Kobe to become "defensive stopper" for Lakers.

TORaptor4Ever · 01-15-2013, 04:05 PM

About time. Less shots and more D from Kobe should = more wins for the Lakers.

He might even deserve those all-defensive team nominations if he can pull it off. Heh.

Quote:

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- If the Los Angeles Lakers are going to make a push to get back in the postseason hunt, they'll have to improve their defense.

Therefore, the Lakers have turned to none other than Kobe Bryant to spearhead that defensive turnaround.

Bryant drew the primary defensive assignment against Kyrie Irving on Sunday and limited the Cleveland Cavaliers star guard to just 15 points in the Lakers' 113-93 victory.

In the wake of Bryant's outstanding effort against Irving, Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni has vowed to use the veteran guard in similar defensive situations.

"I think that really helped us," D'Antoni said. "It helped us against the Clippers with Chris Paul. (Bryant) wants to take the challenge, and it really helps us."

The challenge for D'Antoni in bestowing the new defensive responsibilities on Bryant is to try to limit his playing time so that the 17-year veteran doesn't get run down with 45 games remaining in the regular season.

Bryant is averaging 38.7 minutes per game this season, which ranks No. 1 among all guards in the NBA.

"That's what worries me and that's why I took a long time to put him there and that's why, even now, I still have some trepidation," D'Antoni said. "But he's taking the challenge. I told him his minutes got to go down -- they got to go down. He doesn't love that, but he's willing to do anything to make us win.

"He's always going to be focal point or the lightning rod of a lot of things here in Los Angeles. But I've only found a guy that wants to win and as a coach, I couldn't ask for anything more than that."

Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers to take on more important defensive role, Mike D'Antoni says - ESPN Los Angeles

d00little · 01-15-2013, 04:10 PM

He plays horrible off-ball defense (the problems are mental and effort, not physical or skill wise) and average on-ball defense, so it can't really hurt.

Alex · 01-15-2013, 04:11 PM

Good luck with that.

TORaptor4Ever · 01-15-2013, 04:14 PM

I'm one of the biggest Kobe critics around but I think that he can do it.... IF he really buys in to it. He's that talented physically.

Kirby · 01-15-2013, 04:14 PM

Hopefully it translates to more Nash-Dwight oriented offense.

**Raptorman** · 01-15-2013, 04:17 PM

The more the Lakers talk, the less they win.

**halphbreedballer** · 01-15-2013, 05:57 PM

Its funny he the most offensive minded coach in the NBA & he is telling Kobe he needs to lead the team defensively?

Kirby · 01-15-2013, 06:55 PM

it works out fine. If you an add a few lethal 3pt shooters and play Nash and Dwight as the focal points, you win.

There's less pressure on Kobe, who is still obviously Kobe.

**Ball Don't Lie** · 01-15-2013, 10:55 PM

I honestly think all of these defensive articles and headlines about are trying to sway the people who vote on the all defensive teams to get Kobe on the 1st team again. Now that the articles have been written and the pressure is on, Kobe will have a few good defensive games in a row and people will just remember the one stretch of games where he looked good and forget how awful hes been the past 4-5 years.

This isnt going to work in the long run, and DAntoni is a joke. Its not just Kobe thats horrible, its the system and the inconsistency of the other players as well.

Nites · 01-15-2013, 11:14 PM

ClutchCity · 01-16-2013, 01:19 AM

Held player of the week Jennings to 4-14 for 12 points, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 TO.

edit: 2 turnovers

**halphbreedballer** · 01-16-2013, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ball Don't Lie

I honestly think all of these defensive articles and headlines about are trying to sway the people who vote on the all defensive teams to get Kobe on the 1st team again. Now that the articles have been written and the pressure is on, Kobe will have a few good defensive games in a row and people will just remember the one stretch of games where he looked good and forget how awful hes been the past 4-5 years.

This isnt going to work in the long run, and DAntoni is a joke. Its not just Kobe thats horrible, its the system and the inconsistency of the other players as well.

Agreed D'Antoni tries to recreate the team he used to have in Phoenix over & over, but he can't. That was then this is now. What a crappy coach.

TORaptor4Ever · 01-16-2013, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halphbreedballer

Agreed D'Antoni tries to recreate the team he used to have in Phoenix over & over, but he can't. That was then this is now. What a crappy coach.

Don't know if I'd agree with that.... D'Antoni was brought on AFTER the roster was assembled. I doubt he's had any input at all when it comes to players.... which is pretty tough for an experienced coach TBH. Even tougher when you have the egos that he does on that team. And the injuries.

This has been 2 solid defensive games for them in row. We'll see how things go against the Heat... and against us lol. With our luck they'll have pulled everything together by Sunday and will smack us.

