Bryant, Wade Go Head-To-Head in Battle of All-Stars

[Elano]

This was the rare truth-in-NBA-superstar matchup hype. Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade really did go head-to-head, as proven postgame when Bryant sported four stitches under his right eyebrow and Wade held an ice bag against his dome.

That was the result of a bump when Bryant reached in to knock the ball away from a driving Wade in the fourth quarter. And it was indicative of just how intense this matchup was.

"That's what it's all about," Wade said. "That's what you play for, the matchups."

The dynamic of this one has changed over the years; testy at times, but now simply a matter of mutual respect after they spent the summer together on the Olympic team.

"Early on we didn't have a relationship because of the whole Kobe-Shaq drama," said Wade, dragged into it by Shaquille O'Neal's trade to Miami that brought out the inevitable 2-guard comparisons. "Over time we built the relationship; of course the Olympics, you get to respect somebody and know their family. I get Christmas cards, Thanksgiving cards from Kobe and his family all year. It makes it more competitive."

So often we hear about X vs. Y, when really it's just a matter of them being on the court at the same time. This was guys actually going at each other for a change.

Of course, if NBA marketing is about superstar matchups, NBA strategy is all about mismatches. Bryant has the luxury of a taller, deeper (even without Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar and Luke Walton) squad, which is why the Lakers prevailed 108-105. With Andrew Bynum scoring 24 points and Pau Gasol grabbing 18 rebounds (eight offensive) against the undersized Heat frontline, Bryant reverted to the role he played on the Olympic team this summer, concentrating on defense, going into what he referred to as "lockdown corner" mode against Wade while scoring a pedestrian 19 points.

"Part of my responsibility to this team is to try to do what it takes on any given night, to ensure victory for our ballclub," Bryant said. "And that includes chasing him around."

Or as he said in a more brutally honest moment: "Who else was gonna do it?"

When he's motivated, as he was with Wade in town, Bryant can be one of the best on-ball defenders in the game. When it's a player he doesn't respect as much, Bryant will stray, leave his man open, give up open jumpers.

Wade's defensive success comes from jumping into passing lanes or coming from the weak side to block shots.

Wade, whose services were needed to both initiate and finish for the Heat on offense, only reciprocated the star-guarding duties in the first half. He scored 27 points -- more than half while Bryant was out of the game -- and had nine assists.

Bryant took only one shot in the first quarter (a 3-pointer he made), while dishing off six assists. On defense he was up in Wade's jersey, forcing Wade to use every bit of his All-Star skills to get six points in the opening quarter. It wasn't a coincidence that Wade went on a mini-spree in the second quarter, checking into the game and scoring seven points in less than a minute while Bryant was on the bench. Bryant came back in and held Wade to two more points until halftime.

Wade was at it again in the fourth quarter, like a racer staying on the road to gain a lap while everyone else makes a pit stop, with another minute-long seven-point outburst in the fourth quarter while Bryant was out.

"I hesitated to play Kobe too many minutes in the course of the game because he was working really hard defensively, I thought," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "So I held on as long as possible before putting him back in the fourth quarter so he could finish the game."

Indeed, once Bryant returned, Wade didn't score again in the final seven minutes. Wade turned into a setup man for Michael Beasley, finding him for an alley-oop, a 3-pointer and a jumper, part of a 16-point fourth quarter from Beasley that kept this game undecided until the final seconds. That's one responsibility Wade has that Bryant doesn't: the task of bringing up a young No. 2 overall draft pick.

Sometimes Wade has to be the schoolteacher, as he was when Beasley was still bouncing around while it was time for the Heat to take the court before a recent game in Miami.

"Come on, Mike," Wade scolded him, and Beasley got in line.

Beasley traveled on a fourth-quarter possession Sunday night and Wade just shook his head. But Wade kept giving him the ball and getting results.

"He's been coming along," Wade said. "It was a slow process early, but as he's figured out his role and figured what we need from him he's been more comfortable in his role."

Wade is helping him learn, just another duty that shows he is having the best all-around season of anyone in the league. Kobe has been the man among boys before, in his first two years without O'Neal, while Wade was in the process of winning a championship with the Big Fella in South Beach.

They have compared from afar, they have played alongside, and for one night they went head-to-head.

Literally.

