Now, before groupies get their feelings hurt, let's examine the facts.
Kobe has shot 32.4% in the last 5 minutes of a close game last season. This season, 38%. With Shaq, similar percentages.
Kobe has shot 24% in game winning shots the past 3 years.
Kobe makes the worst decisions in the clutch. Especially in game winners. Ex: up and under 3 pointer with the score tied. Fadeaway 30 footer when the team is down by two.
Kobe has taken a large volume of these shots, and has failed twice as much as Ben Wallace and Shaquille O'Neal shooting free throws.
Case closed.
EDIT:
----------
The Anti-clutch Log (2005-2006 Season)
-11/02/05 at Denver. Kobe misses game winning shot (up and under 3 pointer with the score tied) at the end of regulation.
-11/11/05 at Philidelphia. Kobe tries to play hero and jacks up a fadeaway 3 point shot when they were down by 2, also leaving extra time in the game clock for another Philly possession.
-11/20/05 against Chicago. Down 94-93, 14 seconds left, Kobe forces up a potential game winner only to have it blocked in the paint. Down 96-93, with 11 seconds left, Kobe launches a horrendous off-balance fadeaway 3 point shot and misses the game tying shot.
-11/27/05 against New Jersey. 91-91 at the end of regulation. In overtime...Kobe misses every single FGA, goes 1-2 from the free throw line, and gets called for a traveling turnover with 9.6 seconds left as New Jersey pulls out the W.
-12/01/05 at Utah. Down 91-90, 11 seconds left...Kobe forces up a shot in the paint and misses, then turns the ball over after a Laker offensive rebound. Down 92-90, 4 seconds left, Kobe forces up a long two (going for the 3 with the score tied), but gets bailed out with a phantom call.
-12/18/05 against Houston. With about 3 mins. left in a tight game...Kobe misses every single FGA, including an over-the-backboard shot, as Tracy McGrady finishes off the Lakers with the game winning bucket, 76-74.
-12/25/05 at Miami. 95-92 Heat...Kobe "the worst 4th quarter shooter" Bryant makes another bad decision in the clutch by forcing up a 28 foot game-tying three, only to almost airball it.
-12/26/05 at Washington. Down 94-91, Laker ball and timeout with 16 seconds left. Kobe anti-clutch Bryant shows up as usual with a game-ending turnover.
12/28/05 against Memphis. Kobe missed 1 of 2 free throws that would have sealed the game for the Lakers with about a minute to play. Grizzlies hit a 3 to tie the game. Kobe missed game winning shot (at the end of regulation). In OT, Kobe misses the game winning layup to complete a 3 game choke streak.
03/18 Updates (games off the top of my head; please post any games or details that I have missed ):
-01/19/06 at Sacramento. In OT, Kobe takes just about every shot, and misses just about every shot (1 for 6) with a critical turnover. LA Kobes lose again.
-02/11/06 against Memphis. Kobe doesn't get off the game-winning shot attempt in time, and almost airballs it.
-02/15/06 against Atlanta. Down by two in the final minute of the game...Kobe makes a critical turnover, then takes all the FGA's and misses them all (0 for 3) as the Hawks pull out the win.
-02/26/06 against Boston. Down by one, Kobe misses game winner.
-03/17/06 at New Jersey. Down by three, Kobe misses game-tying shot with an airball.
-03/19/06 at Cleveland. With the score tied and about a minute to play, Kobe forced up a heavily contested fadeaway three. Then in the final possession (down by 1), Kobe misses the game winning shot, trying to play hero while avoiding wide open teammates...as usual.