Jeremy Lin, Kobe Bryant’s Pupil on Defense (video)

Jeremy Lin had a solid game against the Warriors.  He finished 4 of 4 from the field, including a 3-pointer.  The rest of the points were layup attempts in the paint.   He added 4 assists and 4 rebounds. That’s the attacking Jeremy Lin the Laker fans want to see all season.

In a recent interview with LakersNation‘s Serena Winters, Kobe Bryant has demanded Jeremy Lin to be a better defender.  Jeremy Lin did multiple workouts to improve on his lateral movement and defensive abilities last summer. Kobe thinks he has the size and the speed to be a great defensive player.

Specific examples were pointed out in the interview, where Bryant spoke to Lin about how to use the off-hand defensively.  There are tidbits, defensive angles and fakes that may discourage a shot or clamp down on a player when a pick-and-roll is split, as pointed out in the video above.

Kobe Bryant is accepting his mentor-like role for the entire team and Jeremy Lin is a willing pupil.  Lin showed his ability to probe a defense while remaining under control. That is a Steve Nash-like attribute.  Kobe Bryant learned pick-and-roll tidbits from Gary Payton years ago, and he became a perennial All-Defensive Team player.  Jeremy Lin is next in line to learn from Kobe Bryant.

While rookie-players Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle are still learning the NBA game, veteran Laker players are getting tutelage from NBA greats as well.  This is a rare quality to have within a team.  It’s a reflection of the chemistry within the team and focus on individual development.

What do you think?  Do you think Jeremy Lin can become a great defensive player?  Do you think he can eventually make an All-Defensive Team?  Do you think he can become a reputable defender throughout the league, learning from Kobe Bryant?

Please leave comments below.