bosh registered the second-highest field-goal percentage among players who found themselves on the court for at least 100 "clutch" minutes during the regular season (the leader was Tyson Chandler, who only attempted eight shots in 116 minutes).

Bosh shot an insane 77.1 percent, not including his 20-for-23 from the free-throw line. That's brilliant, and it's needed on a team that's top heavy. 

In crunch-time situations, defenses rightfully focus on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, usually leaving Bosh wide open for 18-foot jumpers, his bread and butter. So far, Miami hasn't found itself in too many close situations, but they will.

And when those happen, expect Chris Bosh to step up big time.

3. Nate Robinson

He's gone through some rough patches here and there in these playoffs (most notably a 0-for-12 shooting performance in Game 4 against the Miami Heat), but he's also listed at 5'9", and Chicago would've been tossed from the tournament in four games if not for his offensive heroics against Brooklyn.

So far in these playoffs, Robinson has scored 22 points in clutch situations. Only the great Kevin Durant has more. His plus/minus of plus-20 in clutch situations leads every player who's logged at least one minute in these playoffs.

Whether it's pulling up off the dribble from a high screen or attacking the basket and drawing a foul, Robinson has stepped up with the ball in his hands, and it feels like the only person who can stop it is himself. 

2. Jarrett Jack

When grading a player's performance in virtually any context, how he does on both ends of the court needs to factor into the equation. Jack may be able to get his shot whenever he wants, but his off and on-ball defense might be Golden State's biggest weakness.

Down the stretch of a crucial Game 4, that defense took a backseat to an incredible offensive demonstration that lifted Golden State into overtime and basically saved their season.

In it, Jack led all players with eight points in the fourth quarter (he played all 12 minutes). In the overtime period he scored four points, while the entire San Antonio Spurs only managed three.

In these playoffs, Jack has scored 18 points on nine shot attempts in clutch situations, shooting 66.7 percent from the floor. (Only Kevin Durant and Nate Robinson have scored more).

With Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry by his side spreading the floor, Jack is able to operate with space off the dribble. It's something he's very good at, and the Warriors won't be going away from him anytime soon when the game gets tight.

1. Kevin Durant

He's perhaps the MVP of these playoffs so far, doing virtually everything for his team while Russell Westbrook sits out with a knee injury.

What makes him more remarkable than anything is the way he still performs when defenses clamp down towards the end of close games, knowing he's the only scoring option Oklahoma City has.

Even though the Thunder lost, at the very end of Game 4, with his team down two and less than 15 seconds left on the clock, Durant drove straight to the basket and scored a layup, sending the game into overtime. It was the type of play we forget about because they lost, but the ease with which Durant scored here shouldn't be overlooked.

He now has 25 points in clutch situations in these playoffs, which leads all players. Filter it down to the last three minutes with his team ahead or behind by three points and Durant still leads everyone with 16 points.

Durant has uncharacteristically missed a few free throws and seen a few shots roll out of the rim that normally fall through, but he's doing everything he can right now, and taking into account the degree of difficulty in which he's doing it—literally going one on three every time he puts the ball on the floor late in the fourth quarter—there's no question he belongs atop this list.

Ask yourself this: With the game on the line and your favorite team up one point, is there anyone left in these playoffs you fear more with the final shot?