-The Assassin-
He's almost old news at this point, and we're almost bored when we watch him elevate and hit a series of key jumpers down the stretch, many from impossible angles with a hand in his face. Three things make Bryant's clutch shooting special in the playoffs:
1- His ability to control the game by administering a series of daggers in the last five minutes
2- His ability to find a way to get to his favorite spots
3- His willingness to trust his teammates and dish if he's drawn an impossible number of defenders.
-The
Stopper-
His defensive skills are often overshadowed by his all-around game, but he didn't get to be a perennial All-Defensive team member by funneling his man toward Shaq, and L.A. looks to him when they need a stop on a perimeter scorer.
-Mr. Versatility-
Who usually ends up making the most big plays in the playoffs? The guys who can do it all. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki and Minnesota's Kevin Garnett will enter the playoffs with gaudy regular-season stats, and Webber is one of the most unique, diverse big men ever to play the game. But when it comes to the overall combination — getting an assist or a rebound, hitting a shot, or making a stop, Kobe is once again the guy.