Which shot was better? A head-to-head breakdown of Kawhi vs. Dame

The 2019 playoffs have already given basketball fans a pair of dazzling series-clinching shots.

First was Damian Lillard's deep three to lift the Portland Trail Blazers over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 23:

Then on May 12, Kawhi Leonard evaded the Philadelphia 76ers' defense to bury a pull-up jumper, booking the Toronto Raptors' second trip to the conference finals in franchise history:

On its own, each sequence is a piece of art worthy of admiration (unless you're a Thunder or 76ers fan).

But modern sports appreciation doesn't exist in a vacuum. No, these plays that took place weeks apart on opposite sides of the U.S.-Canada border need to be compared head to head.

Using a handful of key categories, let's determine which game-winning shot is superior.

The moment

Lillard's shot occurred in Game 5 of a fairly lopsided series. If he hadn't drained it, the Blazers would've had overtime to break the tie, and beyond that, two more games to put the ailing Thunder out of their misery.

The Raptors and 76ers also would've played an overtime frame if Leonard's shot missed the mark, and didn't bounce around the rim before finally falling. The key difference, of course, is that Leonard's moment happened in a win-or-go-home Game 7 in the conference semifinals - an order of magnitude higher than Lillard's series-sealing shot in the first round.

Winner: Kawhi

Degree of difficulty

Prior to Lillard's shot, the Blazers' final possession began with an Al-Farouq Aminu rebound with 17.1 seconds left. With Portland head coach Terry Stotts opting not to call a timeout, Lillard dribbled the ball to halfcourt, only to find Defensive Player of the Year candidate Paul George sizing him up. Lillard then side-stepped the 6-foot-9 forward to hoist a 37-foot heave.

Coming off a timeout with 4.2 seconds on the clock, Leonard's moment started with a Marc Gasol inbound pass, and ended with a pull-up 15-footer over the outstretched arms of Joel Embiid - no defensive slouch himself.

Sure, the Raptors forward was given less time to get his shot off, but he did benefit from a stoppage in play, and his attempt was also significantly closer to the bucket. If not for the ball bouncing seductively on the rim for several seconds, Leonard's mid-range jumper would've registered as a difficult shot, but hardly an act of divine intervention. Lillard pulling up over George within spitting distance of the halfcourt logo was closer to a true prayer.

Winner: Dame

The call

The play-by-play call quickly can't be separated from the action itself.

While it's tough for a broadcaster's lack of gusto to undercut a difficult feat, fantastic narration can certainly elevate the moment - especially in the YouTube era, when highlights can be served up on demand.

Here's TNT announcer Brian Anderson's call of Dame's shot:

A chance to send the Thunder home. Lillard, long-range three and ... IT'S GOOD! AT THE BUZZER! DAMIAN LILLARD, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

And here's fellow TNT play-by-play man Kevin Harlan's take on Kawhi's game-winner:

It's off to Leonard ... defended by Simmons ... is this the dagger? OHHHHHH! Game ... Series ... Toronto has won!

After proclaiming the victors, both wisely ceded the mic to the ecstatic home crowds - an expert touch when others may have talked over the scene.

The calls are professional with an appropriate level of exuberance. Time will tell which (if either) call finds a foothold in the memory of the average fan.

Winner: Tie

Legacy

The final and most important category is also the most malleable.

With both the Blazers and Raptors heading into conference finals matchups (against the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively), the importance of the two shots still rests with what happens next. If either team advances to The Finals - or wins it all - everything changes.

On an individual level, the game-winners contribute to the legacy of each player. Lillard's shot gets added to the dagger he hit to dispose of the Houston Rockets in 2014. The same goes for Leonard, as perceived clutchness can stick with a star player for the rest of his career, even if the numbers don't paint that picture.

But Leonard's bucket might also come with real consequences for the landscape of the league far beyond this season. Questions persist about the quiet superstar's intentions as he heads into free agency this summer. Will he stay with a winning team in a market the 27-year-old once reportedly resisted following a trade from San Antonio? Or will he bolt to the friendly confines of a warmer locale like Los Angeles?

The deeper the Raptors progress in the playoffs, the more important Leonard's shot in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals becomes. If he ends up staying, even on a short-term deal, his decision and the shot will be entwined forever.

Only time will tell to what extent Kawhi's clincher affected his decision and tipped the scales of power around the league.

Winner: Kawhi

It's close, but Leonard's shot, while perhaps a tad easier, connected in a bigger moment and has the potential to change the fabric of the NBA.