Hersey Hawkins' book on Glen Rice
By Hersey Hawkins
Special to ESPN.com
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WATCHING LIKE A HAWK |
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|  | | Hawkins |
Throughout the rest of the playoffs, Bulls guard Hersey Hawkins will provide ESPN.com with an in-depth scouting report on several key players. Hawkins continues his series with a look at Lakers forward
Glen Rice. |
How to defend Rice: I think he is totally different than Kobe Bryant. You get up on Rice and make him put the ball on the ground. Like Kobe you push Rice left because he has a tendency to normally dribble one or two times at most and not go that way, but you can still bother his shot. If he goes right he may go to the bucket as well, though he hasn't been lately.
His primary move is one dribble and shoot, so you crowd him as much as possible. He can shoot from anywhere. He's one of those guys, corners, top of key, it doesn't matter, he has that range from anywhere.
How Rice defends you: Rice has never really had to play defense as hard as is now, and has never been in a system where that was the a primary focus of a team. Now he's on a team where he is finding people coming after him. Luckily he has the big fella in Shaq behind him. I think you just attack Rice and make him play defense. Make him use a lot of his energy on defense, to take away from his offense. You can drive on him, and the years are catching up to him.
Really, he has played adequate defense this year. He is making a commitment to play it hard, but defense is all heart and desire. He seems to have it. I can tell you that later in your career you are not as quick as you once were.
What role Rice fills for the Lakers: I think he is really a guy who should always be taking 20 shots a game, not a third option. This is hard for him. Now he could go five or six minutes without getting a look, and it is difficult for him. A shooter needs a rhythm game, more shots, better rhythm. Rice lulls between shots and feels like he has to make every one he shoots now. He is pressing and he forces shots to get in with the offense. |
