Kobe’s Offensive AttractionI think I can confidently say, that pre Steph Curry 3 ball era, Kobe’s ability to attract defenders, thereby opening his team’s offense, was not at all inferior to any other ATG gravity players (actually I’d give peak/prime Shaq the nod), and was definitely superior to some of his contemporaries whose gravity is often lauded. Again, this is intertwined with his refined skill-set, his unyielding pressure, but most importantly, the perception by opposing defenses that he was a threat from everywhere on the court. We can call it an aura of some sorts, but Kobe’s reputation as a fearless offensive machine fed heavily into how teams guarded him and his teams.
I was reviewing some of Kobe’s games from 06, and even a novice could recognize the level of impact he was having and how opposing teams perceived his offensive danger.
I will be focussing on 06 here, because it was Kobe’s peak, but I should note that despite the consistency and level of intensity of the defenses he faced dropping when he got better teammates, he nevertheless still garnered heavy attention during the Gasol years (I might do a screen-cap run on this if it becomes an issue). But going back to 06, the +18.9 on offense that he posted was no aberration at all. Kobe was the only dude on that squad that possessed anything resembling a well- rounded offensive skill-set. Here are some screen-caps (and no not cherry picking- literally this was routinely occurring in 8-9 games I watched and took notes down of, and it supports my memory of the 60 odd games I was able to catch in 06.
Only a few games are on Youtube so this is what I was left with, and I selected numerous examples to make my point). Apologies on some of the capture quality here, as I was screen-capping from old Youtube clips.
Caption 1 (Lakers v Mavs December 2005): Kobe from the start being doubled by the Mavs and in this case Dirk leaving his man completely. Typical of the defenses he faced. Kobe ended up swinging the ball out to Smush, reposting and then hitting a turnaround before the double team could come again. An excellent example of Kobe’s ability to attract defenders+ his high IQ on the ball.
Caption 2: An example of how crowded Kobe’s lanes would become off the dribble. Note Kwame, a useless offensive player most nights is rolling to the rim, but nobody feared him because he had no jumpshot and was not a very good finisher. LO was moving along the baseline 3 point line with Dirk simply ignoring him. Kobe in the end, used his strength against Daniels, ran right into the help on left wing and rose over with a tough runner.
Caption 3: We see Kobe attracting two on ball defenders, with Dirk shading off Luke Walton to help, and a player in the interior (bad quality so I cant remember who) also watching Kobe. Kobe in this play hit the open Kwame with the pass, who then hit a cutting Luke Walton for a lay-up (or a foul- can’t remember which). Kobe generated this entire play from his gravity, part of his many ‘hockey assists’ in the triangle that encouraged such ball movement.
This is an example of a switch the Mavs made at half time after Kobe annihilated them in the first half for 27 points- they began to double him as quickly as possible, something the Mavs announcers were hollering about all through the first half.
Caption 4: Kobe breaks down the Mavs defense off the dribble. We see the entire Mavs defense swarm. Kobe hit Devean George in the left corner for a 3 (his hand is up) who badly bricked the shot.
Caption 5: Kobe once again forcing the Mavs to collapse on him because of his great prime first step. Again, Kobe hits Devean George on his right who clanks once again. Kobe was a more of a threat to the Mavs than an open 3 it appears, even down the stretch.
Caption 6: This is from a game in January 06 in which the Lakers lost. Again, the visuals say it all. First quarter again. The suns from the get-go decided they were going to front Kobe on the wing and in the post all game, and force his teammates to beat them by shooting- something they unfortunately rarely capitalized on and did not capitalize on that night (Kobe had a rough night shooting for the record- Suns really did a good job in getting him out of sweet spots+ his perimeter game was just off).
Caption 7: Marion (behind Kobe in the visual) in this play ignores Sasha Vujacic on the perimeter, and instead focuses his efforts to help against Kobe. Diaw likewise is watching Kobe, leaving Smush semi-open. This again was typical.
