Kobe Bryant 19 pts 5 blocks vs Sixers 1999-00 Lockdown on AI

February 20th, 2000
First Union Center
Philadelphia, PA

Boxscore: http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200002200PHI.html

Statline: 18 points, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 7-15 FG, 4-5 FT

One year ago at the same arena against the same Philadelphia 76ers team, Allen Iverson had embarrassed Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers dropping 41 points while leading his team to a 105-90 victory. Kobe tried to make sure it would not happen again. However, Bryant picked up 2 early fouls in the 1st quarter guarding the speedy Allen Iverson. With Kobe in foul trouble in the 1st quarter, Iverson went 4-7 with Derek Fisher guarding him. Even though Bryant came back in the 2nd quarter, he did not guard Iverson the remaining of the half in order to not pick the 3rd foul. Iverson took advantage and scored 16 first half points on 7-14 shooting. Kobe Bryant made sure he would never score again in the 2nd half.

Tightening up the screws, Bryant chased AI everywhere on the court denying him the ball at every possible chance and forcing him to pass the ball when he did get it. Bryant played remarkable defense in the 2nd half on the superstar putting up 4 blocks (5 total, 4 which were on Iverson) and frustrating him into 0-11 shooting. His defense held Iverson completely scoreless in the 2nd half. When he wasn't playing defense, he was making clutch baskets down the stretch including a game tying assist to Shaquille O'neal to tie the game at 81, a clutch fadeaway over Ratliff, and a go ahead runner to put LA up 85-81. It was back to defense afterwards. After Eric Snow hit a three to close the gap to 1 and the Lakers came up dry on the next possession, it set the stage for the biggest play of the game.

Allen Iverson, known for his 4th quarter play, had the ball on the very final possession with 11 seconds remaining in the game. Driving in the lane he went up only to have his shot spiked away by none other than Mr. Bryant who just had his 5th rejection of the game. Frustrated, Bryant was pushed out of bounds by Iverson and extended the lead to 3 (87-84) with 2 free throws. Attempting to bring the game to OT, Iverson had his final attempt blocked by Shaquille O'neal ending one of his wosre games of the season. Iverson, who shot 7-14 in the 1st half, finished 7-25 from the field overall thanks to the sticky defense of Kobe Bryant. This season was arguably Kobe Bryant's best defensive season overall. Although Bryant didn't have eye popping stats in the game, his defense in the 2nd half was the difference maker in the game.

Other Notes: The language is in DUTCH :(

Extra Tags: Championship 2000 2001 2002 rings handcheck zone crossover playoffs

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[amztecson024]

that was A.i Prime.. but still got owned by kobe's Lock Down Def.

[raykob95]

a.i. got lockdown in the second half

nice defense kobe

[Novazure2]

@ksurur1 Yea i know what u mean i agree dwyane wade is quicker and a little stronger on defense than kobe although i will give kobe his props on defense but he cant guard Ai

[TheFreeMentality]

@ksurur1 Well I didn't say he was an A.I stopper, A.I was a superstar dude! Superstars don't get stopped consistently. You said Kobe "can't guard for shit" and I firmly disagree with that notion, and I gave you just one of several examples I can name of Kobe playing stellar defense. Most people only look at flashy defense(steals & blocks) but they rarely ever have the patience or focus to pay attention to one on one defense, which is where Kobe's at his best.

[ksurur1]

@TheFreeMentality tru but i've seen young kobe play on ball defense and he's amazing. but just my opinion he can't guard a.i hell no one can. i like kobe but he shouldn't be making the all defensive 1st team anymore at this age. d-wade or tony allen should

[ksurur1]

@Novazure2 yee kobe is great on d but tht was in the past. i like dwyane wade and to me he's been better on defense sinc 09. just my opinion

[Novazure2]

@ksurur1 so true man ppl need to hop off kobe

[Rexanglorum]

The '00 squad, was am example of how to play D.

Kobe played man on man D by just getting in a grill, slipping over most screens, challenging every shot and only looking for steals or blocks when the ball was clearly exposed.

Shaq showed us how a big man plays D, challenge every thing they put up in the paint, while moving and denying his own man easy dunks from assits or offensive boards..

The other players were old and/or slow but all were smart and played hard and get tons of stops.

[Rexanglorum]

As a Laker fan I wanted to believe that, with Phil Jackson now on the bench, they were now championship ready but deep down I had some doubts. The mid winter East Coast Swing and this 76's game in particular, really showed me this squad had the focus and heart that they lacked in previous seasons. I saw that the Lakers was honed, that could play outstanding defense, beat a good team on the road and win very ugly.

They went from talented underachievers to talented overachievers.

[TheFreeMentality]

@ksurur1 Dude, did you watch Gm 1 of the 01 Finals? In the 1st Qrt Kobe frustrated Iverson, he held him to 7 pts on 3-9FG and blocked about 3 of his shots, then the refs called to two bullshit fouls on Kobe and sent him to the bench, and Iverson began lighting up Fisher, Lue, and whoever the hell else guarded him. Kobe actually did a good job on Iverson whenever he guarded him. If you don't think Kobe can guard for shit, you haven't watched Kobe Bryant's defense in great detail.

[lionelangemario]

it is probably one of the rare occasion that kobe didn't got torched by A.I....but great performance by kobe,