Kobe's Stifling Defense on Opposing Point Guards

[tpols]

I never said Dirk played "stifling" and "great" defense against Gasol. I simply said Dirk is better at defense than he gets credit for.

You might be confusing Gasol with Aldridge. Dirk actually did do a really good job on LA....and to use your words...even though he was torching the supposed DPOY in Chandler.

And when did I made a thread about Dirk's great defense? Don't think I've ever uttered those words because its not true.

If you want to give Kobe part of the credit for slowing down Lawson...not only am I all for it...but I agree.

Where I take issue, as I have explained repeatedly, is with the hype and non sense spewed after the game.

And I don't need your permission to post. Take issue with your fellow Kobe nut huggers that post these threads. I'm merely responding to them.

And Jesus. You'd think Lawson had the best series ever. He scored 19 points a game. Good, but hardly to the level you and others are making him out to be.

Oh...and Gasol >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lawson. Just that I would add that.
Lawson in this year's playoffs>>>>Gasol in last years. Theres no debate to be had there. Gasol got it handed to him by Carl Landry and Dirk. He was operating at maybe 30-40% of what he normally is last year.

[DMAVS41]

Lawson in this year's playoffs>>>>Gasol in last years. Theres no debate to be had there. Gasol got it handed to him by Carl Landry and Dirk. He was operating at maybe 30-40% of what he normally is last year.

Or maybe it was just match ups? Lawson had 3 stinker games in this series as well.

I think Lawson benefited from a good match up against Blake/Sessions at times in this series along with the lack of athletic ability to keep up with him in transition.

Doesn't make Lawson any better or any worse than he actually is a player. Which is a good player...not a great player. A player that excels in transition but struggles mightily in half court slowed down situations because of his size, inability to consistently make shots, and average pick and roll play.

Can't ignore things like that.

[LA_Showtime]

Gasol played like a 2x champion and future hall of famer. Wish we'd see that more often. Kobe did a good job picking his spots and taking what the defense gave him. Nothing more, nothing less.

[tpols]

Or maybe it was just match ups? Lawson had 3 stinker games in this series as well.

I think Lawson benefited from a good match up against Blake/Sessions at times in this series along with the lack of athletic ability to keep up with him in transition.

Can't ignore things like that.
Nah.. Gasol got eaten up by Carl Landry.. it was obvious he was mentally out of it last year and not the same player.

We just saw a glaring example of how much what's going on in his head/emotions/ etc. effect how well he plays. He went from 3 points/3 boards on 10% shooting to Hakeem mode after getting called out. His game/effort varies so much based on how hes feeling and last year he obviously felt like shit for some reason.

[DMAVS41]

Nah.. Gasol got eaten up by Carl Landry.. it was obvious he was mentally out of it last year and not the same player.

We just saw a glaring example of how much what's going on in his head/emotions/ etc. effect how well he plays. He went from 3 points/3 boards on 10% shooting to Hakeem mode after getting called out. His game/effort varies so much based on how hes feeling and last year he obviously felt like shit for some reason.

And we just saw a great example of how a good match up can facilitate a player playing better.

But of course that is what you will say. Its not about Dirk/Mavs...its about the Lakers not playing well. Just like it always is.

There will always be some excuse.

[LA_Showtime]

Nah.. Gasol got eaten up by Carl Landry.. it was obvious he was mentally out of it last year and not the same player.

We just saw a glaring example of how much what's going on in his head/emotions/ etc. effect how well he plays. He went from 3 points/3 boards on 10% shooting to Hakeem mode after getting called out. His game/effort varies so much based on how hes feeling and last year he obviously felt like shit for some reason.

I think a lot of his problems stem from playing out of the high post. He's a gifted passer and does a great job facilitating the offense but our team is just more dangerous when he's operating from the low block. Bynum may be the more dominant player, but at this stage we're just a lot better when Gasol is our primary low post guy.

[DMAVS41]

Nah.. Gasol got eaten up by Carl Landry.. it was obvious he was mentally out of it last year and not the same player.

We just saw a glaring example of how much what's going on in his head/emotions/ etc. effect how well he plays. He went from 3 points/3 boards on 10% shooting to Hakeem mode after getting called out. His game/effort varies so much based on how hes feeling and last year he obviously felt like shit for some reason.

