The Kobe Bryant Effect

[Real Deal]

Stats for Rajon Rondo, six games of the NBA Finals...

 

Game 1: 13 points / 8 assists / 6 rebounds

 

Game 2: 19 points / 10 assists / 12 rebounds (Kobe in foul trouble)

 

Game 3: 11 points / 8 assists / 3 rebounds

 

Game 4: 10 points / 3 assists / 5 rebounds

 

Game 5: 18 points / 8 assists / 5 rebounds

 

Game 6: 10 points / 6 assists / 5 rebounds

Taken from a topic on TLN: http://thelakersnation.com/forums/index.php?/topic/39341-the-kobe-bryant-effect-on-rondo

 

1) The Celtics are 8-1 when Rajon Rondo throws 10+ assists in the playoffs this season.

2) Boston is 4-0 when Rondo grabs 7+ rebounds.

3) Kobe is holding Rondo to 7.2 APG in the Finals (his lowest among the four series he has played) and 13.5 PPG (also his lowest).

4) Aside from Game 5 (where Kobe was helping on Garnett and Pierce more), Rondo is shooting 40.3% from the floor...and that's including the 44% he shot in Game 2, when Kobe was in foul trouble.

5) Rondo has shot 33% in two of those six games against Bryant (both 5-15), and shot 6-14 (43%) in another.

 

Removing that Game 2 where our backups and Fisher were defending Rondo, you can clearly see that Rajon's numbers took a hit. Game 5, Bryant was playing more help defense than usual, and it led to Rondo's 18 points, a lot of easy buckets and 16-foot jumpers.

 

When Kobe is locked in on Rajon, he forces him to shoot 20-footers or give up the ball. When Rondo does decide to drive against Bryant, Kobe leads him into Gasol or Bynum, which alters his layup attempts.

 

We saw this same thing with Russell Westbrook, when Kobe decided to defend him in Game 5...and it may have saved us the series.

 

Hard to say that Bryant isn't one of the best defensive players in the league. His defensive IQ is way up there.

[deestillballin]

Thats wild. Nobody denies hes a good defender. I curious to see if Phil keeps Kobe on Rondo in game 7.

[Real Deal]

I curious to see if Phil keeps Kobe on Rondo in game 7.

No question about it, he will. Fisher would get lit up, and Ron is really too aggressive to defend Rajon and is better suited for Pierce.

[deestillballin]

Then again what happens if Ray gets hot like he did in Game 2. that leaves him open. Pop Artest on him that leaves Peirce open. This is going to be an intriguing game.

[Kobe24]

Then again what happens if Ray gets hot like he did in Game 2. that leaves him open. Pop Artest on him that leaves Peirce open. This is going to be an intriguing game.

 

Vujacic is our Ray stopper because hes willing to chase him off those shots.

[Check my Stats]

I don't think anyone denies the fact Kobe is an elite defender, the fact of the matter is that he doesn't play his best defense night in night out anymore.... mainly during the regular season, hence why I don't believe he is truly an all-league defender anymore.

 

When Kobe accepts the challenge, he can shut down probably just about anyone.

[Nitro]

Kobe's on-ball defense has never really been an issue. Now that the Lakers have a very good defensive team compared to the last few years since Shaq left, Kobe is able to showcase that talent on a nightly basis. Without a good supporting cast defensively, it's a lot harder for a perimeter player to make such an impact.

 

His off-ball defense is still his achiles heal because he tends to over-play, over-react and turn his head. Sometimes his bball IQ on defense is questionable, but his physical tools and determination cannot be understated.