If the Lakers put Kobe on Brooks, Bryant would actually have to play legitimate defense, which is why it'll never happen. They put Kobe on Battier for a few reasons: So he doesn't have to exert much energy on the defensive end thereby saving his energy for offense and/or he can disregard Battier, roam on D, and create havoc for the Rockets. It's up to Battier to make him pay for disregarding and ignoring him when the Rockets have the ball.
