the dude can play defense when he wants to, but the fact of the matter is that he rarely ever wants to. sure, he played good defense on artest when artest plays in 1 vs 1 revenge mode, because then artest is entirely predictable. but kobe is so lazy about fighting through screens, battier's been hitting 3s in this series by taking advantage of this fact.
shane battier - 23 pts today lol
all-defensive team is not based on potential, it's based on performance.
Kobe likes to take the other team's weakest offensive player so he can cheat off them and play for steals, traps, etc. You're right, he's good on ball and in general when he wants to be, but I think it sets a bad example for the rest of the team -- that they can lag on D and turn it on whenever they want, which they clearly can't.
He isn't even that good when he tries. IMO when he tries he overplays the guy he is guarding and gets beaten off the drible most of the times, even a one legged Manu beat Kobe off the drible last year in the few posesions Bryant defended him.
If it's Lakers vs. Cavs in the Finals, LeBron is going to abuse Kobe...just watch.
The whole All-Defensive first team is a joke IMO, with the exception of Howard. Rondo/Artest/Iguodala/Battier/Howard for me.
Need a 4 in there somewhere but yeah, def. all nba is just another nba exercise in star ing.
with a disloacted finger he guarded him pretty well. but with the way lebron is averaging 15 ft a game it could be another 06 finals where he gets whistled for breathing next to james
Or, as in the case of nearly every foul called, he could shoot a large # of free throws because Kobe is unable to stop or slow LeBron from getting to the hoop and initiates a lot of contact.
Kobe's defense is one of the most overrated things in the history of the NBA.
Kobe gives up on plays too many times, and he only goes for blocks that are supposedly big time like in game 3 when he went at Yao for example, those plays make the NBA have just enough proof he is 1st all defensive team when he clearly isn't.
Like that didn't benefit you guys back in 2002?
The Laker fans should be the last ones to complain about officiating...
Kobe and Lakers' defense:
so what is the problem with la's defense? personnel? coaching? coaching as in schemes or coaching as in motivation?
Kobe didn't guard Lebron straight up. He always had a lot of help. The Lakers basically took the same 3 man zone the Pistons used against Lebron in the playoffs in years past. They put Kobe in front of Lebron and had two more Laker defenders flanking him on either side standing there waiting. Lebron can get by Kobe with ease but he'll always have another defender waiting for him cutting off the lane which is why he better have that midrange game working in the Finals if he gets there.
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