Dec. 06, 2005
LAKER REPORT
Opponents Know That Bryant's Only Faking It
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
Phil Jackson has seen the pattern one too many times.
Stop the dribble. Pump-fake. Miss.
One of Kobe Bryant tools over the years has been to clear a defender by faking a shot, then shooting from what had been occupied space.
But Bryant, playing more at small forward this season than shooting guard, is finding bigger bodies along the baseline not falling for the fake. They stick to Bryant, who then gets stuck with an off-balance shot.
The pump-fake has become almost predictable, Jackson told Bryant during and after Sunday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats.
"I think everybody knows that's part of the package," Jackson said. "If you clear yourself and take a shot, that's great. But if you pump-fake and then they close on you and the pump-fake works against you, then you're shooting a shot with a body on you and that's difficult."
Kobe Bryant made only nine of 30 shots against the Bobcats, failing to make more than half of his shots for the 11th time in 12 games. He is shooting 41.6%, on pace for a career low. He shot 41.7% as a rookie in 1996-97.
Bryant, who said his legs felt heavy in recent games, is averaging 32.1 points, second in the league. He said he typically feels weighed down early in the season and manages to work through it.
Bryant did make amends in a shaky 99-98 victory over Charlotte by sinking 11 of 12 free throws, including two with 7.2 seconds to play.
"He is Kobe," said Bobcat guard Brevin Knight, who missed two free throws that would have put the Lakers down three with 11.8 seconds left. "He will do whatever he can to score. He made a great move and got to the line and hit them both. He did his job."
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