How can Kobe be the criminal here? Perennially he’s just as elite a defender as [Garnett] anyone in the league. Kobe has been a 1st team All-Defense selection since the ’02–’03 season with the lone exception being the ’04–’05 season (Bryant’s first selection was for his efforts during the ’99-’00 season). Let’s also look at Kobe’s defensive efforts on Team USA this past summer. He personally asked Coach K to be matched up against the opposing team’s best offensive [guard/forward] threat. His defensive efforts so inspired his Team USA teammates that they rededicated themselves to the defensive end during the regular season for their respective clubs. Is it a coincidence that Chris Paul, LeBron James & Dwight Howard (who went from 2nd Team All Defense last year to Defensive MVP this year) each made the 1st Team All Defense? I think not.
How can Kobe be the criminal here? Perennially he’s just as elite a defender as [Garnett] anyone in the league. Kobe has been a 1st team All-Defense selection since the ’02–’03 season with the lone exception being the ’04–’05 season (Bryant’s first selection was for his efforts during the ’99-’00 season). Let’s also look at Kobe’s defensive efforts on Team USA this past summer. He personally asked Coach K to be matched up against the opposing team’s best offensive [guard/forward] threat. His defensive efforts so inspired his Team USA teammates that they rededicated themselves to the defensive end during the regular season for their respective clubs. Is it a coincidence that Chris Paul, LeBron James & Dwight Howard (who went from 2nd Team All Defense last year to Defensive MVP this year) each made the 1st Team All Defense? I think not.