Ray Allen VS Kobe Bryant Head to Head Career Stats

[rondohondo]

I was just looking at some head to head matchups between the C's and Fakers and was surprised to see how well Ray Allen has played Kobe . Take a look at these stats.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&=b&p1=bryanko01&=a&p2=allenra02

Kobe - 23 PPG , 4.5RPG, 4.6APG,  1.3 STLS, 2.7 TOPG, 43% FGS , 36.7% 3PT,  81% FT

Ray    -  20PPG,  5 RPG ,  4.8APG,  1.4 STLS, 2.5 TOPG, 43% FG'S,  35% 3PT,   91% FT




Their numbers are almost identical. If Ray can score in the 15-18 PPG range and provide tough D (like he has throughout his career against kobe) along with Tony Allen I think the C's can really keep kobe from having huge games.

Kobe isn't going to get much rest on D, he is either going to be chasing ray around the court, or trying to stay in front of rondo. The C's can really wear him out so he won't be as effective in the 4th quarter.

PP can even D up on Kobe and make him work against a big strong defender.

 Kobe vs Rondo,ray,PP and TA ........I like our chances!

[lon3lytoaster]

Thats just what the Celtics defense is designed to do. Slow down the other team's star player. We've done it to LeBron, Wade, Kobe and Dwight in the past, and we can obviously do it again.

I wouldn't say it's Ray's own man defense that slows Kobe, but it's a total team effort, team defense is the foundation of this team and that's what makes us so good. Despite some of the players losing a step, we can still play amazing defense on anyone.

[rondohondo]

Thats just what the Celtics defense is designed to do. Slow down the other team's star player. We've done it to LeBron, Wade, Kobe and Dwight in the past, and we can obviously do it again.

I wouldn't say it's Ray's own man defense that slows Kobe, but it's a total team effort, team defense is the foundation of this team and that's what makes us so good. Despite some of the players losing a step, we can still play amazing defense on anyone.

I agree that with the C's its all about team D, but this is career head to head stats when Ray was on Seattle and the Bucks , those weren't great D teams. Ray has played kobe very tough. The C's can throw a number of very good defenders at kobe.

[Jon]

I really feel that this is matchup isn't going to be the huge Laker advantage most would guess.  Chasing Ray through screens is going to run Kobe ragged.  Furthermore, Kobe doesn't have a the great strength of LeBron or Wade that would give Ray trouble. 

Is Kobe still better?  Of course, but this isn't going to be a huge mismatch.

[lon3lytoaster]

Thats just what the Celtics defense is designed to do. Slow down the other team's star player. We've done it to LeBron, Wade, Kobe and Dwight in the past, and we can obviously do it again.

I wouldn't say it's Ray's own man defense that slows Kobe, but it's a total team effort, team defense is the foundation of this team and that's what makes us so good. Despite some of the players losing a step, we can still play amazing defense on anyone.

I agree that with the C's its all about team D, but this is career head to head stats when Ray was on Seattle and the Bucks , those weren't great D teams. Ray has played kobe very tough. The C's can throw a number of very good defenders at kobe.

Oh, those numbers are from his Sonic and Buck days, as well? If so, I'm pretty impressed then.

[Vermont Green]

Kobe isn't going to get much rest on D, he is either going to be chasing ray around the court, or trying to stay in front of rondo.

This is a great post.  If Ray can match Kobe comparable to these career numbers, were are in good shape.

I have a different take on covering Rondo though. You don't have to chase Rondo, you just sag off him and wait in the paint.  I suspect we will see that match up but I don't see it causing any problem for Kobe.  It will actually be his rest time.

[lon3lytoaster]

Kobe isn't going to get much rest on D, he is either going to be chasing ray around the court, or trying to stay in front of rondo.

This is a great post.  If Ray can match Kobe comparable to these career numbers, were are in good shape.

I have a different take on covering Rondo though. You don't have to chase Rondo, you just sag off him and wait in the paint.  I suspect we will see that match up but I don't see it causing any problem for Kobe.  It will actually be his rest time.

So let Kobe wait in the paint for 3 seconds. =P but really, I trust Rondo to score from the three point line in these days, and if they really want to put Fisher on Ray, go for it but they're not going to like the results.

[ManUp]

Ray does a great job at staying in front of Kobe not biting and forcing to take contested jumpers. Ray also seems to have a genuine dislike of Kobe they have history. Also from my perspective Kobe is kind of like Ray's evil twin, they have a very similar approach to the game.

[Bynum4MVP]

Ray does a great job at staying in front of Kobe not biting and forcing to take contested jumpers. Ray also seems to have a genuine dislike of Kobe they have history. Also from my perspective Kobe is kind of like Ray's evil twin, they have a very similar approach to the game.

Ray hates Kobe for stealing his thunder (same draft, Ray picked much higher).

Kobe hates Ray for calling him out.

Ray vs Kobe is always a very intense matchup although Kobe's been defending Rondo for the last couple of years.

[Jon]

I hope Kobe does guard Rondo.  Rondo will have just as easy of a time blowing by him as he will blowing by Fisher (and as he did blowing by LeBron).  And while I think Ray can score on Kobe (as the statistics show), he'll likely drop 50 on Derek Fisher. 

[Drucci]

Ray usually defends Kobe very well, indeed. And his defense on Wade in the first round was surprisingly good.

