I noticed the phenomenal defense ariza was playing on bryant...most likely because after being his teammate he knows his game more than battier...should he guard him over battier?
Ariza simply has the length to bother Kobe's amazing jumpshot that Battier doesn't. Kobe has the face defense figured out.
half the time battiers hand in the face is after kobe's released the ball so it's pointless. it's a pretty overrated defensive 'move'.
This...Kobe is too smart. Switching during the game with both will be more effective. Keep him guessing.
I don't think so... it surely has to still bother him. He was asked who was the best defender who have ever defended him and he said Shane Battier. Battier is a type of player that gets under your skin because he is there with you all the time. Ariza is a good defender because of his length and he knows Kobe's game pretty well but I think best is to switch within the game. Plus for this game, Shane has been called with those tick tacky fouls... Ariza has gotten away with more physical play. Either way this is a good dilemma to have.
I'm much more ready to chalk up Kobe's bad shooting tonight more to him being off, but I can't deny that Ariza's played phenomenal D on him on several occasions. Ariza's partly responsible, but Kobe has missed a lot of shots he'd normally make. But to answer the question, yeah, switch it up. But definitely more of Ariza's length on Kobe will be very helpful.
Rockets could of won last meeting if Ariza check kobe. Ive been saying it for years and been getting flamed for it too. Battier sucks! I called it in the quarter that ariza was going to shut him down.
I think Kobe was ill or something today... not his usual self. I'm glad since we got the W, but I wouldn't use tonight's performance as an end-all evaluation of Ariza or Battier's defense on him.
it's easy to guard kobe when he misses basically all the shots he normally makes even while being guarded... ariza did a great job, though, and i'm really satisfied with the way he has improved his defense to a level where he can be considered as one of the league's best perimeter defenders again. his first couple of games were really below average and disappointing, but the last two games made more than up for it. to answer the question: battier should start with defending kobe. but if kobe's on fire again and hits his shots while being face guarded by shane it's time to put ariza on him. he's a different kind of defender and can probably disrupt kobe's rhythm better.
Battier can't defend nobody without the presence of Yao or Deke. When he can't hit those open 3s he's useless. I've said this before. Long-armed athletic wings are Kobe's nightmare. Trade Battier before his trade value drops to the botom 'cause he will not get much PT after T-Mac returns.
That is a little harsh. Shane's help D is superb but his one-on-one dropped a lot. I don't want to talk about his O.
Put Ariza on him untill he stops posting.. since Kobe has adopted this new post up style Battier is not long enough to defend it.. First time Kobe tried to do a lil dream shake Trevor stuffed back in his face.
You know we got Ariza THIS YEAR right? You've been telling the us we should put Ariza on Kobe for years Nostradamus?
While I would agree that Ariza's length and athleticism might be more effective against Kobe at this point, let's not kid ourselves. Kobe had an off night, and may not have been 100% healthy. Only Kobe can stop Kobe. That's just how it is.
Why does it have to be one or the other? I rather give Kobe different looks and not get him too comfortable against a defense. I say both.
