Harvey: Mess with Manu? Force of nature

[timvp]

I remember that. It was Tony's rookie year, and right after the summer 2001 disaster. Phil but Kobe on Tony to try to rattle him. Tony crossed over Kobe and literally blew by him, then jammed on the brakes. I thought Kobe was going to leap frog him. Foul. I think Phil took him off Tony immediately.

Yeah, that's the play I'm talking about. After watching Terry Porter get owned by the Lakers, that one play by Parker gave Spurs fans hope at the time that the Spurs would finally be able to eventually beat the Lakers.

IIRC, Parker blew by him for a layup. Next play, Parker blew by him again, put on the brakes and Kobe was all of a sudden on top of Parker. Phil has never put Kobe on Parker again.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

To be fair. Kobe became better at his individual defense after Shaq left. I think he worked hard on improving that area. I think he both underestimated players like Parker, Manu, in the early 2000's, because he had the convenience of the big fat guy in the middle.

He's not on Michael Jordan's level as a two way player though.