Great minds think alike, apparently. I’m just having some fun at “Creative Control’s” expense, because if Kobe decided to play lock down defense instead of roaming, Battier probably wouldn’t get many shots off. Nevertheless, Battier did help bomb the Lakers into a 2-2 series tie, thanks to 23 big points (5-10 from behind the arc), and his normal, hard-work defensive effort he played on his “He Can’t Guard Me” counterpart.

Kobe finished with 15 points, no free throws and actually looks, well, more comfortable shooting “non-triangle offense” 20-foot jump shots instead of driving the paint, even without Yao playing. Making that fact all the more puzzling is when Bryant does drive, he has success. Instead, Kobe has been settling for “me, me, me” jumpers in what looks like an effort to show the world Battier can’t stop his outside shot.

Apparently, however, Battier does fine on keeping Kobe out of the lane. It’s either that, or he just doesn’t want to go and absorb the contact that comes with the territory. As for Battier, besides bombing the Lakers from downtown, he also drew an impressive charge that might hamper Lamar Odom for the rest of the playoffs.

Oh, and by the way: Battier’s charge was not dirty, malicious or reckless. It was, in fact, a brilliant move on his part for denying Odom the basket and for drawing the foul. Any inference that this was a dirty play on Battier’s part sounds like sour grapes to me.

Tags: Bombs, Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Playoffs, Shane Battier

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