StatVault

NBA Clutch Delta

Who actually raises their level in the playoffs — and who shrinks? Clutch Delta subtracts each player's mean regular-season VAL from their mean postseason VAL, using the same per-season metric for both.

Positive = elevates in the playoffs; negative = regresses. Small postseason samples are shrunk toward zero (empirical-Bayes, K=4) so a two-series hot streak doesn't outrank a decade of Januaries. Qualifying floor: ≥3 regular seasons and ≥3 postseasons. 1,443 players qualify. VAL is per-postseason-run; roles without box-score counting stats are honestly excluded upstream.

Risers — Postseason Ascenders

clutch delta (+VAL)

Players who out-perform their regular-season selves in the playoffs.

Showing 30 of 81 ranked entries.

  1. 1Kurt RambisPF · reg 6.1 → PO 8.2 · 9 runs1.4
  2. 2Josh HartG · reg 10.2 → PO 12.5 · 4 runs1.2
  3. 3Craig HodgesSG/PG · reg 5.1 → PO 6.9 · 7 runs1.1
  4. 4Freddie LewisPG · reg 8.2 → PO 9.8 · 9 runs1.1
  5. 5Ian ClarkG · reg 3.3 → PO 5.8 · 3 runs1.1
  6. 6Tom ThackerPG/SG · reg 2.3 → PO 4.1 · 6 runs1.1
  7. 7Kevon LooneyF · reg 7.2 → PO 9 · 5 runs1
  8. 8Lindsey HunterSG · reg 3.3 → PO 4.8 · 7 runs1
  9. 9Aaron WilliamsC · reg 5.3 → PO 7.3 · 3 runs0.9
  10. 10Gary Payton IIG · reg 5 → PO 7.1 · 3 runs0.9
  11. 11Isaiah HartensteinC · reg 5.9 → PO 7.5 · 5 runs0.9
  12. 12Jim HolsteinSF · reg 2.3 → PO 4.5 · 3 runs0.9
  13. 13Mickael PietrusSF · reg 5.1 → PO 6.8 · 4 runs0.9
  14. 14Craig RaymondC · reg 4.4 → PO 6.4 · 3 runs0.8
  15. 15Draymond GreenF · reg 12.1 → PO 13.2 · 10 runs0.8
  16. 16Festus EzeliC · reg 4.4 → PO 6.3 · 3 runs0.8
  17. 17Quinn CookPG · reg 2.8 → PO 4.6 · 3 runs0.8
  18. 18Aaron NesmithG · reg 6 → PO 7.4 · 4 runs0.7
  19. 19Charles JohnsonPG · reg 5.7 → PO 6.9 · 6 runs0.7
  20. 20Larry SiegfriedPG · reg 5.7 → PO 6.9 · 6 runs0.7
  21. 21Miles McBrideG · reg 4.2 → PO 5.6 · 4 runs0.7
  22. 22Woody SauldsberryPF/C · reg 5.3 → PO 6.9 · 3 runs0.7
  23. 23Alex CarusoG · reg 6.3 → PO 7.4 · 5 runs0.6
  24. 24Gene ConleyC/F · reg 4 → PO 5.3 · 3 runs0.6
  25. 25Jalen BrunsonG · reg 10.3 → PO 11.3 · 6 runs0.6
  26. 26Jamal MurrayG · reg 11.2 → PO 12.2 · 6 runs0.6
  27. 27James WorthySF · reg 11.3 → PO 12.1 · 9 runs0.6
  28. 28Jo Jo WhitePG · reg 10.2 → PO 11.2 · 6 runs0.6
  29. 29Mark MadsenPF · reg 2.8 → PO 4.2 · 3 runs0.6
  30. 30Robert HorryPF · reg 7.5 → PO 8.5 · 7 runs0.6

Fallers — Postseason Regressors

clutch delta (−VAL)

Players whose level drops when the playoffs arrives.

Showing 30 of 1,337 ranked entries.

  1. 1George GervinSG/SF · reg 16.2 → PO 4.8 · 13 runs-8.7
  2. 2Otis ThorpePF/C · reg 12.2 → PO 3.9 · 11 runs-6.1
  3. 3Andre MillerPG · reg 12.2 → PO 4.1 · 11 runs-6
  4. 4Carmelo AnthonyPF · reg 12.8 → PO 5.4 · 13 runs-5.7
  5. 5Fat LeverPG/SG · reg 13.8 → PO 5.2 · 8 runs-5.7
  6. 6Oscar RobertsonPG · reg 17.6 → PO 9.5 · 10 runs-5.7
  7. 7Bob CousyPG · reg 15.5 → PO 8.1 · 13 runs-5.6
  8. 8Buck WilliamsPF · reg 12.3 → PO 5.1 · 14 runs-5.6
  9. 9Alvin RobertsonSG · reg 14.3 → PO 3.2 · 4 runs-5.5
  10. 10Bob DaviesPG · reg 12.1 → PO 3.5 · 7 runs-5.5
  11. 11Russell WestbrookG · reg 15.7 → PO 8.9 · 14 runs-5.3
  12. 12Damian LillardG · reg 13.6 → PO 6.3 · 10 runs-5.2
  13. 13Jerry LucasPF · reg 15.2 → PO 7.4 · 8 runs-5.2
  14. 14Monta EllisSG · reg 13 → PO 4.4 · 6 runs-5.2
  15. 15Andy PhillipPG/SG · reg 10.3 → PO 3.3 · 11 runs-5.1
  16. 16Artis GilmoreC · reg 15.8 → PO 8.9 · 11 runs-5.1
  17. 17John "Hot Rod" WilliamsPF/C · reg 11.6 → PO 4.2 · 9 runs-5.1
  18. 18Rik SmitsC · reg 13.6 → PO 6.5 · 10 runs-5.1
  19. 19Ed MacauleyC/PF · reg 11.9 → PO 4.4 · 8 runs-5
  20. 20Clyde DrexlerSG/SF · reg 15.4 → PO 9.3 · 15 runs-4.9
  21. 21Domantas SabonisF · reg 13.4 → PO 3.7 · 4 runs-4.9
  22. 22Giannis AntetokounmpoF · reg 17.5 → PO 10.5 · 9 runs-4.9
  23. 23Josh SmithPF · reg 15.1 → PO 7.7 · 8 runs-4.9
  24. 24Mark EatonC · reg 12.2 → PO 5.5 · 10 runs-4.8
  25. 25Moses MaloneC · reg 13.4 → PO 7.1 · 13 runs-4.8
  26. 26Carl BraunSG/PG · reg 10.2 → PO 3.1 · 8 runs-4.7
  27. 27James DonaldsonC · reg 10.5 → PO 3.7 · 9 runs-4.7
  28. 28Mike WoodsonSG · reg 10 → PO 1.6 · 5 runs-4.7
  29. 29Reggie TheusSG/PG · reg 12.5 → PO 3 · 4 runs-4.7
  30. 30Richie GuerinG · reg 12.1 → PO 4.7 · 7 runs-4.7