Tuesday, November 13th, 2012 at 10:05 am  |  85 responses

Kobe Bryant Thinks Lakers Will Be ‘Phenomenal Defensively’ Under Mike D’Antoni


Kobe Bryant doesn’t appear to be too concerned about head coach Mike D’Antoni’s (perhaps unfair) reputation as someone who doesn’t really care all that much about defense. In fact, Kobe seems to think the Los Angeles Lakers will thrive defensively under D’Antoni. From his Bean’s Facebook page: “It’s been a wild week to say the least. I’m happy to have closure and can’t wait to get to work with Coach D’Antoni.. spacing, ball movement. And despite the chatter, I believe we will be phenomenal defensively. I’m looking forward to getting started with him and his staff this week. Mamba out.”

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , ,

← Older Comments
  • RayJr

    Defense doesn’t change though.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    what do you mean defense doesn’t change? have you ever played basketball at a competitive level? defense will change (concepts, focuses, situations). I’m not debating with you if it will or won’t change, i’m telling you, it will change.

  • RayJr

    Yes you are right about defenses changing in grade school and college. But this is the NBA where the only defenses really ran are man to man or a 2-3 zone where primary focuses are on being able to guard against an effective pick and roll, being able to know when to go on help defense, and getting defensive rebounds. THATS IT. Since Shaq has left, Lakers teams have had problems with those aspects of defense.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    You can’t honestly think Man to Man defense is played the same way by everyone….
    .
    .Where they force a ball handler or prefer to force a ball handler is different on every team
    .Where the help comes from, is different on every team.
    .When teams double is different on every team.
    .How teams guard back to the basket post player is different on every team
    .
    Why in the blue sh*t do you think Chicago (Tom Thibodeau) is known as a defensive genius? Because he runs a really cool zone? lol – think harder, the NBA is much much much much more complex than High School & College. Which means, the defenses are too.
    .
    Why did you think they keep creating rules to make scoring easier? If defense doesn’t change, they wouldn’t need to amend anything. Scoring would be just like it was in 1972.

  • LakeShow

    So glad you take the time and effort to shut people mouths. Someones gotta do it.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    LOL i doubt you felt this way before this season and all the irrational Lakers hate drowned out the Lakers love.

  • RayJr

    Nevermind…it’s like talking to a brick wall with you lol. I’ll just sum up my posts by saying I HOPE THE LAKERS CAN PLAY WELL AGAINST THE SPURS PICK AND ROLL AND REBOUND WELL…THAT IS ALL THANK YOU

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    pretty simply, it’s like talking to someone who likes people to make sense. which you haven’t done here, other than obviously wishing the Lakers do well.

  • LakeShow

    Well any time I agree with you, which is maybe more often than you think, i’m glad you have the time and effort. The opposite, and I wish like anything you had 7 children and 3 jobs so you would shut your pie hole!

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Lol! I’m 6 kids and 2 jobs away from getting there. Really though, I appreciate the respect man.

  • Conor

    Maybe if you had watched the games, you’d realize that unlike LeBron, Kobe wasn’t wasn’t chasing every rebound he could from his teammates.

  • Conor

    And that the performance was both more impressive & historically relevant.

  • LakeShow

    You earned it.

  • babalo

    I dont think there is big difference or variation in defenses from team to team. Games are still played with 5 on 5 with same rectangular court.I can only think of 2 instances when you have to double a post player.Before or after he receives the ball. Or when he has it,either when he starts to make a dribble or move then force him to his least strong scoring pos. and force him to make a bad decision with a shot or pass.Cant think of anything else.

    Where the help defense comes may depend on where the post player is. From the weak side help or strong side.

  • rictor

    i’d like to see how this ends, the lake show with the antoni. Until then you can keep your mouth open.

  • LakeShow

    Consider these boots shivering.

  • LakeShow

    Why do you think that?

    He has never averaged that many shots per game in his career nor gotten even close to a shooting percentage like that.

    I’m beginning to think you might not be giving the Bean a fair shake…

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    If it were as simple as you people seem to think it is, the best defenses in the league wouldn’t follow around the best defensive coaches. There is a huge variation in defensive systems from team to team. If there wasn’t, again, it would be like it was in the 70s. Early 80s, and sooner. Defenses now are incredible complex. You apparently have no idea.

  • http://www.facebook.com/shooting.guard.319 Shooting Guard

    Sure, because of : Dwight, and can he quit saying mamba out..

  • danpowers

    the lakers might be fine defensively, but that wont have anything to do with dantoni. a team with howard and mwp is automatically a nice defensive squad. they wont get any close to what this team could potentially be on defense.

  • danpowers

    not for the better hehe

  • Bored

    D’Antoni

  • shockexchange

    Interesting choice of words … Did Mike Brown get “a fair shake?”

  • pposse

    he wasnt chasing any rebound cause he had exactly 0 for that whole game. Plus a whopping 3 assists. ill take 55 10 and 9 any day over 61 0 and 3

  • shockexchange

    An interesting choice of words … Did Mike Brown get “a fair shake?”

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    it might. they are like 18th in defense right now.

  • LakeShow

    This season? No.

    Funny how you ignore my question, and instead present a straw man argument about Bean’s shooting.
    What’s the problem? Can’t defend your false comment?

  • LakeShow

    **Crickets**

  • shockexchange

    The Shock Exchange went back and checked Horry Jr’s stats. The most shot attempts he averaged during the regular season was 26.9/game (’05-’06 season) … it prolly would have been 6 shots/game higher if the refs hadn’t bailed him out. His lowest lowest FG% was 43.0% and 43.3% in ’11-’12 and ’04-’05, respectively … still beneath a “professional.”

  • LakeShow

    I remember that year. 35+ppg from Bean. Amazing year.
    Was Allen Iverson’s career below “professional”?
    Your too easy.
    Try using real arguments with real facts.

  • shockexchange

    Why bring A.I. into this? “A.I. did it too … I wasn’t the only one.” You sure you’re not Horry, Jr in disquise? “Shaq did it too. I wasn’t the only one. I shoulda done like Shaq and paid her off. Shaq’s paid out ’bout $1 million to women.” SMH

  • LakeShow

    Answer the GOT DAMN question you lil punk.

    Was A.I.’s career below professional?

    You said that Kobe shooting around 43% is “below professional.” I just want to know if you view other players that shoot a similar percentage as being below professional.

    Take for example these players FG%:

    Earl Monroe: Average: 46% Worse: 40%

    Reggie Miller: Average: 47% Worse: 43%

    Jerry West: Average 47% Worse: 41%

    All similar to or worse than Mr. Bryant… Yet they are all time legends.
    So AI, Kobe, Jerry West, Reggie Miller, and Earl Monroe are all “below professional” to you? Nice man…

    Wow, somehow you still “SHOCK” me every day with your stupidity.

  • shockexchange

    The results for Horry Jr that I mentioned are “beneath a professional.” After the NBA became more entertainment oriented, it tried to protect certain players it deemed as “stars.” If he had not been carried by the officials, (i) at least 6 shots/game would have been recorded as “missed FGs”, (ii) his shot attempts/game would have been around 33/game and (iii) his FG% around 35%. That said, Horry Jr’s stats – his entire career, in fact – has been distorted by a “halo effect,” while A.I.’s, Millers’, Monroe’s and West’s have not been.

  • LakeShow

    Oh I see now. Makes sense.
    **Dies Laughing**

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000166716900 Anthony Darnello Taylor Jr.

    well he had his hands full taking the shots

← Older Comments
Advertisement