In a comprehensive analysis ESPN's Henry Abbott blows the common perception of many fans, opposing players, coaches and general managers of Kobe Bryant as a very clutch player to pieces. This is sure to spark at least as much of a discussion as the recent big debate how much Carmelo Anthony helps a team to win.

In a sentence: By any measure "Bryant is about as likely to hit the big shot as any player." And he's about as likely to hit an airball as make a big shot in the playoffs, no matter how many NBA commercials tell you otherwise:

"ESPN Stats and Information's Alok Pattani dug through 15 years of NBA data (see table) -- Bryant's entire career, regular season and playoffs -- and found that Bryant has attempted 115 shots in the final 24 seconds of a game in which the Lakers were tied or trailed by two or fewer points. He connected on 36, and missed 79 times."

"The Lakers are not among the league leaders in crunch time offense -- instead they're just about average, scoring 82.35 points per 100 possessions in a league that averages 80.03. They are, however, among the league leaders in how much worse their offense declines in crunch time.

When Bryant is on the floor in crunch time, Bryant's Lakers are actually outscored by their opponents. "