Is this the worst display of defense from a 34 year old?

[SpaceJam]

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001201/kbb1_1_medium.JPG

We start off in the beginning of your typical San Antonio Spurs set. Tony Parker has the ball, Tim Duncan is ready to set a screen, and everybody else is behind the three point line. Kobe's defensive responsibility is some Argentinian scrub named Manu Ginobli.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001209/kbb1_2_medium.JPG

The screen is set, the help defender is helping. Nothing to see here.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001225/kbb1_3_medium.JPG

Help defender still helping, original defender has gotten between the basket and the screener. The corner defenders have collapsed to the paint. This is pretty typical stuff. But things are about to get ugly. Take a look at the three pictures we've presented so far. Notice anything? Kobe Bryant hasn't moved ... like at all. He's standing in the exact same spot he was when the possession started. Sorry, I apologize. He has moved. After all, the ball went from the top of the circle to the paint, and he did turn his head to watch that event happen.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001241/kbb1_4_medium.JPG

Having spent the entire possession being completely ignored, Manu Ginobli picks the appropriate time to run by a completely unaware Kobe Bryant. With the big man covering Parker into the lane and nobody else on the active roster over 6'7", Manu has a completely uncontested dunk.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001273/kbb1_5_medium.JPG

My favorite part: Kobe Bryant, just enjoying the view as his defensive responsibility lays the ball easily in the basket. Look, people get back doored from time to time. As a defender in a team concept, you are supposed to pay attention to a lot of things all at once, and sometimes you lose sight of your primary responsibility. It happens. It happens way, way too often to Kobe these days, and we could easily grab a few more examples from this or any other game the Lakers play, but that's not the problem. Look at Kobe in picture one. Now back to Kobe here. Now back to picture one. Now back to here. Over the entirety of this defensive possession, Kobe Bryant took ONE step. Kobe didn't get back-doored because he was worried about helping. He didn't get back-doored because he was worried about rotating at the right time. He got back-doored because, on this defensive possession, he chose to be a spectator.

[SpaceJam]

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001297/kbb2_1_medium.JPG

Now that we've seen Kobe play poor defense by not paying attention to his man when that man isn't moving, let's take a look at how Kobe handles the basic responsibility of running around when his defensive mark has decides to play a more active off-ball role. In this picture, Kobe Bryant is about to get screened.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001313/kbb2_2_medium.JPG

Instead of just letting the screen happen, Kobe gets to the other side of the screener (nice work, Kobe!), but Danny Green pulls a switcheroo and runs down the middle with Kobe now on the wrong side of the screener. Not a big deal.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001321/kbb2_3_medium.JPG

Umm ... OK. Kobe's man is under the basket. The screener has long since stopped paying attention to Kobe, who is at the edge of the paint. I'm no CSI investigator or anything, but the blurryness of Kobe's man makes it look like he's moving pretty fast, and Kobe is ... umm ... not. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Kobe is walking at this point. I'm interested to see what develops.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001353/kbb2_4_medium.JPG

As the play continues, Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter run another screen/roll action. Antawn Jamison and Steve Nash are dealing with it the best they can. Kobe Bryant's man is running the baseline to get back to the three point line. Kobe Bryant: still not moving.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2001381/kbb2_5_medium.JPG

Well would you look at that ... miraculously, the ball found its way back into the hands of the long forgotten man who was supposed to be Kobe Bryant's defensive responsibility, while Kobe is helping to guard a player who is A) already guarded and B) on the other side of the court. Here's the thing: you could make an argument that what Kobe was doing in the previous frame was acceptable, in a strong side zone type of scheme that we've seen from the Lakers before. It would be a terrible argument, because the Lakers pretty clearly don't play that scheme, but one could at least understand Kobe's concern at seeing two of the worst reputed defenders in the NBA deal with a pick and roll involving Tony Parker. But this frame shows how completely invalid that concept is, because Kobe ends up on the weak side of the ball with no intention to rotate, and his teammates have no idea what is going on (Robert Sacre eventually decided to challenge Green's shot, which obviously went in).

[SpaceJam]

Kobe Bryant over-helps while he ball-watches, leaving his man alone on the perimeter while Wall has a clear path to pass the ball for an easy basket.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367777/wz4_1_medium.jpg

Kobe swipes at the pass but to no avail.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367785/wz4_2_medium.jpg

Garrett Temple drains a three.

Here, Metta is prepared to help Nash on the driving wall. Kobe is watching the ball while his man sets up in the corner.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367841/wz9_1_medium.jpg

Wall jumps up to pass the ball and Kobe gambles as he flies into the passing lane to Nene

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367849/wz9_2_medium.jpg

Wait, you meant to tell me the Wizards kicked it out to an open man on the perimeter? Why yes, they did. This leaves Metta to cover a ton of ground. Had Kobe stuck with his man Metta could still had recovered onto Nene should the ball reach him, and there'd be no open man. But there it is, another open corner three.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367857/wz9_3_medium.jpg

Metta tries to get back to Ariza, but there's simply too much space. Ariza hits the three and puts the Wizards up two.

