RealGM

What has been your opinion of this matchup so far? To me, it seems like Ray Allen has actually done the best job of containing Kobe. Kobe has been able to get around and score on Paul and Posey, but Ray has been bothering him by keeping a hand in his face. Paul and Posey are both going for the block with their hands straight up, when Kobe takes a shot, but Ray sticks his hand almost straight out and into Kobe's line of vision. When the Lakers made their run, which Kobe was a big part of, it was Posey who was guarding Kobe. Kobe got around Posey again and again, which caused the defense to collapse around him and leave the shooters open.

If I were Rivers, I'd be inclined to try Tony for a couple minutes on Kobe when Ray comes out of the game. Tony isn't as long as Posey, but he's faster and it's not length that seems to bother Kobe.

I think Ray has done the best job frustrating Kobe but when it comes to one on one defense I think it's Posey. Ray is making run all over the place and fight through picks when he has to play defense (Ray is also playing like Rip only with a better shot). And when Kobe is on offense Ray is playing all up in his grill becuz he always knows he has help and the C's won't let Kobe get to the rack.

I also love the idea of giving Tony some minutes especially if Ray should end up in foul trouble or is having a tuff nite.

if you watch closely, posey is always a step behind kobe. if it wasnt for the huge ammounts of help defense he receives, hed get blown by all the time. it goes in this order:

a healthy Pierce
Ray
Rajon
Posey

Ray Allen has done by far the best job on Kobe this series. His shot contests have been amazing and equally surprising. Posey seems to think the best way to distract Kobe is to run at him and not put the hand in his face when he thinks he will which hasnt worked at all so far. Ray has cut him off AND gotten a hand in his face, it has a lot to do with the Celtics help D obviously, but so far I'd say Ray has done a better job than Bowen did at getting in his grill and affecting his shot.

IMO Ray has done a much better job. You can't have him on Kobe all 40 minutes, so Posey and PP will get some calls to cover him, but only Ray has the lateral quickness and knowledge of Kobe's game to stay in front of him. Honestly, that's the best you can hope for. Nobody can bother #24 that much- he makes as many contested shots as I've seen a player do since Jordan. However, if you stay in front of him and force long shots or make him pass it from a standstill (not a kickout on a drive), he becomes a lesser threat. Still a threat for 40, but not a threat for 40, 15 FTAs, and 12 assists. If Kobe drops 40, he will likely have to do it taking jumpers, and he will likely not end up with double digit assists any night.

I like Posey, and he was the best matchup for Lebron, but Kobe is too quick for him. He is much better matched up against Radmanovic, Walton, Ariza, etc. where he can bother their jumpshot and use his craftiness to jump passing lanes since those other wing players are just standstill jumpshooters for the most part.

s1ickd wrote:if you watch closely, posey is always a step behind kobe. if it wasnt for the huge ammounts of help defense he receives, hed get blown by all the time. it goes in this order:

a healthy Pierce
Ray
Rajon
Posey

I agree with this. I think in the first game, Pierce did a pretty good job on Kobe, but in the 2nd game he was playing more like Posey has. I remember Tony doing really well against him in the reg. season and in the past, so as long as his foot is healed, he should get a shot. He'll only have to play maybe 5-8 minutes when Ray is out of the game.

Ray on offense has been teaching Kobe a lesson.
He's been moving around like Rip a little.
It makes Kobe mad.

I thought Pierce did a great job in the 4th quarter of game 1, but overall, Ray has done the job more consistently. All three have done as good a job as you can do. Bryant's an annoying personality IMO, but he's an extremely talented scorer.

I don't know why, but Allen's D seems to make Kobe change his offense to 'jump shooting chucker'.

maybe he wants to prove he is a better 'shooter'?

I dont know why, but it seems to be working.

Allen and Kobe have a long history and theres no love lost between them.
I think Allen is extra motivated against Kobe.

I think Allens movement also tires Kobe out a bit having to chase him around all game.

Length does bother Kobe Bryant. Take Tayshaun Prince as an example here. Dude is a lanky 6'9'' and he completely shut down Bryant in 04'.

I say stay with the plan. Ray Ray has been the best Kobe defender in this series, so obviously put Ray on Kobe for most of the game. When Ray sits, this team should put Posey or Pierce on him. Short players like T. Allen and Rondo don't stand a chance against Bryant.

I actually thought Tony Allen did an excellent job on Kobe during the regular season. There is no one thing that will cover Kobe, because he's smart and good enough to adapt. TA has a tenaciousness and ability to simply stay in front of his defender when he's locked in. It was only one game, but he did a great job. TA is a player that needs to be on the floor for extended minutes to really have an impact though. He's not one to jump in and produce and sit right away like an Eddie House or Leon Powe. It's hit or miss with Tony.

When Ray is guarding Kobe KG and Perk (or PJ are behind him). James generally runs as a 4 with the first unit in place of Perk or with Powe and PJ as a SF on the second unit. So while he is checking Kobe he has a lot less help behind him. To me it seems he is trying to force Kobe to that fadeaway when he puts it on the floor as opposed to letting him get to the rim. Another thing with James he is the kind of defender that will show Kobe something early to take it away late.

The problem with using Tony now especially in game 3 is that he is way to aggressive physically on defense and is just going to get rung up again and again.

At full strength Ray is the guy, if Kobe starts posting him up in the second half then go to Paul, but I think he is more valuable as a help defender in this series. I know it hasn't been the approach nor necessary to this point but we might have to break out the double team tonight. I expect Kobe 81 to make an appearance tonight.

Ray has the most experience against Kobe and knows how to bother his shot just enough to make his FG% mediocre from the perimeter.

I think it helps that he hates his guts as well.

^Do you think Ray gets into any trash talk with Kobe. Usually he's a quiet guy, but he's made comments in the past about things Kobe says during the game.

Ray's defense of keeping his hand inches in front of Kobe's face, instead of going for the block, seems to work the best.

I don't think we should stop being aggressive defensively with the Lakers, even if it seems like we are destined to be called for every little bump. We can't play finesse basketball with the Lakers in LA and win.

Ray has been doing the best job on Kobe which is a bit amazing considering Wally Sczerbiak and even Ilgaukas were blowing by him in the Cleveland seires. IMO Kobe is waiting way too long to make his moves and he always seems to make the move to the strong side. He hasn't really tried to make any baseline moves this series.

Hayes you make a good point and I know you are not a fan of Ray at this point in his career, but I almost wonder if Ray wasn't struggling with and injury during that CLE series. A lot of credit was given to CLE for kind of knocking him around but he was so much more active against DET and flat out looks like Ray Allen in this series.

^ Well my issues with Ray are more longterm tahn anything. I fine with what he gives us this year but I think we should be cautious about becoming too attached to him. I wish he would be kind transition into a Michael Finley player, that is to be way more judicious about using his dribble which is not what it once was. If we can get a younger less hralded but similar caliber player to the current Ray Allen then I would do it. From a Machiavellian viewpoint Ray's stock is brobably equal to higher than the player we got in the beginning of the year. I think we should pay attention to SA who sort of rode the vets one year too long (really two years since I thought Pheonix would have beaten them last year.)

As for this series though I'm happy with his play so far. Last game was one of the few games I can remember way Ray started poorly and actually bounced back pretty well. I think the extra off days, in addition to the off week really help him.