NBA Playoffs: Top 10 Closers Heading into the Postseason
There are 10 players in this league that want and enjoy the ball late in ball games. These players love to stick the dagger in the opponent.
Some players are built for the moment, some are not. Some thrive in the role, while some crumble under the pressure.
It separates the good players from the great players.
These 10 players are the best left in the NBA Playoffs.
No 10: Kevin Durant
1 of 10
Even though Kevin Durant is young and has little experience in the playoffs, he has shown the ability to perform down the stretch of games.
We are all waiting to see how he does down the stretch in playoff games, but what he has shown shooting the ball in the regular season is enough to crack the top 10.
No 9: Brandon Roy
2 of 10
Brandon Roy doesn't get the love he deserves up there in Portland. Although his health is an issue this year, I believe he is fine enough to play well this postseason. He just needs to get his confidence back and he will be fine
If the Trail Blazers expect to beat the Mavericks, he has got to step up and be effective. If the game is tight late, expect him to get the ball if his confidence is there.
No 8: Tim Duncan
3 of 10
We have seen Tim Duncan make some incredible shots late in games. Sometimes it may even be a three he makes, and he's not any good at making threes.
How many times have we seen him kiss it off the glass from 15-20 feet away late in the game? He has ice in his veins.
His skill is declining every year. It should be interesting to see how he performs this postseason. This may be one of the last chances the Spurs have at making the NBA Finals.
No 7: Derrick Fisher
4 of 10
Fisher is kind of like Robert Horry, he doesn't stand out during the game but always comes up huge late in the game.
He isn't the greatest player in the NBA but knows how to get it done. Just think of the .4 seconds on the clock shot to beat the Spurs a while back now, he just knows how to seal the deal.
His age is becoming an issue, but we will see what he's got left in the tank this postseason.
No 6: Jason Terry
5 of 10
Jason Terry comes off the bench but is known for making clutch shots. You would think that Dirk Nowitzki would be that guy but no, it's Terry.
He has that gene in him that few have when coming off the bench. There are only a couple of players in the NBA that would settle for coming off the bench, and Terry is one of those guys.
No 5: Manu Ginobili
6 of 10
Manu Ginobili takes over games for San Antonio, especially lately. It used to be Tim Duncan, but Manu has been the go-to guy.
He is silky smooth with his inside/outside game. He can pull up, put it on the deck or find the open man.
He is the ultimate assassin.
No 4: Carmelo Anthony
7 of 10
Most of Carmelo Anthony's game winning shots have been in the regular season. He loves to takeover the game when his team needs him the most.
When he was brought over from Denver in a trade in the midst of the season, the talk was about who would take the final shot...Carmelo or Amar'e Stoudemire?
Are you kidding me? It is Carmelo and will always be that guy, no ifs ands or buts about it.
Anthony is one of the most clutch players in this league, he just needs to prove it more in the playoffs.
No 3: Dwyane Wade
8 of 10
Dwyane Wade is the player that should be getting the ball late in games, not LeBron James or Chris Bosh.
Time after time we have seen other people take the final shot when it should be Wade's ball.
He needs to takeover that locker room and tell James that he hasn't cut it. James has always struggled in his career to close games, but Wade hasn't.
Under a minute in every game, Wade should demand the basketball because in the end, it's his team, not LeBron's.
No 2: Paul Pierce
9 of 10
This guy loves the ball down the stretch. With guys like Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Pierce is the one who always gets the shot.
If Boston is down late in a game, Pierce will get the ball even if his performance was awful in the game.
"The Truth" is that Pierce is one of the most clutch players in the game today.
No 1: Kobe Bryant
10 of 10
Kobe has more ice in his veins than anybody. Sure, sometimes he may shoot too much, but he has that gene that separates him from the others in the league.
That is what makes the Lakers dangerous, if a team double teams Kobe, it leaves Fisher, and he is clutch as well.
Bryant attracts so much attention. He is lethal from behind the arc, mid-range and can also drive to the hoop with effectiveness.
Kobe Bryant is the most clutch player left in the NBA Playoffs.
