Frequently asked questions

What gets asked most. The long explanation is on the methodology page.

Using the site

Will the site tell me the result?: No, not unless you click. Final score, winner, tension value and highlights sit behind two separate switches. They are not even fetched when the page loads.
Why does the score change when I reveal the tension?: Because before that a score without tension is shown. Adding the category changes the mean. For a blowout it drops sharply, because a cap of 25 then applies.
What are the sliders for?: So you can rank by your own standards. If statistical records leave you cold, turn that category to zero. The setting stays in your browser and never leaves your device.
Why does a category show a dash?: Because the value is missing, not because it is zero. Either the game is still running, or you have not revealed the tension, or the roster for the preview is not known yet.

When is a night complete?: Most games are in by around 6 a.m. Central European time, stragglers by about half past seven. A game on the west coast finishing at half past two our time cannot be there earlier.
Why is the "stars" category almost always high?: Because it measures how much of the available star power showed up. With nobody injured that is close to 100 percent. It only separates games once someone is missing.
Which nations are available?: All those for which at least one player in the database has a nation on file. The basis is the source’s birth country, supplemented by a curated list — birth country and national team are not the same thing.
Are these official numbers?: No. Clutchmeter is not affiliated with the NBA and uses unofficial, publicly reachable endpoints. The scores are our own calculation.

Do you set cookies?: No. No tracking, no analytics, no advertising. Your settings live in your browser’s local storage and are never transmitted anywhere.
Why no team logos?: Because we hold no trademark rights to them. Teams appear as a colour circle with the three-letter code.
Does the site cost anything?: No, and the ratings are meant to stay free.