[Kool Beenz]

Wade deserves it he's been grinding harder this season

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Wade deserves it he's been grinding harder this season

Wade deserves what? Kobe and the Lakers shitted all over him and the Heat in this match-up. LOL

[7even]

Wade deserves it he's been grinding harder this season

Wade deserves what? Kobe and the Lakers shitted all over him and the Heat in this match-up. LOL

Um... the Lakers barely won, and Wade had the better game... LOL

[Chamillitary Click]

Wade deserves it he's been grinding harder this season

Wade deserves what? Kobe and the Lakers shitted all over him and the Heat in this match-up. LOL

Um... the Lakers barely won, and Wade had the better game... LOL

Lakers are better than the Heat though; so you should expect the Lakers to win lol.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Wade deserves it he's been grinding harder this season

Wade deserves what? Kobe and the Lakers shitted all over him and the Heat in this match-up. LOL

Um... the Lakers barely won, and Wade had the better game... LOL

LMFAO@Wade had the better game. Oh, God, I pitty you fucking non-game watching, stat reading bitches. Honestly, I do. Kobe shitted all over Wade and shut him down defensively. Wade could only score when Kobe was resting (read the article, punk). Kobe, on the other hand, was playing distributor, as opposed to looking for his shot, and ran the offense to perfection. Wade wasn't even guarding Kobe, cuz he clearly can't keep up with him defensively.


You didn't watch the game, bitch. on everything... if you did, you lost all your basketball credibility.

[Stone Cold is Bout It, Bout It]

Wade was 7-19 when kobe was on him...3-3 when kobe was on the bench........Kobe played great defense on him, was on him the whole game...Wade was afraid to d-up on Kobe..........kobe should of had another 13 assist game but Gasol & Fisher miss alot of open shots

Kobe>>>>Wade

Kobe’s Beijing-style defense wore Wade down. Wade was 6 of 9 from the floor in the first half but 1 of 10 with Kobe on him in the second half (3 of 3 when Ariza had him).

 

[7even]

Lol@Wade being afraid to D Kobe.. if there's a better defender or somebody who can focus on defense, what's the point for Wade to guard Kobe? He needs his energy on offense...
So Wade's baskets only count when Kobe is guarding him in a half court possession? Okaaay.
Poor Kobe having Gasol and Fisher missing open shots... he's got such a weak supporting cast compared to Wade.

And no I did not watch the entire game, but it was still pretty clear that Kobe and the Lakers didn't shit on anybody that day.

[GangstaBoogy]

Anytime Wade and Kobe are on the same court theres guaranteed excitement.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Lol@Wade being afraid to D Kobe.. if there's a better defender or somebody who can focus on defense, what's the point for Wade to guard Kobe? He needs his energy on offense...
So Wade's baskets only count when Kobe is guarding him in a half court possession? Okaaay.
Poor Kobe having Gasol and Fisher missing open shots... he's got such a weak supporting cast compared to Wade.

And no I did not watch the entire game, but it was still pretty clear that Kobe and the Lakers didn't shit on anybody that day.

Kobe CLEARLY outplayed Wade. I already knew you didn't watch the game, cuz if you did you woulda seen that Wade was struggling to get his shot off due to Kobe's tremendous defense. On the other hand, Kobe had his way on the offensive end, mostly setting up other players. Wade was nowhere to be found on D, guarding Sasha most of the game, and not being a difference maker at that end... And trust me, I don't hate on Wade in the least bit...I've given him major props for steppin his game up this season. 2nd best player in the league...A far 2nd, but still 2nd...PeACe

[S P I C E]

^^No way Wade is better than Lebron!

[7even]

Lol@Wade being afraid to D Kobe.. if there's a better defender or somebody who can focus on defense, what's the point for Wade to guard Kobe? He needs his energy on offense...
So Wade's baskets only count when Kobe is guarding him in a half court possession? Okaaay.
Poor Kobe having Gasol and Fisher missing open shots... he's got such a weak supporting cast compared to Wade.

And no I did not watch the entire game, but it was still pretty clear that Kobe and the Lakers didn't shit on anybody that day.

Kobe CLEARLY outplayed Wade. I already knew you didn't watch the game, cuz if you did you woulda seen that Wade was struggling to get his shot off due to Kobe's tremendous defense. On the other hand, Kobe had his way on the offensive end, mostly setting up other players. Wade was nowhere to be found on D, guarding Sasha most of the game, and not being a difference maker at that end... And trust me, I don't hate on Wade in the least bit...I've given him major props for steppin his game up this season. 2nd best player in the league...A far 2nd, but still 2nd...PeACe

Kobe could be clearly outplayed by Wade in one game and I still would never say that Kobe is not clearly better. LeBron is better than Wade, also.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^^No way Wade is better than Lebron!

what do you mean no way? when lebron-loving bspn analysts are debating it, you know there's a way...LOL.

[Kool Beenz]

Wade>Bryant and Lebron this season

Bryant and Lebron have a bad ass team to back them up Wade only has himself he just needs to win more games but for their record they have now they need to thank Wade or there record would be way worse

Wade=MVP

[OG Hack Wilson]

Lebron > Wade > Bryant  this year

Kobe > Lebron (so far) > Wade (so far) career wise



Lebron is a beast, he just needs toi learn to shoot 3's better and not travel