Lakersground is pretty funny. I had never been over there before now. After a quick glance, I noticed a key difference between our boards: When something goes bad for us, we blame the coach, pg, fans, star players etc . . When something goes bad for them, it is the refs, cheating defenders, or they make excuses that their players are hurt . . . Both board personalities are annoying. Ours is a little bit more realist, with tons of overeacting. Theirs is up on a pedestal looking down from the throne of the ALMIGHTY LAKER. Just an observation. I guess when you are such a good team for so many years, you get a little cocky.
I'm just wondering, for guys playing on the same dimensions (court size) and same basket height for twenty years in their life, how much does a hand in the face really matters? When his arms are up and in you are already in the rotation of shooting, his brain has taken a snap-shot of where the basket is, right? Unless it's placed in front of the face exactly when the player get's set to shoot.
The only rule it seems Rosen could be looking at is the "impeding the progress" rule. The only way you could bend that is to say that Battier impeded the progression of another 50-point scoring night for Kobe. Please. It's a shame he had to say it was illegal and take away from what Shane accomplished. He was nothing short of incredible on D yesterday. He had a crazy string of plays against Kobe at the end of the game that really sealed the deal. Shane deserves to at least get looked at for DPOY.
I could just see Shane using his real defensive strategy: "I'm not touching you. I'm not touching you."
I also cant believe anyone with half a brain would think it is illegal. If it was even remotely illegal there would have been penalties every time he did it. You think the NBA will let Kobe be defended illegally?? On National TV??? Face guarding is only illegal if you do it to the guy without the ball. I thought it might have been illegal if the guy is not shooting, but never would think that putting your hand in the guys face when he shoots is illegal.
How can a national sports reporter be so dumb? To interfere with a player's vision by putting a hand in his face as he shoots is illegal in the NCAA, but perfectly legal in the NBA. I love how the atrocious calls against the Rockets don't get covered at all. National media thinks it must have been the refs who gave the game to the Rockets. How else can the national media explain McGrady only scoring 11 and the Rockets rolling over the Lakers? I remember yelling at the TV especially loudly when this was a "no call": http://www.chron.com/sports/photogallery/Rockets_host_Lakers.html (picture number 6) But I love how even when we are getting consistently shafted by the refs, the Rockets don't complain much. They just suck it up, play better defense, and almost seem to use it as a fire to get themselves going. They are disciplined and mature, with just enough edge. I can almost hear their thoughts, "Just keep hustling, and everything wil work itself out".
I think we're missing the real genius of Battier's D here. His whole game was spent in that sweet spot where you give enough space to cover the drive but stay close enough to contest the jump shot... and with Kobe, that is a very, very, very small space to play in. Kobe settle for jumpers because that's what he thought Battier was giving him, but Battier was close enough and quick enough to contest the vision, if not the shot. If he had been in his chest, trying to contest each shot, Kobe would have walked around him for a layup at anytime. If he's too far back, Kobe gets an open look and shoots a higher percentage. Battier's game yesterday was skill and talent enhanced by experience and basketball intelligence. It was sweet. It was beautiful. It was brilliant.
It should not be illegal bc it would be hard to ref. What if the player is in the paint? Sometimes, it just happens if you can't jump with the opponent. I agree - he has a high basketball IQ...... He said in an interview that he reviews his opponents videos over and over. I noticed on D that he played the def gap very well. He stayed just close enough to give Kobe a whiff of his palm. DPOY........ I think. I don't know of any other defender who can hold Lebron, Carter, Kobe, Wade etc. to way below avg numbers. Every time!
As the game progressed it really looked like Battier was in Kobe's head. His jumpers were not smooth and his rhythm was way off. Sweet, sweet defensive game.
To whoever posted the LakersGround link.... Thank you for providing me with at least an hour of entertainment, perhaps countless more. Reading foo84 argue with them...speechless...never believed people could be so ignorant/brain dead. Their homerism is so fanatical that it's absolutely disgusting. I'd rather have good 'ol Clutchfans where we have trade everybody threads everyday.
that lakerground link was just sad but pretty funny at the same time. Kobe no respect from officals! LOL
The funny thing is......Kobe himself said that it wasn't Shane's defense that contributed to his bad day....but rather himself. Therefore no one can blame Shane's face guarding right?
Hey Guys, Me thinks Rosen is confusing the NFL with the NBA. Face guarding a receiver is illegal (unless actually going for the ball - intercept). In the NBA, you do everything you can to stop the shot (without touching the other player). Notice Kobe didn't get foul in the act of shooting a jumpshot at all? When Kobe drives, he will creat contact. Battier showed on National TV he deserves to be in the NBA defensive 1st team if not considered for DPY.
I have never seen analyst that is so biased for one coach. I know he used to work with Phil, but Rosen isn't credible anymore because of his obvious bias. He really needs to pull his head out of Phil's captain chair!
It's true . When you have threads aboutu trading the entire Roster and how Rudy Gay is a superstar and such, it tends to get annoying.
So you think he gets preferential treatment from the refs? LMAO!! Wake up!! this isn't KING JAMES!! It's Kobe "controversial" Bryant! Easily one of the most hated players in all of sports.