And I just have to laugh:

2011 - 13/8/4 50% TS

2012 - 13/9/4 47% TS

And I'd say Landry/Dirk is a much tougher match up for Gasol than what the Nuggets were.

Gasol has not been nearly as different in the playoffs so far this year. Gasol's struggles have more to do with being out of place with Bynum playing more in the low post than they do about his "head" or "emotions".....

You are drawing things from the media that they want you to. Gasol didn't just become a "different player"....its far more simple than the nonsense you are talking about.

[tpols]

And I just have to laugh:

2011 - 13/8/4 50% TS

2012 - 13/9/4 47% TS

Gasol just had a 3 point/3board performance that crushed his averages.. He never once showed the amount of heart or determination last year that he did last night. This does absolutely nothing to show that Pau was still a 20/10 player who just happened to get shut down by Dirk/Landry and other 'matchups'. If anything it shows he's just been becoming a worse player as the years go on.. which means me saying Lawson this year>>>than him last year makes even more sense.

But of course I know thats not true. Pau has the capability to be the same 20/10 guy he was in 09 and 10 and he has shown a lot more effort and toughness so far in this year's run than last no matter what a 7 game sample size says. Of course your numbers dont account for defense or hustle which is one of the biggest areas he has been better at this postseason.



Gasol has not been nearly as different in the playoffs so far this year. Gasol's struggles have more to do with being out of place with Bynum playing more in the low post than they do about his "head" or "emotions".....
ROFL you clearly didnt follow all of last year's games than. Pau was playing like he didnt give a shit last year.


You are drawing things from the media that they want you to. Gasol didn't just become a "different player"....its far more simple than the nonsense you are talking about.I'm not basing anything on the media.. just on watching him play.

[DMAVS41]

Gasol just had a 3 point/3board performance that crushed his averages.. He never once showed the amount of heart or determination last year that he did last night. This does absolutely nothing to show that Pau was still a 20/10 player who just happened to get shut down by Dirk/Landry and other 'matchups'. If anything it shows he's just been becoming a worse player as the years go on.. which means me saying Lawson this year>>>than him last year makes even more sense.

But of course I know thats not true. Pau has the capability to be the same 20/10 guy he was in 09 and 10 and he has shown a lot more effort and toughness so far in this year's run than last no matter what a 7 game sample size says. Of course your numbers dont account for defense or hustle which is one of the biggest areas he has been better at this postseason.



ROFL you clearly didnt follow all of last year's games than. Pau was playing like he didnt give a shit last year.

I'm not basing anything on the media.. just on watching him play.

Nah. Its always more simple. Gasol just isn't the same player when Bynum is the primary low post player. Gasol can't do what he's capable of doing.

Look what Showtime posted above. He has no reason to agree with me.

But I really don't care about any of this with Gasol. I was just making the point that match ups and how a player is utilized on a team are every important factors to production.

And how Gasol is used when Bynum is the primary low post option is clearly not allowing him to play at an optimal level.

Maybe Gasol wasn't right last year, but what I do know is that he's now played 17 playoff games these last two years with Bynum occupying the low post and his numbers are virtually identical.

[BallsOut]

The game speed was totally different when that was happening. Sorry. That is just what happened.

Again. You are confusing me with someone saying Kobe didn't do anything. Never said that.

Am I supposed to be impressed that Kobe is a better defender than Blake? I mean....the standards are just so slow.

It was a team effort to slow down Lawson late.

If you really think that was a "nothing short of spectacular" or "stifling" performance...so be it. I just disagree.

It's cool if you disagree. I just find it spectacular that a guy at his age, still capable of playing lockdown defense on lightning quick PGs he has no business guarding :confusedshrug: .

[Bandito]

Is it really trolling? I just say what i saw....

Gasol 23-17-6 and 4 blocks, hitting the most 4th quarter points
Blake 19 points on 7 of 11, hitting more 4th quarter points than Kobe
Bynum 16-18 and 6 blocks, got more 4th quarter points than Kobe aswell

Kobes teammates stepped up tonight... in a night where he didnt play so good...
Didn't Kobe had like 7-16 shots to go with 8 assists? What more do you want bro?