I'm not worried about Ray's individual D on Kobe, he will be fine, but it's our collective D that will cause him trouble, '08 like.

[Fan from VT]

Kobe isn't going to get much rest on D, he is either going to be chasing ray around the court, or trying to stay in front of rondo.

This is a great post.  If Ray can match Kobe comparable to these career numbers, were are in good shape.

I have a different take on covering Rondo though. You don't have to chase Rondo, you just sag off him and wait in the paint.  I suspect we will see that match up but I don't see it causing any problem for Kobe.  It will actually be his rest time.

Not if Rondo has the ball.

[twinbree]

Ray does a great job at staying in front of Kobe not biting and forcing to take contested jumpers. Ray also seems to have a genuine dislike of Kobe they have history. Also from my perspective Kobe is kind of like Ray's evil twin, they have a very similar approach to the game.

Ray hates Kobe for stealing his thunder (same draft, Ray picked much higher).

I don't even think Ray hates Kobe but just has a very pragmatic view on the kind of person he is. Besides this completely unsubstantiated conjecture. Unless you're Ray's shrink revealing what he told you in confidence. Then carry on.

[twinbree]

Ray usually defends Kobe very well, indeed. And his defense on Wade in the first round was surprisingly good.

I'm not worried about Ray's individual D on Kobe, he will be fine, but it's our collective D that will cause him trouble, '08 like.

Yeah I think Ray's efficiency and his professional approach on both ends of the floor allows him to hold his own against SGs you expect to have a huge advantage over him.

So far we've done a great job of exploiting our match-up advantages and trying to limit the damage from match-ups that don't favor us. I trust the trend will continue.

[Drucci]

I remember that before the '08 Finals, the media tried to create a "Ray/Kobe beef" to hype up the series.

But here is a very interesting article about Ray's comments after Shaq was traded to Miami. He basically predicted everything right about Kobe (will try to average 30 points a game, show to the league who he is, selfish, doesn't like his teammates, and will ask for a trade soon ). Pretty amazing to see how Ray was spot on actually at the time.

PORTLAND -- Ray Allen was suited up for the Sonics' preseason game against the Trail Blazers last night. He just wasn't in uniform, instead watching in a sports jacket as he sat out the game.

Allen suffered from a migraine headache and gastrointestinal disorder.

Because of the illness, Allen wasn't around to answer questions after the Sonics beat the Lakers 87-80 on Tuesday, but he was asked for a day-after assessment of Kobe Bryant's performance in his first game after Shaquille O'Neal was traded and coach Phil Jackson retired.

"He's going to be very selfish," Allen said of Bryant, who scored 15 of his team's first 20 points and had 35 points in Tuesday's loss. "And he feels like he needs to show this league and the people in this country that he is better without Shaq. He can win championships without Shaq. So offensively, he's going to jump out and say, 'I can average 30 points. I can still carry the load on this team.'

"I think the point production is not going to be so much what people are going to look at because (Tracy) McGrady did it in Orlando, Allen (Iverson) did it in Philly. Can you win a championship? I think that's the question. Carrying guys on your back and making everybody better."

Can Bryant do that?

"He has the talent, he can do it," Allen said. "But is his attitude going to allow him to take a back seat and let Lamar Odom shine and let Caron Butler have his nights and bring those big guys along with him?"

Allen said Bryant's ability and willingness to incorporate others will be the gauge for the Lakers' success. Bryant was re-signed for seven years at more than $130 million this summer.

"If Kobe doesn't see he needs two and a half good players to be a legitimate playoff contender or win a championship in about a year or two he'll be calling out to Jerry Buss that 'We need some help in here,' or 'Trade me,' " Allen said. "And we'll all be saying, 'I told you so,' when he says that."

Butler, who like Allen attended UConn, is in his third year in the league.

"His successes now is going to be based on if Kobe allows him to eat," Allen said of Butler. "If Kobe allows him to sit at the dinner table with him."

Allen was asked about the personal part of his game against Bryant. At different times, Bryant bumped into Allen and talked trash. After blocking a fast-break layin attempt by Allen, Bryant stared down at Allen, who had fallen to the floor, allowing Luke Ridnour to grab the loose ball and pass to Rashard Lewis for a dunk.

"I think he talks because he feels like he has to talk," Allen said. "He's out there playing, and if he does something good I feel like he needs to pat himself on the back because to me, it seems like he's isolated out there. As much as it's five-on-five, I don't see much camaraderie going on out there with his teammates."

Allen and Bryant were drafted the same year, 1996. Allen said that's one reason he thinks Bryant tries to turn any head-to-head meeting into a one-on-one battle. Bryant scored 15 of his team's 20 points in the first quarter and finished with 35. Allen scored 18 of his team-high 25 points in the second half.

"He thinks -- in his mind -- that he's going to shoot and try to show me up at any point in time on the floor," Allen said. "But his mentality and mine are different. I've got to do what it takes to help the team win."

One exchange captured what Allen was talking about. In the third quarter, Bryant made a 3-pointer over Allen and on Seattle's ensuing possession Allen made a 3-pointer over Bryant. Bryant answered with a 3-pointer, bumped into Allen at halfcourt and started talking.

"It was typical of the way he approaches the game and the way I approach it," Allen said. "I know it was set up for me to take that shot, no matter what situation I was in because that's what he did. And I wasn't going to fall into that trap because we were winning and he put himself in the situation where he has to come from behind."

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