Kobe in the post

[Dr Aki]

the difference this year, is that kobe is fighting for early position a lot harder. hes taking turnaround jumpers 13-15ft feet out instead of 18-22ft out. the training time with hakeem probably boosted it as well, the small little headfakes off-the-ball to keep an opponent off-balance not knowing where kobe gets the ball (low-post or mid-post), most opponents have conceded that they cant handle kobe's post-game and have decided to front him and deny the entry pass, which is leading to a few more lob passes kobe's way

the odd thing about it is, the entire team looks committed to throwing it into the post and letting kobe go to work, half because they know its the right thing to do, half because kobe is raising his hand demanding the ball. its interesting to see, that when the entry pass to kobe is cut off, that the ball is swung around and kobe runs to the opposite elbow to call for it again...

also, having artest occupy the opposing SF is just aspect of having an easier time in the post. another is that artest is a much better passer than trevor will be, as you cant cheat off artest as much as you could trevor...

and you could tell from pre-season, that artest had already gotten the hang of making the post entry pass from the wing position, and right now, artest is in full-walton mode because he probably feels he still needs to win over team-mates/coaches/fans...

[Sedale Threatt]

I can agree with tonymontana saying "kobe goin to the post since 05" which solidifies what exactly is Artest doing that influences kobe in the post? im not being an ass here, can someone explain to me? all those fadeaways kobe did on players last year in the post Artest was not on the lakers. Ariza/fish/radman/brown/sasha/Artest can all dump the ball to kobe in the post as he draws the double then kick out for the 3p, or have a ariza/artest/ slash the lane for a layup. Also how is Artest helping kobe in the post when hes on the bench? Please enlighten me.

It's easy. It could just be the way the last couple of matchups worked out, but it seems to me that instead of getting bigger, longer SFs switched off on him, he's been playing almost exclusively against SGs the past few games because teams know that a SG on the even bigger, even stronger Artest is a disaster.

Going against smaller guys like Mayo and Richardson, all he has to do is get a good post up, and he can go right up for a 10 or 12 foot fade with no worries it's even going to get contested.

Artest obviously isn't capable of doing that, but against a SG he can just bull him to the rim and either get fouled or dish the ball off to somebody for an easy layup. I guess the other teams figure they'll take their chances on a Kobe shooting Js. Pick your poison, I suppose.

It's kind of like how great NGs can impact football games without making many tackles. They might not be as dynamic or good as some of the players around them, but if you don't get him blocked -- which usually takes a double-team, which gives other guys more room to operate -- the whole point is moot.

[dingclancy]

Pau will just not suddenly hang around in the wing waiting for an open jump shot from Kobe. Phil won't let that happen. As much as I love Kobe's post play, Pau is more efficient from that spot.

I think it will all depend on matchups. Kobe and Pau will tag team that 8-15 ft. area, allowing Kobe to rest on certain plays and making him even more dangerous in the clutch. But a good chunks of points that Pau will get when he gets back will be from Kobe's.

[Sedale Threatt]

"Efficient" has a lot of different definitions.

One thing I like about Kobe right now is he is getting the ball up and out of his hands quickly. No fakes, no wasted motion. Just catch, fade, shoot. The defender has no time to react.

That's one of my few criticisms of Pau's game. He likes to take his time, face his man up, throw a couple of jab steps at him, wait to see how the rest of the defense reacts before he makes his move. It usually works out well, but it takes a lot of time.

It's the same thing when Kobe clears out for isolations. It takes so much time. So as long as he keeps up his current level of production/performance/efficiency, I think I'd actually prefer Kobe in the post.

[iamworthy]

Some people dont even understand what Kobe is even doing right now.

[Tee212]

lol did Artest help kobe in post tonight against the thugets

[ahwi_quacoe]

Artest is not getting to use his size advangtage in the post .. I notice that referees are quick to give him offensive fouls down there. Artest is still a marked man . No love from the refs

[TonyMontana]

Artest is not getting to use his size advangtage in the post .. I notice that referees are quick to give him offensive fouls down there. Artest is still a marked man . No love from the refs

NO ISH............. I thought I was alone on this but they were some jacked up calls against him last night, but I have seen more calls against him than ever before when he played for other teams.

[Anklebreaker702]

the answer is easy- get Pau or Bynum involved in the first six minutes of the game, then send Bynum to the bench, move Pau to the 5 and thus you create the hole for Kobe to work in the post. from this point on play either Pau or Bynum, but not both. problem solved.

I agree Snaq, but isnt this amazing?

We have so many options and choices specially in the post now to run our offense that we actually have to eliminate certain players roles and p.t so we dont disrupt our offense or the float of the game as well as keep everyone happy.
You remember when our only option was Kobe and then Lamar. How things change for the better when you have a H.O.F coach and a good G.M like Mitch.

With the numbers Bynum is putting up? no way! You send whoever is being less effective or in foul trouble that day then run Kobe down on the block.

[Anklebreaker702]

Some people dont even understand what Kobe is even doing right now.

+1 Kobe is methodically picking teams apart right now without expending much energy. His shot selection is so much better when he's down there. That is usually my only gripe about Kobe is his forcing up shots when other are open & that happening much less when he's down there.

[CowsMoo]

This is the exact argument on how the Lakers were before Pau Gasol got traded here. Bynum is ridiculously effective now (although he still **** up now and then), and Kobe is picking apart opponents. It was maybe more on the athletic side before, but now it's more in the post and footwork.

The best part is that he just turned it on and made it seem easy.

[Dr Aki]

Artest is not getting to use his size advangtage in the post .. I notice that referees are quick to give him offensive fouls down there. Artest is still a marked man . No love from the refs

NO ISH............. I thought I was alone on this but they were some jacked up calls against him last night, but I have seen more calls against him than ever before when he played for other teams.

when i watch artest with his back to the basket, i sometimes thinks he chicken-arms his opponents a little too often...

he needs to be more subtle or more patient...