Brian Shaw: The Bird-Kobe Expert

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LOS ANGELES -- Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw played alongside Boston's Larry Bird in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Shaw also was a teammate of Kobe Bryant during the Lakers' title days in the early 2000s.

FanHouse had a chance to talk with Shaw about the similarities and differences between two of the greatest players of all time.

Is there any kind of comparison to be made between Bird and Bryant?

Brian Shaw: In terms of the stuff they're both made of, yes there is definitely a comparison. There's some of the same stuff. Obviously, they got things done in different ways, but in terms of their preparation, the mental aspect of the game, focus, discipline and the work they put in – come in early, stay late – and how personal they take it when they don't succeed – and then the time they put in after that to make sure it doesn't happen again, I would say they're identical when it comes to that.

Having played with both of them, I've said it before, I haven't seen any player prepare for the game to the level Kobe does. It encompasses everything, from stretching to icing, to watching film, working on your moves, working on weaknesses, come early, respecting the game, understanding those who came before you ... that's a big part of it, too.

A lot of guys nowadays, if they had a legend walk in front of them, they might not have any idea who they were or how they contributed to the game. Kobe didn't go to college but he's a student of the game. It's remarkable the dedication he puts in.

When you're a role player playing with a Kobe Bryant or Larry Bird, how difficult is that? How can you play loose when you're playing with someone on that level?

B.S.: That's what a coach wants: For his superstar to be that person who leads by example. If your top guy is trying to win sprints, trying to win the shooting games, bringing the intensity, it's almost a given that it should trickle down to everyone else and they should fall into place.

Now, mind you, everybody's talent level and drive isn't the same, but in terms of effort this guy, Kobe, is going out there and playing 40 minutes a night and giving it to you on both ends of the floor, and then he comes in the next day at practice and he's going hard. You as a teammate better be going hard at practice.

I can't begin to talk about how much that helps ... when it is that guy.

But what about when you're on the court, when you're playing alongside a player who is that elite, don't you tend to be a little tentative?

B.S.: I think it's the exact opposite. All the times when I used to take the floor with the Lakers and I walked onto the floor with Shaq, the most dominant big man in that era, the coldest-attack player in Kobe on the perimeter. Silent assassin in Horry coming off the bench. Consummate pros in (Derek) Fisher and (Rick) Fox. And then you had the Zen master on the side.

So that made me feel even more invincible or better than I was because I got the best guys around me, on the court with me. So it wasn't a thing of being tentative. But there is an "I don't want to let them down." The reason I got open shots was because they demanded so much attention. So when the ball does come to me, I want to make sure they felt comfortable enough to know I'm going to knock down the shot if they kick it to me.

It's not a scared thing. You walk onto the court feeling even more invincible because you've got those kinds of guys on your side.

In terms of preparation, Kobe Bryant watches a lot of film, but Bird didn't really have that option?

B.S.: Film was just kind of coming into play. So that's an advantage this generation has over the last generation. Scouting and the advances in technology weren't there. So that is something Kobe has an opportunity to take advantage of that Bird didn't.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

6-05-2009 @ 11:53PM

blblbl3 said...

Kobe bashers crack me up.
You read stuff by West, Shaw, Barkley, Magic, etc. who have nothing but great things to say about him, then you read the numbskull comments of people on these boards who say that he is selfish, a whiner, etc.
Very entertaining.

6-06-2009 @ 1:16AM

cjgdnight said...

kinda like barry bonds..... people just don't like him.... has nothing to do with talent... people just don't like him... even you must admit he has done some things that would tend for reasonable people not to prefer him.

6-06-2009 @ 6:04AM

James said...

What a joke. Kobe couldn't carry Larry's jock. Kobe has yet to figure out that guys like Larry, Magic, MJ, didn't have great teammates, they had the ability to make their teammates better. Kobe is all about Kobe. When was the last time you saw Kobe leap on the floor for a loose ball? You don't. Larry would would hit that floor for any advantage he could get his team. Larry, MJ, and Magic all have multiple MVPs just for that reason. Don't ever insult Larry by putting the selfish Bryant name in the same sentence as Larry Bird.

6-06-2009 @ 11:29AM

robocop said...

I feel sorry for you. I guess you have never watch Larry Bird, nor read a book about him. He had a lot of supporting team mates. He had Robert Parish as a rebouder, he had Bill Walton and Danny Ange who was the jump shooter.

