Bent wrote an article today about KG's performance in crunchtime lately
(http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/12/18/1205898/kg-klutch-guy#storyjump), which was great because I had planned to do something similar today. The thing is, though, I don't think he went quite far enough. Garnett's clutchness for this team isn't a new phenomenon...it's been that way for years now.
I went back through 82games.com's clutch scoring stats (last 5 minutes of 4th or OT, game within 5 points) for each of Pierce, Allen, and KG since 2007-08. Over those 2.3 seasons thus far, here are how the Celtics score late in games:
Pierce: 29.3 points/48 minutes on 36% shooting from field (30% of shots assisted)
Allen: 24.2 points/48 minutes on 44.4% shooting from field (64% of shots assisted)
Garnett: 23.5 points/48 minutes of 53% shooting from field (59% of shots assisted)
There are lots of stats there that I didn't cover here (like rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, TOs, etc) but just from what I posted above it is very clear that late in games KG is right there with Pierce and Allen providing the clutch scoring.
And in their one mutual playoff run in 2007-08, here are how those clutch stats broke down:
Pierce: 25.7 points/48 min on 7% shooting (he made lots of free throws), 0% of shots assisted
Allen: 19 points/48 min on 33% shooting, 80% of shots assisted
KG: 22.8 points/48 min on 43% shooting, 44% of shots assisted
So in the playoffs, KG was also right there hitting clutch shots late for the Celtics.
People always (rightly) point out how great Pierce and Allen are in the clutch, but it is high time that we notice that they aren't overcompensating for KG's lacks there...on the contrary, KG has been every bit as clutch as Pierce and Allen late in games. They all have different offensive roles (Pierce attacks more off dribble, KG off the ball either posting or in pick/roll, Allen off the ball as shooter) but they each perform their roles at very high levels late. That is one of the things that makes these C's so dangerous down the stretch of close games, that they have 3 ultra scoring options late that all can and will make the big play.