28 Dec 10 Kobe Bryant Gets Defensive With His Eighth First Team Selection

Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesI feel like Los Angeles Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant has been one of the NBA's best man defenders for most of his career. The league obviously echoes my sentiments as Bryant was selected to the all-NBA defensive first team for the eighth time.It's easy to forget Bryant's prowess as a defender considering he is one of the best offensive talents to ever enter the NBA, but his defensive skills have been on full display so far this postseason.Bryant's defense on Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook was likely the difference in that series. Now although Ron Artest now defends an opponent's best player, it was Bryant's responsibility since he became a starter.This is quite an accomplishment for a player who draws most of Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
his reviews, positive or negative, on the offensive end of the court, but the same qualities that make Bryant a superb scorer aid him on the defensive end as well.For one, Bryant is one of the better athletes in the professional game, and the attention he pays to honing his craft is legendary and unmatched.Bryant's ultimate goal is perfection. He understood at an early age that what he did on the defensive end weighs just as much as the offensive end when crafting a legacy.Excelling on the defensive end takes willpower, endurance, pride, and confidence, and Bryant has an abundance of all four.He seems to draw as much satisfaction from a defensive stop as he does from a pretty shot.Bryant is also one of the more fundamentally sound players in the league, and his footwork and close-out ability on the perimeter is known, but greatly under-appreciated.The rigors of 14 professional seasons have began to take their toll on Bryant as evidenced by the numerous ailments he has faced this season.But true to form, Bryant Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
has been able to adjust his game accordingly.Artest's arrival gave Bryant the opportunity to play the passing lanes more, and it also allowed him to guard a player like Westbrook since Artest was so effective on the Thunder's Kevin Durant.In the past, Bryant would have been forced to defend a player like Durant because former laker Trevor Ariza would have been like a lamb to the slaughter in the face of Durant's offensive assault.But Artest's competent defense meantBryant could concentrate his focus on defending Westbrook, while conserving some of his energy for the offensive end.There are those who would say Bryant is overrated as a defender, but that is not a sentiment which is shared by any of his peers around the league, or any of his opposing coaches.Thunder coach Scott Brooks agreed when asked if Bryant's defense was the factor which swung momentum in their series, and Cleveland Cavaliers' star LeBron James credits Bryant for his own defensive approach.James said he was impressed with Bryant's Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
abilities as a defender when the two were teammates on the United States' gold medal winning Olympic team.It was Bryant's dedication on that end of the floor, which caused James to re-evaluate his own defense.It worked for James because this year, his one-on-one defensive skills saw a huge improvement and he joined Bryant on the first team, his second selection for that honor.