6-06-2009 @ 6:37AM

Kobe Who?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULvo7__wwBU

6-06-2009 @ 8:51AM

dottiu6788 said...

What a joke. Kobe couldn't carry Larry's jock. Kobe has yet to figure out that guys like Larry, Magic, MJ, didn't have great teammates, they had the ability to make their teammates better.
====================================
Kobe can't make his teammates better? Have you seen him talking to his players during the game? He's a leader.

Ariza played in Orlando, now plays for the Lakers and has exceled as a prime time starter.

Shannon Brown once played for Lebron's Cavs, now is playing better late when he was a bench player.

Gasol never made the playoffs and was on a LAST PLACE Memphis team. Not playing in the playoffs for years shows when Kobe has to push him to be better texting him at 3:00am in the morning.

Odom - Kobe has to push to be great because he's so talented.

Walton - enough said
Farmer - enough said
Vujacik - enough said
Powell - enough said
Bynum - enough said
Mbenga - enough said

6-06-2009 @ 9:03AM

If you really look at the Lakers team, there is one proven player and that's Kobe. All of the rest are PROJECTS. Lebron James team was loaded with VETERANS Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Joe Smith, Wally Szcebiak, Ben Wallace, Delonte West,
Moe Williams, Anderson Varejao, Aleksandar Pavlovi.

Compare to the Lakers:
Ariza played in Orlando, now plays for the Lakers and has exceled as a prime time starter.

Shannon Brown once played for Lebron's Cavs, now is playing better late when he was a bench player.

Gasol never made the playoffs and was on a LAST PLACE Memphis team. Not playing in the playoffs for years shows when Kobe has to push him to be better texting him at 3:00am in the morning.

Odom - Kobe has to push to be great because he's so talented and at times appears as if he's sleeping on the floor.

Fisher - a veteran guard who is an excellent role player but is aging and beating at his position in almost ever series.

Walton - enough said
Farmer - enough said
Vujacik - enough said
Powell - enough said
Bynum - enough said
Mbenga - enough said

How did Kobe get this team in the Finals?

6-06-2009 @ 9:04AM

T-N-T WhatUp said...

Kobe is AWESOME... not to take anything away from bird, magic, jordan. bird played with kevin mchale, robert parish, and that made up the best big man team in that era. magic had worthy, scott and the best center of all time kareem abdul jabber. jordan had scottie pippen and a slew of players. kobe has kobe and a slew of players. none even close to scottie pipen or worthy, or parish or mchale or kareem abdul jabber level. gasol, odom were nothing until kobe and the rest of the team is getting better because of kobe.

6-06-2009 @ 9:31AM

obamaizadope said...

Kobe can't be appreciated by the average dope. He requires an elevated appreciation of the game of basketball. Jordan, and Kobe are 1-2 all-time, with Magic a close 3rd. Larry was a great player, but Ron Artest would have chewed him up and spit him out..

6-06-2009 @ 11:31AM

bluznurse said...

Bingo, well said. The average thug can't grasp the finer aspects of the game, nor can they duplicate the "sauce" with which Kobe plays. Jealousy is fear based...not to worry, tho', Lakers are so in their moment now, they are scaring people!! We thrashed the Denver Thuggets, we're turnin' the Magic into a disappearing act. And don't it feel good!! Go get 'em Kobe, it's your destiny.

6-06-2009 @ 1:19PM

Buckeyes Fans said...

kobe and jordan 1 & 2. if it weren't for bird, magic and isiah retiring jordan never would've gotten a title. remember he was never able to beat a bird led celtics team in the playoffs. he can thank the legends for retiring and david stearn for adding new teams thus watering down the league. where has kobe been without shaq. on any other team kobe is just a another player. thank the league for setting up the trade for gasol, like that wasn't rigged up by stearn.

6-06-2009 @ 11:55AM

bkind7x said...

Dominating offensively would be natural for Kobe; but Kobe has worked on all aspects of his game - and is now implementing being able to dominate on all aspects when needed and a balance - team play, defense, decoy, strategies and taking over offensively when needed - Balance - that appears to be what he has been doing - and he may have it down - most likely enough to win a championship if not already to an ideal peak he is close to that. I think he's been working on all of it - and now is ready to dominate offensively in the finals when necessary to win it.

6-06-2009 @ 1:05PM

mordess said...

