Do we have a closer on our roster?

[dream_catcher_9]

When we are competing for Championships, who is going to take over in pressure situations and lead us through the playoffs?

I think it's Westbrook, do you agree or would you rather have Durant become that guy? Do you think he can consistently be able to put daggers in teams hearts series after series? I question whether he has that ability. Its really my only concern with us becoming a Championship team.

[slick_watts]

I don't like the term 'closer' as it's used in the NBA. It encourages the isolation star driven tactics that most teams just can't win with. The thought that the team's star player must take every shot down the stretch, regardless of how defenses are arrayed is a flawed premise unless you have one of the top two or three isolation scorers in the league. Someone like Larry Bird was a great closer because he was a triple threat, Jordan had an athletic advantage over everyone and was smart, Kobe the same way, all the best big men, etc.

You don't need that to win titles. I'd rather see the team run its offense, do the same things in crunch time, and share the ball more. San Antonio has always done this, even when Duncan was at his best. You'd see guys like Robert Horry hitting shots, George Mason, Stephen Jackson, etc. It wasn't just Ginobili isolating in clear outs.

So yeah. This team would be better off getting away from that whole concept and sharing the ball more at the end of games. There's nothing about the close of a basketball game that changes and prevents others from making shots.

[dream_catcher_9]

I do agree with you, I love what the Spurs do/did, but do you really think Westbrook and Durant will turn into unselfish players like what the Spurs had?