The Takeover: The Curious Case Of Kobe Bean Bryant

In Jordan’s day, the player’s similar to him were Harper, Clyde Drexler, and Dominique Wilkins.  Reggie Miller was more of a shooter, but was still a great, clutch player in his own right.  But to think that Jordan wouldn’t at least struggle against defenders with size like Ron Artest, the long Tayshaun Prince, McGrady, Paul Pierce, Shane Battier or Pietrus is wishful thinking.  For years, the “book” on Kobe was to drape a Tayshaun Prince-like guard/forward over him that was just as athletic and make him shoot over the top.  Ask the Pistons, in 2004 it worked.  Pierce and Boston’s zone defense corralled him last year, and Bryant didn’t exercise this particular demon until he finally subdued Pietrus this year:  a tall, physical, and athletic-type guard that in the past would have given Kobe all he could handle.

Unconvinced?  I bring you to the peculiar case of Gary Payton, one of the five best defenders ever.  Jordan’s ’96 Bulls were loaded, much-touted and justifiably so, and had just set the league record with 72 wins.  Everyone asked themselves:  Could the Sonics keep up with them in the Finals?  George Karl, he of historic coaching ignominy, realized too late that perhaps he should put “the Glove,” the 6’4 (on a good day) Defensive Player of the Year on Jordan.  What happened?  Jordan had two of his worst Finals games ever as the Bulls eked out the title.  See “Deconstructing Kobe,” a sound piece of hoops journalism and analysis: http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2009/06/16/deconstructing-kobe/

Payton harassed Jordan into missing 13-15 shots over two of the last three Finals’ games, and since Jordan was only able to get off about 20 shots a game over that period (Payton was unparalleled at a lost art – ball denial), he shot a paltry 33% against Payton.  Once again, Jordan was given fits by a shorter, crafty defender.  Kobe Bryant has made his living off dominating smaller guards and being more skilled than taller guards.

This is not to say that Kobe is always the most prolific shooter himself, as he often puts up a 40% shooting night against top defensive talent, but that is at least on par with Jordan and Kobe does it against more equal competition and unquestionably better-conditioned athletes.  Mike still has the edge in field goal percentage because he successfully attacked the rim more, had large hands like Dr. J, and had the best relationship with the officials the league has ever known.

Kobe still manages a decent amount of free throw attempts over the course of his career, but it is King James, and not Bryant, that the officials respect.  No way do the referees call 5 or 6 technical fouls on Jordan during the playoffs like they did with Kobe on this most recent title run.

In researching this article, I also came across an interesting tidbit:  When Michael Jordan played without a Hall of Famer (e.g. Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman), his Bulls teams posted no winning seasons, even in an Eastern Conference that saw the Celtics, Bucks, and 76ers declining as the Pistons rose.  But when Kobe Bryant played without a Hall of Famer (e.g. Shaq), his Lakers teams posted two winning seasons.  These teams featured the likes of Smush Parker and Brian Cook, in a deadly Western Conference, and still managed to win 42-45 games.  This is verifiable proof that Kobe is in Jordan’s league.

We can only guess how the perceptive Ralph Wiley would have summed up the Finals in the context of the Jordan, Kobe, and Lebron debates.  Wiley was famously prescient, having once identified Kevin Garnett as one that Kobe would have to do battle with in order to get to the promised land.  Like many have noted, the literary world remains poorer for his all-too-sudden departure.

It has already been quite the journey for Bryant and still more may transpire.  One could bring up the hand-check rule, instituted because of Jordan’s greatness and today’s tighter officiating.  In contrast, today’s zone defense can be used to argue in favor of Bryant.  Both are valid points.

In the end, the game always evolves, whether or not we like the given agent of evolution.  Michael raised the NBA to new heights and was the standard by which his competitors were measured.  In his own way, Bryant is doing the same, exerting an indelible influence on today’s great players, showing how to prepare and compete at the highest levels, as evidenced by his quiet leadership during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Two different people; similar, yet worlds apart, both dogged and driven by a hatred of losing.  Two different paths, but the same destination:  greatness among the NBA pantheon, with one, James, waiting in the wings.

But for now, Kobe Bryant will take that torch thank you very much.

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