They force turnovers by reaching for the ball without fouling or losing position and yes, they do block Kobe shot occasionally.
Shane played great D. Kobe was contested on just about every shot, that is something the Rockets can live with.
you cant make that comparison, what about the nights when battier shuts down kobe. Comparing one single night kobe has to another is no way to evaluate a defender plus battier fully contested every shot of Kobes, its just he had a hot hand today. think rockets can live with that
Shane Battier. He's saying the team contested 85% of the Lakers shots and Battier contested Kobe's shots 100% of the time(too bad it didn't make much of a difference).
but he makes them. kobe wants to take those contested shot. and furthermore, every shot kobe takes every game IS contested b/c he's the best offensive player in the world. we needed to double team him. shane can't stop kobe. nobody can. you cannot allow kobe to take 30 shots.
people have to understand great players make contested shots. you think those baseline fadeaways by hakeem is EASY? those are freakin' tough shots. but he wants to take them. kobe LOVES those fadeaways, absolutely loves them. you can contest them all you want, but he'll make his share of them. unless kobe absolutely struggles and shoots like 35%, we have got to double him. he destroyed shane battier tonight with ease. kobe wanted to take all of those shots that he took. those are his shots. he felt comfortable taking those shots. i rather we double and let odom or artest or fisher take their shots.
Battier got killed in the post so I really don't care about him contesting 100%. Lately, Battier has not done the job against Kobe. It's not a knock of his effort but he's not getting the job done with his current approach. For one he's not getting the benefit of the doubt on any of the plays he makes on Kobe. For two, he's getting beat to the spot by Kobe which hurts him in point number one and three we even freakin' triple teamed Kobe and he still hurt us. All I'm saying is that even with the contesting, it was like Battier wasn't even there to Kobe. Was I the only one that it looked like that to?? I just wanted to see Ariza on him for a few plays to change it up some, hell may be you put Hayes on Kobe and see what happens. We have to figure that out now so that we get the W next time we play them. Or Battier has to score more points to offset the butt kickin that he's receiving on the other end... Last thing, Hayes's defense is on another level. I am starting believe Battier shouldn't be in the same conversation as Hayes. I remember someone talking about Hayes being able to guard every position (I think they said every position). He is the epitome of the saying "making lemonade out of lemons" because for all the knocks on him he handles his business on the defensive end of the floor!!! People, Kobe score over 40 pts. I don't care how he got them, as a top perimeter defender, you can't allow that and get a pass. I don't care who that man was. Why did Kobe get some many free throws? Because he got into the lane and forced the action. Who's job was it to prevent that? Exactly, Battier... I still a huge fan of Battier and what he brings to the team but nevertheless he didn't get the job done on the defensive end! The team just needs to suck it up and make the necessary adjusts. Go Rockets.
I am of the school of thought that says a team changes up its way of guarding Kobe multiple times per game. SB then TA then CH maybe even a little Lowry. It won't stop KB24 but it could change the rhythm - his, and the Fakes.
Shane played well against Kobe, although I think he should start getting physical with his opponents. I liked how he prevented Kobe from shooting that 3 in the late part of the game.
Exactly, end of story. No stopping Kobe on a good night....period. Also we lost this game, not the refs. Look at some Lakers forum, they were complaining about calls also. I agree Brooks should have shot that first time, but the other was baby junk that shouldn't be called at the end of games IMO. If that were us in the other situation, no one would want that called. We know Fouls gotta be obvious in closing minutes.
LOL!! nice.....but seriously there were a cpl jordan type foul calls for kobe, but thats what you get when you play against a guy of his caliber. btw....lamar doesnt like when you tell him kourtney is the hotter kardashian
