Magic's Pietrus to ditch Kobe-endorsed shoes for Finals

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Orlando Magic guard Mickael Pietrus (notes) has been wearing Nike Hyperdunk sneakers endorsed by Kobe Bryant (notes) this season. (Rumor has it the kicks help him leap out-of-control Aston Martins. He hangs out with Ronny Turiaf (notes) a lot.)

However, with the players set to do battle in the NBA Finals, Pietrus is planning a key wardrobe change. As the old saying goes, to truly guard someone, you should walk a mile in his or her shoes, just never in front of them. Or something like that. Maybe it takes a village.

"I have [Kobe shoes] at my house, but I'm going to play with Michael Jordan shoes," Pietrus said, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.

Pietrus, who had the unenviable task of guarding LeBron James (notes) in the Eastern Conference finals, has an interesting new game plan for slowing down Kobe and, quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if his mother came up with it.

He plans on asking nicely:

"The only thing I can do is try to minimize his touches in the fourth quarter," Pietrus said. "He's a tremendous player and those guys you can not stop them. So maybe I can say, 'Hey, stop, Kobe! Yo! Stop!' Maybe that's the only way I can stop him. 'Stop for a minute!'"

You know, that's just crazy enough to work ... not at all.

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1. Posted by elrielfiel Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:53 pm EDT
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uh...did anyone tell Pietrus that those MJ shoes are kinda....old?
2. Posted by Rise With Us Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT
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Not that it really matters but I'd take Air Jordans over those p.o.s. Kobes any day!!
Also Pietrus, it wont matter what shoes you have on.... your NO match for Kobe. (it pains me to say that cuz I cant stand him or the Lakers)
3. Posted by Ryan A Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT
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it's gotta be the shoes...
4. Posted by Travis Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:22 pm EDT
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Pietrus is a cool dude, one of the nicest in the league. Might not help him stop Kobe, but it's great to see someone like him playing in the Finals, rather than a childish international star like LeBron.
5. Posted by MR.MVP Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT
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I have a pair of the Kobe Hyperdunks, but evidently they are in the Los Angeles colors!!! M.J’s are good, however it doesn’t make a difference!!! Good plan “Yo! Stop!” It is Kobe time!!! Lakers Baby!!!
6. Posted by Luis J Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT
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Get ready to be posterized Pietrus.
7. Posted by ognihs Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT
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that kinda of defense will not work. a hotel worker in denver tried it on kobe a few years ago and had no success. it was kind of a big deal.
8. Posted by Travis Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT
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Stupid comments. Listen, the offensive player ALWAYS has the advantage. It takes good team defense to slow down a good player. Pietrus can score on Kobe one-on-one, too. On-ball defense is about reaction and anticipation, so the offensive player is going to have an advantage if the athletes are about the same.
9. Posted by james r Wed Jun 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT
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Ognihs has the comment of the day. Well played, sir.
10. Posted by TheTruth Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT
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Would have been better if you'd gotten the name of the town right ognihs. It was in Eagle, Colorado. Not Denver. Still made me laugh though.
11. Posted by Rise With Us Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT
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I like the Mr Yuck lookin face! lol
I like the comment too.
12. Posted by Santo Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT
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Go magic!!!
13. Posted by Airlock Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT
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yeah that will probably make Kobe pretty upset. He's liable to get his feelings hurt and will have to be persuaded to even play in the finals now..maybe the Lakers should just forfeit, that's pretty mean of him to change his shoes like that..what a big boo boo head!
14. Posted by BobP Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:03 pm EDT
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He is funny.....dis lui que je suis du DOM TOM...mais je kiffe Kobe grave.......il n'aura pas de chance
15. Posted by smalltimehustler Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:25 pm EDT
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You can't tell a player to stop AFTER he already scored,wether it's Peitrus or the Colorado worker. Bottom line is that Peitrus doesn't wanna be caught on the KOBE poster , wearing the Kobe's cause that'll just show the world that KOBE owns him!!! LAKERS for #16 rings. DYNASTY TEAM OF THE 2K's!!!!
16. Posted by jay j Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:28 pm EDT
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yo my poop colored kicks are dope yah.
17. Posted by erick Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:28 pm EDT
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"that kinda of defense will not work. a hotel worker in denver tried it on kobe a few years ago and had no success. it was kind of a big deal." posted by ognihs
FUNNIEST THING I HAVE EVER READ ON A MESSAGE BOARD
18. Posted by C West Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:28 pm EDT
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look what lebron did to him, kobe's about to go off.....barefoot.
19. Posted by Joe O Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:31 pm EDT
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LOL @ ognihs...... that comment was priceless!!
20. Posted by NUN YA BIZNEZ Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:31 pm EDT
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Bravo OGNIHS!!! Bravo! I don't care who you are, THAT was funny!
21. Posted by webtrafficplatinum.com Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:31 pm EDT
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Why is this news?
Are they ball players or models dang pansy.
22. Posted by M7 Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:31 pm EDT
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go barefoot
23. Posted by jay j Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:32 pm EDT
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Mickael Pietrus runs into the Laker locker room and screams, "I was just buggered by an irish priest!"
Kobe Bryant asks, "Where?"
Still screaming, Mickael Piertrus replies, "Between the foul line and the hoop."
The Kobe Bryant scratches his head for a moment and replies, "It sounds like your stance is too wide."