[SpaceJam]

As a final piece of evidence, the state would like to introduce Exhibit D. Up one with four minutes to go, the Lakers still have the game in hand if they focus through the final stretch and play defense. Kobe goes up for a layup...

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367873/wz10_1_medium.jpg

... and misses. Upon landing he looks at the ref, complains, swings his arm, and watches the other nine players on the court dart up the floor.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367881/wz10_2_medium.jpg

There are four Lakers up the court by my count. Ariza is getting ready to set up along the arc and Wall has already pushed the defense towards the paint with his dribble penetration.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367897/wz10_3_medium.jpg

Another wide open three. There are still only four Lakers set up defensively as Kobe hasn't crossed half-court yet. Washington takes a two point lead.

https://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2367905/wz10_4_medium.jpg

[SpaceJam]

#PlayoffMode

[n00bie]

How long did it take you to write this?

[Real14]

How long did it take you to write this?
3 months.

[superduper]

Imagine melting down to this magnitude on a fine Saturday evening

[SpaceJam]

Tougher to get some quality basketball discussion than I thought, lack of IQ from the above posters (minus OP) disallows them to participate or at least refute the topic at hand.

It's come to be a regular occurrence of ISH

[Dray n Klay]

Holy :eek:


Good shit OP!!


Didnt know Kobe what that awful

[PickernRoller]

This sort of meltdown has been rare on ISH for a while.

Reminds me of Pauk's greatests hits...

[SpaceJam]

Holy :eek:


Good shit OP!!


Didnt know Kobe what that awful

Honestly really disappointed Kobe fans are just willing to roll over and accept it for what it is. Thought they'd have a bit of fight in em, you know the whole #MambaMentality

[bullettooth]

Nah, this is worse by a 35 year old

https://i.postimg.cc/k5XJ92Lg/jabroni-lames-defense.gif

[JohnMax]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=463207

[NBASTATMAN]

Kobe's defensive net rating was worse than Nash's defensive net rating in 2013.. That alone tells you everything..

Meanwhile Artest and DHoward had some very good net defensive ratings..

[Celtics 1825]

Christ this meltdown may rival pauk's lion essay :lebronamazed:

[Mr. Jabbar]

Nah, this is worse by a 35 year old

https://i.postimg.cc/k5XJ92Lg/jabroni-lames-defense.gif

:roll: :roll:

[SpaceJam]

Honestly I appreciate y'all thinking so highly of my bball IQ to think this is my work, it's however work of some diehard Lakers fans back in 2013

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2013/1/11/3864814/kobe-bryant-is-ruining-kobe-bryants-historic-season

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2013/3/23/4139126/lakers-analysis-2013-kobe-bad-defense-lakers-wizards

[Vino24]

Not one refute :eek:

[coin24]

What a virgin:lol

Poor wheels, did they leave you alone in the basement all weekend again?

[stalkerforlife]

Love that meltdown.

Loooool.

[SpaceJam]

Ad hominems, but yet, no one can debate it. Weird

[stalkerforlife]

This sort of meltdown has been rare on ISH for a while.

Reminds me of Pauk's greatests hits...

:roll:

[paksat]

kobe has always been an overrated defender, he's not even in the same galaxy as MJ

[And1AllDay]

Wow what a embarassing defender YikesBe

[Mr.GOAT2408]

I've been on record saying Kobe was playing bad defense at 34

Clearly you haven't been watching the Lakers this year because there's a worse 34 year old playing defense, but I know you're a box score watcher when it comes to LeBron so you have no idea how bad he's been defensively.

[NBASTATMAN]

I've been on record saying Kobe was playing bad defense at 34

Clearly you haven't been watching the Lakers this year because there's a worse 34 year old playing defense, but I know you're a box score watcher when it comes to LeBron so you have no idea how bad he's been defensively.


Yet Lebron has the best defensive rating of any perimeter player on the Lakers team.. And the second best defensive rating after MCGEE who doesnt play starter minutes.. LEBRON :bowdown:

[SpaceJam]

Jesus still no rebuttals

[Shaquille O'Neal]

3 months.



:oldlol:
...and the sad thing is, the correct (and obvious) answer, is of course, Lefraud Blames.

[Uncle Drew]

As soon as I saw who the OP was, I knew this thread was a goldmine. It didn’t dissappoint. Thanks for the laughs, OP! 5 starred.

[theaussieguy]

Time. You have a lot of it.

[SpaceJam]

[QUOTE=Uncle Drew]As soon as I saw who the OP was, I knew this thread was a goldmine. It didn

[LAmbruh]

ugly, dude fell off hard on D after Shaq was no longer there to carry the offensive load


great thread SpaceJam, bookmarked 5*

[ArbitraryWater]

this is an article led by a Lakers website.


Everyone knows 2010-2013 Kobe is the biggest disgrace to ever step on court in terms of effort

[ImKobe]

Yet Lebron's defenses have been much worse than what the 2013 Lakers were.

