<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Forget all the potential playoff scenarios for a moment. The Lakers say their postseason fate could hinge less on where they finish in the standings than on how they're playing on the court. "The only issue that we're concerned about is winning and trying to win every game," Coach Phil Jackson said Wednesday. "It's not about six or seven or eight [in the Western Conference standings] or anything else, it's about really getting a rhythm and playing as well as we can." The Lakers open their final trip of the season tonight in Denver against the Nuggets before traveling to Phoenix for a game against the Suns on Friday. A solid showing against a pair of playoff-bound teams could go a long way toward proving that the Lakers are ready for their first postseason appearance in two years. "It's a good test for us, two good teams back to back on the road," guard Kobe Bryant said. "We'll see what we're made of a little bit." Said forward Lamar Odom: "These are playoff teams, and you want to play well against them." Jackson, whose team has won six of seven games, said he did not consider this trip a measuring stick for the Lakers' playoff readiness because they are not at full strength. Neither rookie center Andrew Bynum (ankle and foot) nor center Chris Mihm (ankle) will accompany the team on the trip. "If you had a couple of days' preparation and you had a full squad of players, it would be something different," Jackson said. "We're still a long way from where we want to be" when the playoffs start. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After all these years, Bryant couldn't believe that he was still being asked about the challenge of facing Denver swingman Ruben Patterson, the self-proclaimed "Kobe Stopper." "Oh, come off it, are you kidding me?" Bryant said incredulously. "Last time I had like 40 against the guy." Actually, Bryant scored 27 points on 11-for-19 shooting during the Lakers' 99-82 victory over Patterson's Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 21, two days before the Nuggets acquired Patterson as part of a four-team trade. Bryant called Patterson, a former Laker, a "good friend" and said he was happy that Patterson was able to leave cellar-dwelling Portland for a playoff-bound team.</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">"Oh, come off it, are you kidding me?" Bryant said incredulously. "Last time I had like 40 against the guy." Actually, Bryant scored 27 points on 11-for-19 shooting during the Lakers' 99-82 victory over Patterson's Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 21, two days before the Nuggets acquired Patterson as part of a four-team trade.</div> This is the part that interests me most, Kobe doesn't even think much of Ruben Patterson as he didn't even know he played against him. Expect an ass-whooping tonight, Kobe style.
there is no such thing as a kobe stopper. ron artest cant stop him and bruce bowen cant either. i highly doubt patterson effects kobe at all this game. once kobe gets hot, it doesnt matter who you put on him, he will make the shot anyways
Not trying to hate, but Kobe only makes comments like that when he's going up against a non-scoring guard/sf. Kobe has gotten torched by everyone from Cuttino Mobley to Ray Allen to Tmac. I do agree that the "nanny-stopper" will get lit up tonight though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Not trying to hate, but Kobe only makes comments like that when he's going up against a non-scoring guard/sf. Kobe has gotten torched by everyone from Cuttino Mobley to Ray Allen to Tmac. I do agree that the "nanny-stopper" will get lit up tonight though.</div> dude, the reason Kobe doesn't put all his effort in stopping these guys is because he has to conserve energy for the offense that his teams need. Usually in fourth quarter, if his teammates struggle to guard top scoring player, then Kobe usually takes the challenge and guard them. Mostly successful shutting them down but he doesn't do that consistently because can't afford to give up his energy for the defense alone. Ruben Patterson is a joke, he's not a kobe stopper but he does play well against Kobe. He giving Kobe most tough shots, and Kobe just nailing them down like it's an easy shot. Patterson, Artest, Bowen, Snow, AK47, and Prince are all playing great defense on him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Not trying to hate, but Kobe only makes comments like that when he's going up against a non-scoring guard/sf. Kobe has gotten torched by everyone from Cuttino Mobley to Ray Allen to Tmac. I do agree that the "nanny-stopper" will get lit up tonight though.</div> I think the reason is because Mobley, Allen, and TMac aren't delusional enough to call themselves Kobe Stoppers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Not trying to hate, but Kobe only makes comments like that when he's going up against a non-scoring guard/sf. Kobe has gotten torched by everyone from Cuttino Mobley to Ray Allen to Tmac. I do agree that the "nanny-stopper" will get lit up tonight though.</div> Torched as in how? On offense or defense? Cuttino Mobley is undersized to guard Kobe, so Kobe usually does what he does to most undersized guards, turn around J. Ray Allen is garbage on defense compared to Kobe and Kobe is better offensively. The only fair matchup you said would be T-Mac. Back in his Orlando days he used to show up Kobe, but thats not the case now. Its all about the here and now and T-Mac is injured. T-Mac and Kobe are a fair match because both are solid offensively but it would be a toss up defensively....
I guess that in the Denver game, Kobe remembered what Patterson said about being the "Kobe stopper". He scored 40+ points
Kobe may have had 40 but Patterson stopped Kobe on the potential game winning play and basically the one that mattered most.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe may have had 40 but Patterson stopped Kobe on the potential game winning play and basically the one that mattered most.</div> You mean the play where Ruben grabbed Kobe around the waist with both hands?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe may have had 40 but Patterson stopped Kobe on the potential game winning play and basically the one that mattered most.</div> like shape said, it looked like a foul. anyways, you cant just say patterson is a kobe stopper just because he stopped him on one play. the guy scored 40 points on him for crying out loud! like i said before, there is no such thing as a kobe stopper. you can only hope to keep him to 25 points.
Who was guarding Kobe on the 4 point play that put the Lakers in the game again? 4 point play <div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe may have had 40 but Patterson stopped Kobe on the potential game winning play and basically the one that mattered most.</div> If Patterson had kept Kobe below his average, that situation wouldn't have taken place. The Nuggets would have won the game already. Pattersons bad D/Kobe's offense put the Lakers in the situation where they could have won the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I think the reason is because Mobley, Allen, and TMac aren't delusional enough to call themselves Kobe Stoppers.</div> Seems every year their are new DELUSIONAL players. I wonder if Lebron will ever get his share of Lebron stoppers. haha
Aaron McKie was the one who was able to slow Kobe down a bit but once Kobe gets it going there ain't nobody who can stop him...Kobe himself said once that Eric Snow is the guy who always gives his best against him.
No such thing as a Kobe stopper, that guy is beyond real. Patterson should just watch and learn a great perform.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Martin:</div><div class="quote_post">Aaron McKie was the one who was able to slow Kobe down a bit but once Kobe gets it going there ain't nobody who can stop him...Kobe himself said once that Eric Snow is the guy who always gives his best against him.</div> I agree, Eric Snow is such an underrated defender in the league. He gives Kobe a lot of problems, because he knows how to keep Kobe off balance, and Kobe struggles backing him down into the post.
I agree that a Kobe stopper does no exist but I probably felt most frustrated when Tayshaun guarded him in the finals. Ron Artest does a pretty decent job on Kobe.
