Dan Savage and Josh Cohen got into one of their notorious debates about which Magic player they would prefer to take a shot with the game on the line. The final two contenders were Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis as they each have proved throughout their careers to be clutch scorers.
It publicly displays the coach’s confidence in not only the athlete’s skill-level, but also in his ability to avoid being rattled by pressure situations.
So when pondering who’s the premier pick to take a game-winning attempt for the Magic, I’ll go with the same player All-Star Head Coach Stan Van Gundy has rolled with in Orlando’s biggest games: Rashard Lewis. Because as the Magic’s coach said earlier this week, “he has great confidence and absolutely no fear.”
Lewis – who is fittingly nicknamed ICE-O since he’s been a cold-blooded assassin for the Magic – has already hit clutch shots for Orlando on the league’s largest stages.
In front of nationally-televised audiences, Lewis drilled the crucial bucket in both of the Magic’s most memorable victories of this season.
His game-winning layup with 1.3 seconds left beat Boston and his clutch corner trey in the closing moments finished off Cleveland.
And let’s not forget the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Lewis sealed a 16-point comeback victory in Game 1 with a game-winning trey with just 14.3 seconds left and then buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.1 ticks left in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
“You have to have that confidence to take those shots and I feel like I'm a guy who can make that shot that will get us back in the game or help us win,” the two-time All-Star said. “I've always been like that my whole career. For some reason, I step up to challenges.”
Check out Lewis' exclusive interview with OrlandoMagic.com to learn more about his take on game-winning shots.
It's nearly impossible to go wrong when picking between Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter to attempt a game-winning shot. You know you are getting something reliable just like you can depend on finding a hot dog stand on every corner in New York City.
But for the sake of argument, I would opt with Carter to take my last shot to win the game. Here are my reasons:
• Vinsanity has drilled countless last-second buckets during his time with the Raptors and Nets. Check out his unofficial Top 10 Game-Winning Shots with Toronto and New Jersey.
• Air Amway has an extraordinary ability to break down his defender off the dribble. By attacking the basket rather than settling for a jumper, there is always the chance he draws the foul and gets to the line. The former UNC standout can beat you with a monster dunk, fadeaway jumper or long-range 3-pointer.
• Carter has more of an agenda to send opposing fans home crying. Especially in Toronto, there is nothing Vince loves more than nailing a winning shot to stun the crowd. Watch this one
• The eight-time All-Star still has plenty to prove in Orlando. Everyone has come to love and adore Lewis (deservedly so), but some fans are unsure what Vince will do when the team relies on him most. Along with his extraordinary 48-point performance recently, a game-winning bucket would go a long way in turning Carter into the team's most dependable clutch player.
Check out Carter's exclusive interview with OrlandoMagic.com to learn more about his take on game-winning shots.
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