No, don't get me wrong...I never said Parsons was a guy to back down from a challenge. I said he's not a defensive specialist, an outstanding defender. Kevin Durant gives Kobe fits, also. Taller, longer players always have. Tayshaun Prince? But all of those guys needed someone behind them, or needed help. Even Prince, who was ten times the defender Parsons is today. Kobe isn't going to put Parsons on blast, because he's a "good guy" in this league. And he's somewhat right...he's a good player. He's what...a 15/7 SF that can shoot? Sophomore? I don't think a lot of us really saw that coming from him out of Florida, but he's getting it done so far, easily the best player out of all of the second-rounders two years ago. Would Kobe shoot 8-22 (or whatever it was tonight) the majority of the time when going up against Parsons in, say, a seven-game series? Nah...and that's the difference between being defended by Parsons + the Rockets...versus Tony Allen + the Celtics in 2008.