2013 Lakers - 106.6 DRTG
2017 Cavs - 110.3 DRTG
2018 Cavs 111.9 DRTG
2019 Lakers 109.3

Cavs were 29th on defense last year with a 33 y.o Lebron. Lakers have been better defensively this season without Lebron and have taken a nosedive on that end since his return.

[LoneyROY7]

Damn, what a meltdown.

Try less, my guy.

[SpaceJam]

Yet Lebron's defenses have been much worse than what the 2013 Lakers were.

2013 Lakers - 106.6 DRTG
2017 Cavs - 110.3 DRTG
2018 Cavs 111.9 DRTG
2019 Lakers 109.3

Cavs were 29th on defense last year with a 33 y.o Lebron. Lakers have been better defensively this season without Lebron and have taken a nosedive on that end since his return.

Can't really put my finger on why the Lakers had a better DRTG that season, honestly I'm stumped. Surely it wasn't due to having a 3x DPoY holding down the paint, that's surely not it

[ImKobe]

Can't really put my finger on why the Lakers had a better DRTG that season, honestly I'm stumped. Surely it wasn't due to having a 3x DPoY holding down the paint, that's surely not it

And the current Lakers were close to being elite on defense with ZO and with Lebron out.


Through the first 47 games of the season, the Lakers defense was actually looking really good. Per nba.com, they had a defensive rating of 106.3, which was 6th in the NBA. They were 16th in opponents points per game averaging 111.4 and an overall net rating of 1.1, which was good enough for 14th in NBA, during that time. Now, remember, this is also with LeBron missing over a month due to injury.

Now we get to the Lonzo injury. In the 11 games since Lonzo went out, the Lakers have dropped to dead last in the NBA in opponent PPG giving up an average of 121.6 points per game.

Their defensive rating dropped to 116.8 (27th in the NBA) with an overall +/- of -10. That is bad enough for 2nd to last, in front of only the Phoenix Suns, who currently own the worst record in the NBA.

Not only have these defensive stats gone significantly down but almost every single defensive statistic for the Lakers has taken a hit. Call it a coincidence or whatever excuse you might think of, but the stats speak for themselves.

https://lakeshowlife.com/2019/02/23/los-angeles-lakers-examining-lonzo-ball-factor/

[SpaceJam]

And the current Lakers were close to being elite on defense with ZO and with Lebron out.



https://lakeshowlife.com/2019/02/23/los-angeles-lakers-examining-lonzo-ball-factor/

That's awesome, so we can somewhat agree that Kobe/LeBron were in the same tier as bad defenders at 34 years old?

#MambaMentality

[ImKobe]

That's awesome, so we can somewhat agree that Kobe/LeBron were in the same tier as bad defenders at 34 years old?

#MambaMentality

Maybe off the ball, but Kobe was willing to step up and take on opposing PGs on defense late in the season, and had some nice stretches of playing elite man defense. Kobe didn't have other great defensive players to help him out on the perimeter, Dwight might have been great on his own, but it's not like he could make up for the likes of Nash, Gasol, Meeks, Blake and the random d-leaguers we had starting due to injuries.

Fact is that the Lakers have one of the worst defenses in the league since Zo's injury and it's why we've been losing all these recent games.

[SpaceJam]

Maybe off the ball, but Kobe was willing to step up and take on opposing PGs on defense late in the season, and had some nice stretches of playing elite man defense. Kobe didn't have other great defensive players to help him out on the perimeter, Dwight might have been great on his own, but it's not like he could make up for the likes of Nash, Gasol, Meeks, Blake and the random d-leaguers we had starting due to injuries.

Fact is that the Lakers have one of the worst defenses in the league since Zo's injury and it's why we've been losing all these recent games.

Either does Bron with Lonzo out brother, difference is he doesn't have a 3x DPoY in the paint to cover for the lack of perimeter defenders like Kobe did

[Mr Feeny]

Wow what a embarassing defender YikesBe

Wrong alt.

[Paul George 24]

And Lechoke Stan Want To Compare Goat Mike ?

[ImKobe]

Either does Bron with Lonzo out brother, difference is he doesn't have a 3x DPoY in the paint to cover for the lack of perimeter defenders like Kobe did

A 3x DPoY coming off back surgery and playing with a bad shoulder :rolleyes:

[SpaceJam]

A 3x DPoY coming off back surgery and playing with a bad shoulder :rolleyes:

DRTG - 100

[NBASTATMAN]

Yet Lebron's defenses have been much worse than what the 2013 Lakers were.

2013 Lakers - 106.6 DRTG
2017 Cavs - 110.3 DRTG
2018 Cavs 111.9 DRTG
2019 Lakers 109.3

Cavs were 29th on defense last year with a 33 y.o Lebron. Lakers have been better defensively this season without Lebron and have taken a nosedive on that end since his return.


Idiot Kobe stans step on landmines themselves.. :oldlol:

Dhoward and Metta World Peace were actually very good defenders and had great net ratings on defense in 2013.. So obviously the team wasnt the worse on defense.. But Kobe had by far the worse NET rating on defense in 2013 on the LAKER TEAM.. Yes even worse than STEVE NASH.. :lol :banana: