![]() Was every single shot that Bryant took in game one an absolutely optimal shot? Of course not. All great scorers are expected to shoot the ball 20-plus times a game and shots that would rightly be termed "forced" if someone else took them are not forced if they are shots that the great player has a reasonable chance of making or if the shot clock is winding down and there are no other good options left. Kobe Bryant's shot selection is subject to a play by play microscopic evaluation that I have never seen applied to any other player of his status literally every time he shoots-or doesn't shoot-someone questions his judgment and motivations, alternately suggesting that he is either forcing the issue or else playing too passively in order to allegedly make some kind of point. Allen did all of those things pretty well in game one but the bottom line is that Bryant missed a lot of shots that he normally makes, shots that he has made during his entire career and especially during the first 15 games of this year's playoffs. ![]() The reality is that Allen's job during the period of time when he is the primary defender on Bryant is to do his best to make it difficult for Bryant to get into the paint (knowing that he has help behind him and thus can play Bryant tightly), not go for pump fakes, not foul and contest Bryant's shots to the best of his ability. If Ray Allen is such a Kobe-stopper then why did the Celtics repeatedly tilt the floor defensively toward Bryant? Why did they send a big man over from the weak side to deter Bryant from driving into the paint? Why did the Celtics rotate several different primary defenders on to Bryant during the course of the game? Elite defenders like Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince usually have the primary duty on Bryant for most of the game, though they of course also receive plenty of weak side help. These critics, these so-called analysts-they're all just playing themselves because they have no knowledge, wisdom or understanding. Is it his fault that people write and say stupid things after he misses some shots? Of course not. You want to know how twisted this whole scenario is? I fell in to the same trap in the first sentence of this post, blaming Bryant for the fruits of other people's ignorance. All he had to do in game one of the NBA Finals was hit a few more shots that he normally makes and then sensible basketball observers would not be subjected to reams of "psycho-basketball analysis" from people who don't understand psychology or basketball-but Bryant shot 9-26 from the field instead of 12-26 or 13-26 and thus the so-called, self-proclaimed experts have figured out everything about life, basketball and the 2007-08 NBA MVP: Ray Allen is a Kobe-stopper, Bryant should have driven to the hoop more often, Bryant forced shots because the Boston crowd was cheering for Paul Pierce, Bryant stopped trusting his teammates, Bryant is to blame for high gasoline prices, blah, blah, blah. You're a player but only because you be playin' yourself.Īlways fakin' moves, never makin' moves-"Ya Playin' Yaself," Jeru the Damaja, 1994 05.Knowledge, wisdom, understanding like King Solomon's wealth.Melt Yourself Down - “Caribbean Fire Dance” From Bobby Hutcherson San Francisco (1970).From Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage (1965).From Wayne Shorter Night Dreamer (1964).From Dodo Greene My Hour Of Need (1962).Yazmin Lacey - “I’Ll Never Stop Loving You” ![]() Skinny Pelembe - “Illusion (Silly Apparition)”
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