February 9, 2009 11:30 PM
Anthony is Denver's true Mr. Big Shot
By Aaron J. Lopez
You're sitting on your bar stool watching a Nuggets game with your know-it-all well-informed buddy. Tie score, Denver ball.
Who do you want to take the last shot? Let the argument begin.
Chauncey Billups might be known as Mr. Big Shot, but statistics overwhelmingly show that teammate Carmelo Anthony is the go-to guy when the Nuggets need a bucket in the final seconds of a close game.
According to the website 82games.com, only four players in the NBA -- LeBron James, Vince Carter, Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant -- have converted more game-winning shot opportunities than Anthony (13) since he came into the league in 2003.
82games.com defines a game-winning shot opportunity as one that comes in the final 24 seconds of regulation or overtime with your team tied or trailing by two points or less. Taking it to another level, Anthony has made 12 of 22 shots to tie the game or give the Nuggets the lead in the final 10 seconds of regulation or overtime.
But back to the 82games.com breakdown. While Anthony is tied for fifth on the "game-winning shot opportunities" chart, his .481 shooting percentage (13-for-27) in those situations is best among players with at least 10 makes. The league-wide average is .281. Yikes.
Billups, meanwhile, is 6-for-37 (.162) with the game on the line in the final 24 seconds. His 31 misses trail only Bryant (42), Carter (35), James (33), Joe Johnson (33) and Jamal Crawford (33). Does that mean you don't want Billups with the ball in his hands on the final possession? Of course not. He's made 18 of 19 free throws with his team tied or trailing by two points or less over the past five-plus seasons. Plus, he ranks 10th among 82games.com's list of the most productive scorers in the final five minutes of close games this season.
Anthony, however, is the second-best point-producer in the close-and-late category in 2008-09. The Oklahoma City Thunder would probably rank Anthony No. 1 based on personal experience. Twice in a five-week span, Anthony beat the Thunder with a field goal with less than 5 seconds remaining.
What does all this mean for the first-place Nuggets as they continue a five-game road trip that will take them into the All-Star break? With Anthony and Billups as late options, it prevents teams from focusing on one or the other when the game gets tight. It also provides some optimism come playoff time, when close games are more common and the pressure is increased exponentially. Anthony has never survived the first round of the playoffs and does have a game-winning shot to his credit in the postseason. Until those two things change, his status as one of the game's top clutch players will simply be a nice footnote on his resume.
February 10, 2009
10:36 AM
Spotcheck writes:
Any chance we can get Lebron James for Chancey Billips? Hey, we need more talent to go anywhere in the NBA playoffs. Without talent, no team is going to go very far, and that's the problem with the Broncos, and Avalanche too.
All of our sports teams need more talent. It's incredibly obvious to me.
February 10, 2009
2:18 PM
Anonymous writes:
ye rite buddi
February 10, 2009
2:24 PM
jersey writes:
Obviously the list is restricted to current players. The original "Mr. Big Shot" is now retired. One Robert Horrey! He said the bar high for all to follow!
February 12, 2009
1:23 PM
Drew writes:
Robert Horrey was knows as "Big Shot Bob", or "Big Shot Rob" as Duncan put it.
February 13, 2009
11:59 AM
james taylor writes:
I thought I was a dreamer when it came to the Nuggets!!!! Billups for James????? I think if anybody will trade anyone for J.R. Smith at this time would be huge. He is in legal trouble and is a confirmed head case, not an asset in the play-offs. I was among the Karl haters but he does seem to have skills as a social director which is a huge asset in professional sports.
May 23, 2011
8:16 PM
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10:56 PM
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9:14 PM
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September 20, 2011
3:03 PM
Uwe writes:
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October 11, 2011
1:44 AM
Shirley Cestia writes:
Seems like we have some fellow commenters with some brains, thanks for the write up and positive comments from your readers. Shirley Cestia oh PS Anthony is Denver's true Mr. Big Shot : Denver Nuggets 24/7
: Rocky Mountain News good read :)
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2:19 AM
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2:03 AM
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1:57 AM
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12:27 PM
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