The last few games have served as a blueprint for teams as to how to defend great players like LeBron and Kobe. You can't stop either player so you have to make them one dimensional. Kobe and LeBron are at their best when they are able to get their teammates involved. LeBron had his first game without an assist recently and the Cavs lost. The Lakers are most vulnerable when Kobe has to carry the scoring load by himself. One player can beat a team on any given night but in a seven game series one player won't beat a great team.
The teams that have the most success against the Lakers, Cavs rely on single coverage and try to funnel Kobe and LeBron to where their help defense is. The key is to make them scorers and not playmakers. Turn them into jump shooters instead of assist men. It takes a great defender to utilize this game plan. Kobe or LeBron may go off for 50 or even 60 but their teammates will be standing around watching. Then if a teammate is needed to hit a crucial shot, they will be out of rhythm and not in the normal flow of the game.
Showing posts with label Kobe Bryant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kobe Bryant. Show all posts
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
My All NBA Team
PG Chris Paul - The best number 1 in the league averaging almost 22 PPG and 11 dimes. He is virtually unstoppable. He can get in the lane at will and has a deadly jump shot.
SG Kobe Bryant - Kobe is creeping up in the conversation for NBA MVP again. The closest thing to Mike since MJ suited up. Still the best closer in the NBA.
SF LeBron James - King James is the leading MVP candidate this season. Second in the league in scoring and a triple double waiting to happen.
PF Tim Duncan - The anchor of the Spurs on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. He lives up to his nickname "The Big Fundamental" by averaging 21 points and over 10 boards a night.
C Dwight Howard - The best big man in the league is leading the Magic to an outstanding season. He is averaging 20 points, 14 boards and 3 blocks a game.
SG Kobe Bryant - Kobe is creeping up in the conversation for NBA MVP again. The closest thing to Mike since MJ suited up. Still the best closer in the NBA.
SF LeBron James - King James is the leading MVP candidate this season. Second in the league in scoring and a triple double waiting to happen.
PF Tim Duncan - The anchor of the Spurs on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. He lives up to his nickname "The Big Fundamental" by averaging 21 points and over 10 boards a night.
C Dwight Howard - The best big man in the league is leading the Magic to an outstanding season. He is averaging 20 points, 14 boards and 3 blocks a game.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Kobe Show
The Lakers beat the Knicks 126-117 but it was the Kobe Bryant show last night at the Garden. Kobe dropped 61 against the Knicks. An incredible performance! Kobe had the jumper going, the inside game and just about every shot seemed to fall. Kobe shot 61% from the field going 19-31 and went 20-20 from the charity stripe. Kobe broke Bernard King's record of 60 points at MSG. MJ scored the third most ever at the garden with 55 in his second comeback.
Kobe looked just like Jordan last night with his fadeaways, double clutch shots and dunks. Kobe is the closest thing that I have seen to MJ since he retired. The Lakers needed every bucket that Bryant scored and he delivered over and over. Kobe has that Mike like ability to score whenever he wants to score. Pau Gasol had a huge night as well with 31 points and 14 rebounds. Surprisingly the Knicks were the more balanced team last night with 6 players scoring in double figures and three players scoring 20 or more.
As I stated yesterday, with Bynum out of the lineup the Lakers are going to rely on Kobe to score more to win games. I didn't know he would begin with a 61 point outbreak. If the Lakers want to win the championship however Kobe will need more help. Lamar Odom and the bench will have to be more of a factor in big games.
This win makes the Lakers 3-0 on their current road trip. Next game: Wednesday night at Toronto.
Kobe looked just like Jordan last night with his fadeaways, double clutch shots and dunks. Kobe is the closest thing that I have seen to MJ since he retired. The Lakers needed every bucket that Bryant scored and he delivered over and over. Kobe has that Mike like ability to score whenever he wants to score. Pau Gasol had a huge night as well with 31 points and 14 rebounds. Surprisingly the Knicks were the more balanced team last night with 6 players scoring in double figures and three players scoring 20 or more.
As I stated yesterday, with Bynum out of the lineup the Lakers are going to rely on Kobe to score more to win games. I didn't know he would begin with a 61 point outbreak. If the Lakers want to win the championship however Kobe will need more help. Lamar Odom and the bench will have to be more of a factor in big games.
This win makes the Lakers 3-0 on their current road trip. Next game: Wednesday night at Toronto.
Photo by WDPG_share
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Lakers beat Wolves 132-119
This one went pretty much as expected. The Lakers rolled to a 132-119 victory. L.A. led by 15 going into the 4th quarter. Kobe was unstoppable, putting up 30 points, 8 rebs, 5 assists in 35 minutes of work. Andrew Bynum more than held his own against Al Jefferson with 27 points and 15 boards. Bynum played solid defense making Jefferson work for every basket. Pau Gasol dropped in 21 points and 9 rebounds of his own. For Minnesota Al Jefferson had 34 points and 13 rebounds. Randy Foye chipped in 27.
