Do people overrate Kobe's defense to much?

Question

IMO Kobe is a good help defender but his one on one defense is not as good as the so called great NBA analysts make it out to be.

Answer 1

The thing about Kobe on D is that when he's not the only one as the go-to scorer on a team, his defense is much better (he always plays good D, but it is noticeably better).  On team USA when they don't need him to score, in his early career when Shaq was good for 24-26 a game, even last season after they got Gasol his D was better.  I think when his teams need him to score 30-35 a game just to stay close he tries to balance his energy between O and D.  No statistical proof, just an observation from watching him play.

Answer 2

i agree with MC. he was assigned to guard the opposing team's best players for the u.s. olympic team and he locked each and every single one of them down. when he wants to, he can be up there with the best one on one defenders. the reason why it's not as obvious in the nba is because they rely on him too much on the offensive end and they don't want him to expend all his energy on defense. that's why he doesn't usually defend the best players on the opposing team during the season with the lakers. and you see it every now and then when the best player on the opposing team is having a great game. as far as the olympic team, they have enough scorers so they don't have to rely on him so much on offense so he can focus on the defensive end. you guys can't say that all the coaches and everyone else who votes him in the all-team defense are wrong. again, you guys are just trying to find reasons to hate on kobe. watch the olympics this summer.

Answer 3

You are really stupid.

Answer 4

Kobe does have godo defense, but these days most players shouldn't even be playing one on one defense.  Its a 5 on 5 game out there and theres 4 guys out there who can set up a screen, and then its not really one on one anymore.  But against the ball, Kobe does deserve the hype for his defense.

Answer 5

Kobe is not a bad defender but he's not a first team defensive.  Yeah Kobe couldn't guard Paul Pierce.  Pierce was taller so that pose a challenge to Kobe.  Kobe couldn't guard Ray Allen either because Kobe can't chase Allen all over the court and still able to play offense.  Lakers lost as a team.  Kobe is not as good as Kobefanboy made him to be but he is not as bad as other made him to be.

Answer 6

Yeah Paul Pierce annihilated Kobe

Answer 7

His defense has been nice at times but sometimes not, but not everyone is perfect, and even the great ones had bad defensive days, I think to many people expect alot of great things out of good players like, MJ, KOBE, ETC but they foretthat they are human to and they cant make everyone happy

Answer 8

Typically, he doesn't even guard the other team's best player.  He is a good defender when he is focused on the defensive end, which is next to never.  Obviously his defense wasn't a factor when Pierce was lighting it up in the finals.  I guess that's because he hardly ever had to guard him.  He's probably one of the better defensive SG, but I could probably name 5 or 6 that are better.

Answer 9

He's way overrated on defense. If you read the book :07 Seconds or Less, about the Phoenix Suns a couple years ago, the coaches of the Suns continuously bash Kobe's defense and say he gets his defensive awards strictly by helping and gaining steals that way.

And anyone who says Kobe is a great defender is high. Pierce destroyed him in the Finals. Kobe, when he wants, can lock down in certain situations. But every defender can lock down in certain situations. But great defenders do it every time. Every possession is the most important.

That's not Kobe.

EDIT: Kobe guarded Pierce more than anyone else. Lamar Odom was too slow. Vlad Rad isn't even close to being a good defender and him and Sasha guarded Allen...look at the possession where Allen blew past both of them. Gasol was guarding Perkins and Garnett. Fisher on Rondo. Pierce was being guarded by Kobe and destroyed him.

Answer 10

His defense is not overrated at all, i actually think its underrated! No, he not the best defender in the league but when he wants to he can shut down players ( for example the 2007 FIBA Tournament) People say Paul pierce owned him in the finals but they barely guarded each other. People usually only talk about his scoring but he is also a great defender which is why he made the all Defensive Team 8 times.

Answer 11

KObe was overwhelmed in every facet against the Celtics.   Laker fans are dilusional.  Pierce scored at will against Kobe and Kobe was a non-factor in the Finals.  That is why the Lakers lost in 6 games period.

Answer 12

Even, a mexican cross kobe. And he has to guard Rajon Rondo instead of Ray Allen/ Paul Pierce (their so-called best players).

Answer 13

hes not a bad defender, hes actually a good one on one defender, but his defense is overrated.  a 1st team defensive team is just ludacris, i dont know how he got by battier and prince, even chris paul.

Answer 14

wow

did you watch last summer's USA basketball? When Kobe wants to he can lock someone down no problem.

And if you watched the finals: Pierce wasn't scoring too much with Kobe on him late in the 4th quarter.