Kobe: Most overrated defender of all time

[HitMan52]

I agree that Kobe is a great Defender but I dont think he should get 1st Team defense because he does not guard the teams best player all the time (and he shouldnt). He shouldnt have had 1st team defense over Kirk Hinrich and Shane Battier last year and then he snubbed Shane Battier again this year.

In Game 1 of this series I saw Phil Jackson take Kobe off of Ray Allen and put him on the inconsistent Sam Cassell who was making difficult shots.

[Gomes3PC]

Two words. Derek Jeter.

That man is the most overrated defender in all of sports. The fact that he owns a Gold Glove, let alone multiple, is a near crime against baseball.

But sorry about the baseball digression. Yes, Kobe is an overrated defender. He 'earned' it when he played great D for a year or two, and then as a superstar just keeps getting it every year. Like Greg Maddux getting a string of Gold Gloves as a SP, even though there was probably someone a lot better out there at pitcher (like Wakefield, for example).

The reality is that Kobe will take a LOT of plays off on defense in the first three quarters. Sometimes it's calculated to stay fresh. Last game though he repeatedly left Allen to complain to ref's, and Ray burned him on at least two occasions that I remember. He can lock a guy down in the 4th, but not Artestlike. He needs the right type of guy. Someone like Pierce is too big for him. Artest is a true stud defender, able to guard anyone from an undersized 4 like Shawn Marion to a big PG like Chauncey Billups.

[GuyClinch]

PP defends as well as Kobe from what I have seen. I think he is absolutely overrated.

[Who-rod]

Maybe it is just because he is really motivated against Pierce, but Lebron was a much better defender in the playoffs than what I have seen from Kobe. (except game 7... of course)

[Fencer reregistered]

All I know is LeBron played a hell of a lot more D against the Celtics than Kobe has, and he has to carry his team even more than Kobe does. Maybe it is partly because the refs favor LeBron more than Kobe, from what I've seen it sure seems that way, but I don't think it is the whole story, I think LeBron is just more commited to dominating both ends of the floor. I know LeBron is a much better leader at a much younger age though, he's a team first kind of guy.

Lebron put in more visible energy on defense than Kobe has so far, including Jordanesque steals ripping the ball out of rival HOF-class players' hands (Pierce in LBJ's case).

But he also succumbed much more completely to good defense at his worst than Kobe has so far.

I don't know that anybody -- including Kobe, Pierce, or LBJ -- has the conditioning to excel at both ends of the court for the whole game, while having the offense run through him.

[gamer4Life]

Bowen is the most overrated defender.

[TMU]

Kobe's All-Defensive Team recognition in 07' was undeserving. To me he's an overrated defender.