NBA Playoffs 2011: 10 Players with the Unenviable Task of Guarding Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant cannot be stopped. Period.
As he gets older, he only gets savvier.
A couple of years ago, Kobe realized he wouldn't be able to blow by defenders for the rest of his career.
What did he do? He developed an amazing post game that has allowed him to continue scoring at an elite level.
Despite recently completing his 15th NBA season, Kobe still dominates the game.
He always finds a way to score and has proven that there is no such thing as a Kobe-stopper (just ask Ruben Patterson).
The old cliché is true—he cannot be stopped; he can only be contained.
Should the Lakers make it to the NBA Finals, Kobe will face a variety of opponents that will try to shut him down.
While none of them will be successful, here are the 10 players that have the unenviable task of guarding Bryant.
Marco Belinelli, New Orleans Hornets
1 of 10
The Lakers probably face the weakest Western Conference playoff team in the first round—the New Orleans Hornets.
Marco Belinelli is the starting shooting guard for the Hornets and will spend a lot of time defending Kobe Bryant.
Despite having quick hands, Belinelli is a below-average defensive player.
He has been known to step in and draw fouls, but the Italian guard is a poor on-ball defender.
Kobe Bryant should have no problem exploiting Belinelli. He is only 6'5" and Kobe can choose to shoot over him, beat him off the dribble or exploit him in the post.
Pick your poison—Kobe will dominate the matchup.
Trevor Ariza, New Orleans Hornets
2 of 10
Trevor Ariza and Kobe Bryant were teammates during the 2008-2009 season. Ariza proved to be a top defender and helped Kobe win his first non-Shaq NBA title.
If the Hornets are smart, they will have Kobe's former teammate defend him.
Ariza is listed at 6'8" and weighs 210 pounds. His long arms make him a great shot-blocker, and he is athletic enough to stay with Bryant.
Ariza is the best defensive stopper on the Hornets and will have to slow Kobe for the Hornets to have any chance at beating the mighty Lakers.
With all that said, Kobe's familiarity with Ariza will be an asset. Bryant is a smart player and will find a way to out-maneuver him.
DeShawn Stevenson, Dallas Mavericks
3 of 10
DeShawn Stevenson loves to talk—just ask LeBron James.
When James was on the Cavaliers and Stevenson was on the Wizards, the two met several times in the playoffs.
Stevenson did most of the talking, James did most of the balling and the Cavaliers took care of the Wizards in each series.
DeShawn has now moved to the Western Conference and is the best on-ball defender of the Dallas Mavericks.
If Stevenson's trash talking got LeBron riled up, wait until he gets a piece of Bryant.
Kobe takes challenges personally and would love to show Stevenson who's boss.
When that happens, not even Abe Lincoln and the $5 bill tattooed on Stevenson's neck will help stop Kobe.
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Shawn Marion, Dallas Mavericks
4 of 10
When Shawn Marion was a member of the Suns, he was one of the best all-around players in the NBA. Since leaving Phoenix, he has been a shell of his old self.
After bouncing around the NBA for a few years, Marion has find a niche with the Mavericks.
His strength and size should allow him to challenge Kobe's outside shots and defend him in the post.
At age 32, Marion has clearly lost a step. For Kobe to exploit the Matrix, he will attack the basket rather than settle with outside shots.
Kobe averaged only 22 points per game against the Mavericks, but should have no problem getting his points.
If the two teams match up in the conference semifinals, Stevenson and Marion will share a very difficult job.
Wesley Matthews, Portland Trail Blazers
5 of 10
Should the Trail Blazers upset the Mavericks, Wesley Matthews will get the opportunity to cover Kobe Bryant.
Matthews is an inch shorter than Bryant, but is 15 pounds heavier. He plays with a lot of energy and is a solid defender.
Matthews has a lot of strength and seeks to wear opponents down with his physical style of play.
Bryant has had success against Matthews. He scored 37 points in an overtime victory and the Lakers went 3-1 against the Blazers this season.
Matthews just completed his second year in the NBA and there is nothing Kobe would love more than to teach the young guard a thing or two.
James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
6 of 10
While Thabo Sefolosha starts the game covering Kobe, James Harden typically guards him the bulk of the game.
Harden has good hands, but is prone to make defensive mistakes and fouls frequently.
He lacks the size to be an elite defender and Kobe should have no problem beating him one-on-one.
Should Harden struggle to stop Bryant, Sefolosha will get more minutes. He is a much better defender than Harden, but does not have the same scoring ability.
Kevin Durant may also get the chance to defend Kobe—a task he took on during their first-round playoff matchup last year.
Bryant has had a lot of success against the Thunder and should continue his success if the two teams meet in the conference finals.
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
7 of 10
The Lakers and the Spurs have had many great playoff battles over the last decade.
Should the two teams face off in the conference finals, San Antonio will be without Bruce Bowen—the player who probably defended Kobe better than anyone else.
With Bowen retired, Manu Ginobili will get the privilege of defending Bryant.
When healthy, Ginobili is a solid defender. The other 90 percent of the time he struggles.
At 33 years old, Ginobili will have trouble staying in front of Bryant. If Ginobili gives too much room, Bryant can simply shoot over the top of him.
Ginobili is an intelligent player with great reflexes, but Kobe should have no problem dominating this matchup.
Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls
8 of 10
If the Lakers and Bulls face off in the Finals, Luol Deng will get the charge to defend Kobe.
Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer will also share the opportunity, but Deng has the best chance of slowing Bryant and will guard him a majority of the time.
Deng is a great defender on a team that finished with the second-best defense this season.
He is listed at 6'9," and his long arms allow him to block shots and deflect passes.
Deng may have a shot at slowing Kobe, but Bryant is too smart and savvy to not find a way to get his points.
Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
9 of 10
Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen have feuded for years, but the two let their game do the talking in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals.
Boston won in 2008 and LA did in 2010. Should the Lakers and Celtics meet in 2011, it would prove to be a phenomenal rubber match.
At 35 years old, Allen is still a decent defender and loves the challenge of guarding Bryant.
Boston has had success slowing Kobe down, but that had more to do with team defense than with Allen's defensive abilities.
Kobe is both quicker and taller. He also has the size to take Allen in the post where he can score at will.
Advantage: Kobe
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
10 of 10
LA Lakers vs. Miami Heat. Kobe Bryant vs. Dwyane Wade. What a matchup!
Wade and Bryant have never faced each other in the playoffs and will get the chance to duel if the two teams reach the Finals.
Wade is a few inches shorter and a few years younger than Bryant. They are the best shooting guards in the game and have have both won championships.
For his size, Wade is a great shot-blocker and defender. The Lakers and Heat played twice this season and Dwyane held Kobe to just 20 points per game.
Kobe is a prideful man and remembers everything.
While the "Super Friends" were holding pep rallies, Kobe was at the gym working on his game.
In the Finals, he will show the Heat that championship celebrations take place after the season, not before.
Bryant is too close to his sixth championship ring to let Wade or anyone else get in his way.
Unfortunately for these 10 players, guarding Kobe Bryant inevitably means losing to Kobe Bryant.
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