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For most NBA fans Kobe's demise was exposed in the 2008 NBA Finals when he couldn't stop Paul Pierce. Luckily for Kobe, Ariza joined the club the final year to guard opponents #1 scorers and now that role is held by Artest.

Now the mainstream media is finally catching up to what we've known for quite some time now....Kobe is a vastly overrated defender and for his own well being he's usually used as a safety; not guarding anyone in particular. This also allows him to verbally snap at every team mate when he blows his help assignment.

Today is perfect example of how Kobe can no longer defender the elite players in this league. This is the Heat's ONLY advantage over Lakers: no one can guard Wade

It's safe to say we won't be seeing Kobe on any ''All Defense'' lists this season. How laughable was him making a All Defense last season when he was the 3rd best defender on his own team!!!

For Kobe this is better because he is no longer the most overrated player in this league. For some people it took his benching in the 4th Quarter of the NBA Finals Game 7 to realize this but most NBA fans have been fully aware of his demise. Honestly if not for playing with Shaq and arguably the worst trade in NBA History (Gasol, Grizzlies had a better W-L record combined the 3 seasons before the trade than Lakers), Kobe would be nothing more than a glorified Dominique Wilkins. Look at the numbers, Dominique had superior numbers in a tougher era with no team mates. While Kobe has played with atleast 5+ Hall of Famers in his career.

Kobe is at this stage of his career the Derek Jeter of the NBA

Cool story bro

we all know he sucks on defense now.

I lol'd.

i think kobe should guard lebron, he always did well vs lebron, lecry seens intimidate when he´s being guarded by kobe, and wade is more slasher and faster for kobe, lebron is more of a passer and shooter

Where was this before the loss? I thought Kobe actually did ok on Wade tonight. But of course haters gonna hate. Our performance wasn't the only failure of the night, your attempt at trolling ranks right up there with it. Congrats

Kobe was on Rondo all of the 08 series troll.

Kobe is still a good defender, but he does take plays off and wander way too often these days. When he's engaged though he's still as good as any. Some of his failings are part of the system as well, as I Laker fan I've always hated Phils defensive strategies, its more in your face and uncomfortable instead of sound solid D. The Wade plays at the end of the game are prime examples, Kobe funnels, Pau is late and Wade gets layups. Of course every troll and bball moron is just going to go omg Wade just blew by Kobe... watch those plays again, they are designed funnels and Pau was terrible. That's what Kobe was snapping at, guys not following the scheme.

IMO it is a bad scheme though. Kobe is big enough to back off Wade, make him shoot over and go over the top of the screens. Kobe should be smarter, but if its part of the scheme then its not all his fault. I still don't know why you don't basically zone in that situation and keep and eye on Bibby, don't you want Bron or Wade shooting a long jumper at that point?

Kobe couldn't guard pierce? first he was guarding rondo and when kobe was on him in the clutch, he stripped him. it made Boston lose that game.

ooh yeah wade had a great game 9-23 omg. in the 4th he went around picks, if you knew ball you would know that Kobe cant do much after the pick if wade gets around the pick. again 9-23 is horrible.

wade needs picks to get around a 32 yr old kobe.

ooh yeah cuz every other player won rings without help.

mods cant you suspend him for trolling. miami board suspends everyone

wtf are you talking about.. there were some plays where Kobe locked wade down in the 4th quarter... you expect Kobe to shut down wade really? its not like wade is some average player.. wade is also a superstar himself.. it doesn't matter whose playing defense when a superstar gets hot they can score on anybody thats why they are called superstars... was Kobe supposed to hold wade to 8 points to be considered a good defender? there was nothing wrong with Kobe's defense tonight besides the odd play buddy stop wasting everyones time

at a bulls fan saying something like this when jordans overrated defense is praised to no end on here. kobe and wade basically canceled eachother out. if wade going 9/23 is somehow a slight on kobe then i wish kobe would let other guys dog him.

didn't wade just put up 23 shots to get 20 points?

Cool Story Troll!

Wade: 9-23

Dwyane was able to blow past Kobe on 2 or 3 possessions. I think Kobe played excellent defense tonight.

doozyj wrote:Cool Story Troll!

First of all Luke Walton guarded Pierce in 08.
Secondly, kobe owned Wade through the first 3 quarters and they were pretty even in the 4th

crimsonkb24 wrote:First of all Luke Walton guarded Pierce in 08.
Secondly, kobe owned Wade through the first 3 quarters and they were pretty even in the 4th

Wasn't wade like 6-20 and finally hit a couple layups? Some of those were not on Kobe because Gasol never got in position where Wade was being funneled.

Wow, trolls at least usually try to use biased out of context stats to back up their troll. In your case you ignored every piece of evidence while assuming that because the Lakers lost it must mean your position has become stronger. Look at the game, look at the stats, it's the exact opposite. The issue in this game was Bosh. Why is the soft guy who cries all the time owning the team when length is always touted as the Lakers strength?

SmallBallPlsDie wrote:didn't wade just put up 23 shots to get 20 points?

The Op is a moron.