Defense Wins Championships

Bryant and Garnett are two
of the best defenders the
NBA as ever seen.

It is the old cliche defense wins championships, but screams the truth never more so this NBA postseason. A day after watching his aspirations of a three-peat be swept away in Dallas, Texas, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was named to his ninth NBA all-defensive first team.

    The announcement put Bryant in elite company by tying a NBA record set by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Gary Payton who were also named to the NBA all-defensive first team nine times. Boston Celtics forward and future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett also was named to his ninth joining Jordan, Payton, and now Bryant.
  
    Bryant and his two-time defending champion Lakers will not be defending their title this season mainly due to their defensive woes most of the season, but even more so in the postseason.

    Los Angeles's inability to guard the high pick and roll and shut down quick and athletic point guards doomed the sixteen-time champions. New Orleans Hornets Chris Paul and Dallas Mavericks J.J. Barea in two different series against the Lakers were able to penetrate their two seven-footers and get into the painted area, either finishing with an easy layup or kicking the ball out to spot up three-pointer shooters.
  
    That was never more evident in Los Angeles blow out loss in Dallas Sunday afternoon, when the Mavericks tied a NBA record of three-pointers made in a postseason game with twenty. The Lakers were slow on their rotations and had way too many break downs defensively.

    As usual number twenty-four was superb on the defensive end of the floor and widely considered one of the best perimeter defenders the league has ever seen. Not only does the Black Mamba take pride in his offensive game, but some believe even more so on his defense.
 
     Many will say that Bryant receiving the honor for the ninth time is in support of his fantastic offensive ability, like many Gold Glove Winners are rewarded in Major League Baseball, that is not the case in the NBA. Even though Bryant did not reach his ultimate goal this season in tying Jordan's six championships and second career three-peat, he has put his name in the discuss once again with the former Chicago Bull superstar.

    Jordan also was one of the best perimeter defenders during his time in the game winning the Defensive Player of the Year in 1988, something Bryant has yet to do. Jordan is also one of only four players in NBA history to be blessed with the ability to play both sides of the ball and win both the Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards during their careers.
  
    Orlando's Dwight Howard, who the reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year, received the most votes after being named to his second straight. Garnett's teammate in Boston, Rajon Rondo was also named to the team for the first time with Miami Heat's forward LeBron James rounding out the top five for the second straight year. Oddly enough all five of those players have played in the NBA Finals at least once in the last five seasons.

    With the seven teams left in the postseason five of them were in the top ten in points allowed this season, with the two best still alive and well. Boston and Chicago were numbers one and two respectively bidding for the NBA's top defensive squad in 2011.

    Defense wins championships and is the sole reason why Los Angeles will not dance down Figueroa Street for the third straight year.