Greatest Closer Ever...Maybe Not So Much

Many people love to debate who the best closer of all time is...MJ or Kobe, MJ or Kobe...I think we have our answer.

Two things to note from the 2008 Lakers-Boston Finals. 1) In game 4, the Lakers gave up the largest first quarter lead in Finals history (24 points). 2) In game 6, the Lakers lost by the biggest margin ever in a closeout game (39 points). These are not two statistics that the greatest closers let their team become apart of.

But despite those two horrendous figures, the clearest stat that Kobe isn't the closer we all thought he was is this. When the Lakers faced elimination (a time when the closer should step up), Kobe showed up in the first quarter and then went to bed for the final three. In game 5, Kobe exploded for 15 points in the first quarter, then ended the last 3 quarters amassing another 10 points. In game 6, Kobe had a very similar performance scoring 11 in the first and 11 in the final three.

The argument of who the greatest closer ever is will finally be laid to rest, but don't worry Kobe fans, I'm open to debating who the greatest first quarter player ever is.