If you want to know why we're going down the tubes (or have gone) morally, politically, economically, just look to the NBA. Here's a low life rapist ... but as long as he can shoot a ball thru the hoop, who cares, LA fans of the same moral standing will cheer him on.

6-06-2009 @ 1:26PM

When you look in the mirror, do you see Kobe? Projecting all that hate must be quite burdensome, must be awful feeling so threatened by such a supreme athlete while you sit at home being the armchair critic. In the words of Marvin Gaye, only love can conquer hate. Good luck with that. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Obviously, you've got a long way to go. How's your throwing arm?

6-06-2009 @ 1:23PM

who cares anymore about the negro basketball association. nothing but thugs, gang bangers, rapist, junkies and spoiled punks. the majority are nothing but the decay of society. the games, especially the playoffs are as predictable as a wwe pay per view or a mike tyson fight. david stern and the hip hop world have destroyed what once was a great sunday past time.

6-07-2009 @ 2:00AM

dmtrsh said...

mordess you are a total idiot! again here we go with kobe being a rapist! please people especially the kobe bashers (who always bring up being a rapist) the girl was in agreement, it was consentual sex. a cheater yes but not a rapist. what about the girl?... you could call her a tramp! after all she did have 3 different types of semen inside her. (nasty ass BIT*H!) leave these types of comments off the board and keep it relative to the game. Kobe is the man and pls stop judging kobe for something that took place 5yrs ago! the man paid the price for cheating not for rape! Lakers in 5.

6-07-2009 @ 12:56PM

you could call her a tramp.... but what kind of trash dates a tramp like that? Kobe!

He is a person of questionable moral values... has money to live the right way and chooses not to.... said another way he is not a good person.

doesn't have to be a role model... but he is not a good person.

6-07-2009 @ 5:07PM

cjdnight your'e right when it comes down to morals (in that aspect) but again you can't judge a person intirely on one issue and money has nothing to do with the choices you make. you should do the right thing with or without money and being a athelic has nothing to do with morals. everything is being said about kobe being a rapist which again he didn't rape her it was consentual sex. and as far as kobe dating a tramp, well how was he suppose to know if the girl screwed 2-3 other guys prior or after him. nothing is being said about the girl on the blog just kobe being a rapist. but i guess because he is a BLACK MALE with millions and a star athelic, that gives people (mostly kobe bashers that are white) the green light to hate. this is not the case of being a rapist, this is all about color! what about larry bird..he bastard a child (a white female)and the mother came forward publicly and you still or never hear about this all you hear is about how great this cracker was. now was that morally right? NO! i rather be a cheater than a man who fathers a child and don't take care of it! and what about yourself i'm quite sure you have did things that you wern't proud of or well maybe not! again that doesn't make him a bad person just a bad mistake! again Laker's in 5

6-08-2009 @ 2:43AM

Giles said...

Bird was taller, heavier, slower, and a better rebounder than Bryant, but wasn`t all Defense, like Bryant. Offensively, they are more similar, though Bird was a better passer for his position, power forward primarily, really, McHale would early release a lot, as would Parish, Walton, and Bird, and McHale was really the de facto wing forward at times, than Bryant, primarily a wing guard, though he began as a wing forward, but never had 81 in a game. All time, Jordan and Bryant may be 1, 2 as wing guards, especially if one considers Havlicek, Robertson, and West point guards, which was not their prime position defensively, though other greats at other positions deserve consideration among the all time best.

6-08-2009 @ 3:00AM

Bird and Bryant are more similar in personality than in skill. And more similar on offense than on defense. Bird was taller, heavier, stronger, a better rebounder and a better free throw shooter. He was also a better passer for his primary position, arguably power forward, though he also played wing forward and wing guard, than Bryant for his primary position, arguably wing guard, though he began as a wing forward. Parish, Walton, McHale (at small forward), and Bird would play together at times, Dennis Johnson or Danny Ainge at point guard, though he would start at wing guard, and all the front court guys would take turns early releasing, knowing they had more than enough good rebounders. Bryant is better defensively than Bird was, and is a more prolific scorer. Bird never had 81 in a game. And Brian Shaw was much like Michael Cooper, who used to bait Bird into posting him so Jabbar could block the shot. He was too small to guard Bird one on one, but was part of the most effective tandem guarding the Bird with Jabbar. Both Cooper and Shaw could play point uard, wing guard, and wing forward on both ends of the court.

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