All five Laker starters scored in double figures. The Lakers are starting to look like the Lakers of the early 2000's with Shaq and Kobe. They have a strong inside game with excellent perimeter shooting. This team has more offensive weapons than the Lakers championship teams of 2000, 2001 and 2002. Bynum and Gasol are the perfect complements to Kobe's game. Nights like tonight show just how potent the Lakers are offensively.
This was the start of a tough six game road stretch. The Lakers face the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow night at 8. They follow that with games against the Knicks, Raptors, Celtics and Cavs. The last two will be tough tests as the Lakers face off against the Eastern Conferences two best teams.
All five Laker starters scored in double figures. The Lakers are starting to look like the Lakers of the early 2000's with Shaq and Kobe. They have a strong inside game with excellent perimeter shooting. This team has more offensive weapons than the Lakers championship teams of 2000, 2001 and 2002. Bynum and Gasol are the perfect complements to Kobe's game. Nights like tonight show just how potent the Lakers are offensively.
This was the start of a tough six game road stretch. The Lakers face the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow night at 8. They follow that with games against the Knicks, Raptors, Celtics and Cavs. The last two will be tough tests as the Lakers face off against the Eastern Conferences two best teams.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Bobcats clip the Lakers in double OT
It took 6 quarters but the Bobcats pulled it out. The Bobcats played the Lakers tough as they always seem to do and escaped the Staples Center with a 117-110 win in 2OT's. The Bobcats have won 5 of their last 6 games against the Lakers. Charlotte dominated the Lakers in the paint shooting 47% from the field and outrebounding the Lakers 53 to 42. All five Bobcats starters scored in double figures led by Boris Diaw with 23 and Raymond Felton with 22.
The Bobcats looked faster then the Lakers tonight and exploited L.A.'s defense with their quickness. Boris Diaw and Gerald Wallace were too much for Pau Gasol and Luke Walton to handle. Odom played major minutes tonight as his size and quickness were needed. Kobe kept the Lakers in the game all night with his great shooting going 15 for 28 and dropping 38. Kobe added 8 rebounds and 5 assists for an all around great game. Andrew Bynum has a big night with 24 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks. The Lakers bench had an off night tonight contributing only 19 points.
I think that the Lakers would have won if Kobe played the whole game. Kobe fouled out at the end of the first overtime. The Lakers were outscored 14-7 in the second overtime with Bryant on the bench. The Lakers two man game was not enough to beat the Bobcats complete team effort. Bobcats star Gerald Wallace was injured in the 4th quarter on a flagrant foul by Bynum.
The Bobcats looked faster then the Lakers tonight and exploited L.A.'s defense with their quickness. Boris Diaw and Gerald Wallace were too much for Pau Gasol and Luke Walton to handle. Odom played major minutes tonight as his size and quickness were needed. Kobe kept the Lakers in the game all night with his great shooting going 15 for 28 and dropping 38. Kobe added 8 rebounds and 5 assists for an all around great game. Andrew Bynum has a big night with 24 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks. The Lakers bench had an off night tonight contributing only 19 points.
I think that the Lakers would have won if Kobe played the whole game. Kobe fouled out at the end of the first overtime. The Lakers were outscored 14-7 in the second overtime with Bryant on the bench. The Lakers two man game was not enough to beat the Bobcats complete team effort. Bobcats star Gerald Wallace was injured in the 4th quarter on a flagrant foul by Bynum.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Lakers Midseason Report
The L.A. Lakers are off to a great start this season. The Lakers are currently 33-8 and have the best record in the NBA. The Lakers lead the Pacific divison by 9.5 games. They have a 5 game lead over the Spurs for home court advantage throughout the Western conference playoffs. The Lakers lead the league in scoring averaging 107.6 points per game. The Lakers are first in rebounding, fourth in field goal percentage and seventh in field goal percentage against.
Kobe Bryant is having another MVP season. Pau Gasol is continuing his stellar play from last season. He is the perfect Robin to Kobe's Batman. The addition of Bynum gives the Lakers a legitimate chance to defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals this season. Derrick Fisher continues to give the Lakers solid minutes at the point. Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar make up the deepest bench in the NBA. If the Lakers can continue playing at their current level, they have a great chance to win the NBA championship.
Kobe Bryant is having another MVP season. Pau Gasol is continuing his stellar play from last season. He is the perfect Robin to Kobe's Batman. The addition of Bynum gives the Lakers a legitimate chance to defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals this season. Derrick Fisher continues to give the Lakers solid minutes at the point. Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar make up the deepest bench in the NBA. If the Lakers can continue playing at their current level, they have a great chance to win the NBA championship.
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