Kobe "The Second Glove" Bryant <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers notes: Despite enjoying a hard-nosed defensive practice, the Lakers would have liked to get Kobe Bryant more work as he prepares for a big defensive season. Bryant suggested Friday that any improvements in his game this season are more likely to come at the defensive end. After dropping from 220 to 208 pounds over the summer, Bryant is better suited for active pursuit of point guards, which is the major role change planned for him. Gary Payton will shadow the shooting guards who preyed on Bryant's overly aggressive chasing last season. Payton is expected to spearhead improvement in a Lakers defense that dropped to 17th in the NBA from No.1 in 2001-02. Payton was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team nine consecutive times (1994-2002) - the only player in league history besides Michael Jordan to be so honored. Bryant made the first team last season, though Lakers coaches didn't think he deserved it. Payton gave Bryant some precious advice on defensive play at the 2000 All-Star Game, and Bryant wound up joining Payton on the All-Defensive first team that season. "We got real tight at that time," Payton said. Payton, nicknamed "The Glove," has high expectations for Bryant this season. "He can be 'The Second Glove,'" Payton said, "or 'The Mitten.'" Said Bryant: "There's a lot of things that I can tell him about offense; there's a lot of things I'm going to learn from him defensively." On offense, Payton will take on much of Bryant's ball-handling responsibility. "With Payton's ability to handle the ball and organize and do things," Jackson said, "it'll put Kobe in a position where he can be better upcourt as an attack player." </div>Full Article: http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/arti...month=10&day=12 One startling stat is the Lakers drop from #1 defense to #17. I can't wait to watch Kobe & GP defending the backcourt this season...
Yes the Payton Kobe backcourt could be a scary duo...Be interesting to see how GP plays differently for you guys now...He has always been the man and tried to take over by scoring the points..Now he can focus even more of defence...Which the Lakers badly need at the PG spot...As over the years the Lakers have always got owned by the other top teams at point guard...