Caption 8: Attention galore. Sasha Vujacic being ignored again because despite getting open shots every night, could never hit them at a high enough percentage to warrant attention as a spacer.
Caption 9: Kobe again swarmed. In this particular play, he swung the ball to Smush behind to his corner left, who then hit Chris Mihm for the jumper. Kobe once again generating open shots from the attraction he routinely garnered.
Caption 10: Kobe again swarmed. Open Dunk for Mihm.
Caption 11: Swarmed again. Mihm clanks the open jumper on the wing. LO wide Open- again because teams did not feel threatened by his 3 point game at all.
Caption 12: Kobe being doubled off the ball, despite Marion and Raja bell being on the court. Again, this was not a very rare scenario at all, particularly down the stretch when Kobe would receive absurd levels of attention.
Caption 13: Lakers v Kings in March 2006. Only first half footage available. Artest is anchoring the D. Kobe and Odom playing the two man game. Kobe hits LO with pass into the post. Notice how Kobe’s man (Ron Artest) never leaves him despite LO taking advantage of Kenny Thomas. Only Brad Miller seems to hedge to stop LO.
Caption 14: Kobe again attracts two defenders at a minimum on any threatening drive, despite Ron Artest covering him. LO completely wide open. Hits the 3.
Caption 15: Kobe swarmed in the paint by Artest and Kevin Martin, with Kenny Thomas (I think or Shareef Abdul Rahim) also coming over to add to the pressure. Kobe hits Smush in the corner for a 3. Kwame also wide open.
Caption 16: Kobe trapped off the dribble. Hits LO who drives for the baseline reverse.
Caption 17: Typical again. This again folks in the first quarter and Kobe is already receiving some heavy level of defensive attention from a team being anchored by prime Ron Artest. Brian Cook gets open and scores, but note the awful spacing.
Caption 18: This play really summed it up to me. This is an image that depicts the after effects of Kobe’s ability to pull defenders. Kobe zipped out from the free-throw line towards the 3 point line, and both Artest and Bonzi Wells momentarily and instinctively chased him, giving LO and Luke both slight openings in in the interior.
Caption 19: Bonzi Wells checking Kobe on the baseline. Brad Miller just standing around to prevent Kobe’s drive, which then opens up Luke, who is wide open, leading to score.
Caption 20: Kobe being swarmed again by Artest and Brad Miller. You also see Bonzi (white headband on) in the background who is shading off his man at the 3 point line, to trap Kobe if he drives right. Notice again, Rony Turiaf being ignored. In 06, the message was: anyone but Kobe, because the league knew, the Lakers could not win games if the ball wasn’t in Kobe’s hands.
Caption 21: Lebron casually waiting on Kobe’s drive to help out. Snow also shades off Smush to cut off Kobe going right into the lane. Typical defensive pressure for Kobe. Snow was able to get 2 steals off Kobe because of this defensive set-up.
Caption 22: First quarter again and Kobe is already recieving crazy attention off the ball. LO open because LBJ’s eyes are on Kobe to prevent the penetration. Make no mistakes, this was all deliberate. Lakers had no real shooters and defenses were more than happy to give Kobe’s teammates open shots if it meant keeping the ball out of Kobe’s hands.
I could honestly post up another dozen or so screencaps from the very few games on Youtube, but I think the point has been made. Peak Kobe attracted a crazy level of defensive attention, and was still able to score at a very high level+ was generally a willing passer+ generated a top 8 offense. And no, Laker fans were not exaggerating when they were telling you about the defensive attention he received that year. And no, that +18.9 on O is not misleading. Kobe was the end all, be all for a team on offense that finished top 8. This was not the case of a player who held the ball in his hands for 20 seconds and then made a play/created assists. He combined on/off the ball play at a very very high level.
And to repeat again, while the intensity of the defenses Kobe faced naturally waned during the Gasol years, it was still very high, which allowed the Lakers offense to run seamlessly.
