When Kobe Bryant fully integrates himself into his team's offense, the Los Angeles Lakers are the most elegant outfit in the NBA. Bryant can perform both as scorer and facilitator, contrary to the false distinction that's sometimes drawn between these two functions. Bryant's best formula for success is applying one role in service of the other, something he did brilliantly in Game 2 against Phoenix on Wednesday night. Bryant recognized a more aggressive (though discombobulated) Suns' defensive scheme that ran double-teams at him indiscriminately. He leveraged this attention by finding shooters who were left open by help defenders. In the first half alone, Bryant assisted on five 3-pointers (three by Ron Artest, one by Shannon Brown, one by Derek Fisher, and a hockey assist on a bomb by Jordan Farmar). After the Suns adjusted in the second half by sending help to Bryant from down low rather than the perimeter, he countered by looking for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Bryant hit his big men on basket cuts and off pick-and-rolls. Against a smaller, scattered Suns defense, that was the path of least resistance for the Lakers and Bryant happily navigated it. Bryant finished with a career playoff high 13 assists on the night to go along with 21 points: [video=youtube;Tp4Rh9CNXiA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp4Rh9CNXiA&feature=player_embedded[/video] Source: ESPN
Kobe has talked about picking his poison throughout the season and that's exactly what he's doing. Can't wait for the finals (if we are fortunate enough to get there of course), where we hopefully will meet the Celtics. I'd like to see what Kobe has for, in my opinion, the toughest defence in the league.
I'm sure Boston will start off defending him one on one with Rondo lurking off Fisher. There's going to be pressure on Artest and Fisher to make outside shots.
This was simply beautiful... but is not the case consistently throughout the season... I just noticed that when Kobe drives and dish, most teammates fail to convert on open jumpers. if they did, kobe would be averaging 7+ assists easily throughout the regular season. imagine if the lakers played like this on a consistent basis (knocking down open j's, getting open in the paint), our 'leader' could average 23-25ppg on nearly 50%fg and having 8+ apg. LOL 2nd MVP? but it wont happen haha
Kobe on Rondo Fish on Ray (Fish will just muscle up on him) Artest in Pierce (which will be the big difference since Kobe used up a lot of energy trying to body up pierce and chase after rondo in 08) and i think we'll put Odom on Sheed just so he won't be left open for thos 3's.
