Clutch! It’s not just a different spelling for the sports agency that has been the talk of the offseason.
It’s also a hero’s moment we love to fetishize in sports culture. I don’t say that pejoratively, either. Clutch moments are often the most memorable. Magic Johnson knocking down the running, junior skyhook in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals. Eddie Johnson begging for the extra pass from Matt Maloney in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals to tie the series 2-2 for the Houston Rockets against the Utah Jazz. Dirk Nowitzki driving on Chris Bosh for the lefty layup to take Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals over the Miami Heat.
These moments bring about some of the most dramatic situations. We judge players, teams and coaches on the results of these situations, whilst meticulously breaking down the process to get said results. Recently, The Athletic’s Seth Partnow dove into the concept of clutch and which teams/players have done well for…