ClutchCity · 01-16-2013, 10:15 AM

Jennings on Kobe:

Quote:

"Probably the best defense anybody's played on me since I've been in the league"

ClutchCity · 01-16-2013, 10:19 AM

Bucks coach Jim Boylan:

Quote:

"Our rhythm was taken away from us -- and mainly by the defense Kobe played."

d00little · 01-16-2013, 12:00 PM

Kobe just needs to defend whoever is more ball-dominant between the 1 and the 2. It almost makes him more efficient on offense because he is so winded from playing D that he plays smarter and let's Nash do his thing, sort of like how he usually plays really well when he's sick.

Don't think he will defend Lebron because Lebron is smart enough to use his much approved post game, plus I don't think Nash could defend Wade (perhaps Battier).

ClutchCity · 01-16-2013, 02:56 PM

Metta will probably guard LeBron and Kobe will probably guard Wade. That's how they usually match up.

Ataf · 01-16-2013, 03:26 PM

Kobe's been playing some GREAT on-ball D and denial, average/bad my ass. But I agree, his past D has been pretty awful.

DocHoliday99 · 01-17-2013, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClutchCity

Metta will probably guard LeBron and Kobe will probably guard Wade. That's how they usually match up.

Clutch...been meaning to ask a couple things from your perspective, (and you probably have answered somewhere else) but what do you think about Gasol/Howard and Dantoni(and his system)? I enjoy watching Kobe when he's focused and motivated but can he maintain it without a serious leg injury?

**'trane** · 01-18-2013, 01:41 PM

Or, y'know, pass...

Quote:

"If (guarding the opposing team's offensive threat) is going to be something that I'm going to have to do for a while, I'm going to need my teammates' help to free up offensively," Bryant said. "Like we did in the fourth quarter -- create some picks for me, create some easy shots. That's going to be tough for me to guard the top guy and come down the other end and have to go one-on-one every play. So, I'm going to need some help."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...ocuses-defense

01-16-2013, 01:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
ClutchCity up there ][__ . //-\\ . Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 3,037 Representing:	Held player of the week Jennings to 4-14 for 12 points, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 TO. edit: 2 turnovers Last edited by ClutchCity; 01-16-2013 at 10:17 AM.

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01-15-2013, 04:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
d00little is pounding the rock! Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 150 Representing:	He plays horrible off-ball defense (the problems are mental and effort, not physical or skill wise) and average on-ball defense, so it can't really hurt.

01-15-2013, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Alex grabbin boards, droppin dimes, and lightin them up Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,258 Representing:	Good luck with that.

01-15-2013, 04:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
TORaptor4Ever "Fake All-Star" Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 16,433 Representing:	I'm one of the biggest Kobe critics around but I think that he can do it.... IF he really buys in to it. He's that talented physically.

01-15-2013, 04:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kirby payin Dwyane Wade Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6,816 Representing:	Hopefully it translates to more Nash-Dwight oriented offense.

01-15-2013, 04:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
Raptorman @ www.raptorman.ca RF Affiliate Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,334 Representing:	The more the Lakers talk, the less they win.

01-15-2013, 05:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
halphbreedballer Waiting for DD's 1st in game wind mill Dunk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: T.O. Posts: 4,879 Representing:	Its funny he the most offensive minded coach in the NBA & he is telling Kobe he needs to lead the team defensively?

01-15-2013, 06:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kirby payin Dwyane Wade Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6,816 Representing:	it works out fine. If you an add a few lethal 3pt shooters and play Nash and Dwight as the focal points, you win. There's less pressure on Kobe, who is still obviously Kobe.

01-15-2013, 10:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ball Don't Lie ... Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 12,161 Representing:	I honestly think all of these defensive articles and headlines about are trying to sway the people who vote on the all defensive teams to get Kobe on the 1st team again. Now that the articles have been written and the pressure is on, Kobe will have a few good defensive games in a row and people will just remember the one stretch of games where he looked good and forget how awful hes been the past 4-5 years. This isnt going to work in the long run, and DAntoni is a joke. Its not just Kobe thats horrible, its the system and the inconsistency of the other players as well.

01-15-2013, 11:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nites is all bout dat life Can't knock the Hustle Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 15,083 Representing:

01-16-2013, 12:00 PM	#16 (permalink)
d00little is pounding the rock! Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 150 Representing:	Kobe just needs to defend whoever is more ball-dominant between the 1 and the 2. It almost makes him more efficient on offense because he is so winded from playing D that he plays smarter and let's Nash do his thing, sort of like how he usually plays really well when he's sick. Don't think he will defend Lebron because Lebron is smart enough to use his much approved post game, plus I don't think Nash could defend Wade (perhaps Battier).

01-16-2013, 02:56 PM	#17 (permalink)
ClutchCity up there ][__ . //-\\ . Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 3,037 Representing:	Metta will probably guard LeBron and Kobe will probably guard Wade. That's how they usually match up.

01-16-2013, 03:26 PM	#18 (permalink)
Ataf Has "it" Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Catharines Posts: 1,798 Representing:	Kobe's been playing some GREAT on-ball D and denial, average/bad my ass. But I agree, his past D has been pretty awful.