Unstoppable Defenders

[Cary Polachek]

Around the world, those defending abortion rights are under attack, including activists, advocates, educators, clinic escorts, accompaniers, doulas, and healthcare workers. They are exposed to stigmatization, physical and verbal attacks, intimidation and threats, and are criminalized through unjust prosecutions, investigations and arrests. Despite hostility and lack of recognition, they continue their work, helping countless women, girls and all people who can become pregnant access their right to abortion. They are a truly unstoppable movement. Amnesty International calls on states to recognize the legitimate and essential role of all defenders working on the right to abortion, to respect and protect them, and to fulfil their obligations to protect the right to safe and legal abortion for all.

DURING A STORIED 14-year NBA career, Tony Allen was named to six All-Defensive teams and earned the nickname "The Grindfather" for his abilities as one of the league's most hard-nosed perimeter defenders.

Meanwhile, he was drenched in sweat, his palms and underarms sweating so profusely he had to change his warm-up shirt. When Allen finally got on the floor against Bryant, he realized what he was up against.

The Los Angeles Lakers won the opening tip and quickly got the ball to Bryant in isolation on the right wing. Allen got down in his defensive stance and reached out with his left arm to keep track of Bryant.

Bryant swung the ball past Allen's extended arm, drawing a foul and going to the free throw line just 16 seconds into the game. Less than two minutes later, the scene repeated itself: Allen, the inexperienced rookie, finding himself with no choice but to foul Bryant, then a three-time NBA champion.

With 9:55 left in the first quarter, Allen found himself back on the Boston Celtics' bench. Late in the fourth quarter, Allen was back on the court and back in Bryant's face. With the Lakers leading by nine points with 2:39 left, Bryant rose for one of his trademark fadeaway jumpers. Allen got his hand in Bryant's face -- and on Bryant's arm. Basket. Foul. Game over -- in Allen's case, literally.

Exactly 11 months after getting the best of Allen, Bryant recorded the magnum opus of his 20-year career, an 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors that ranks second in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point masterpiece in 1962.

Allen was one in a long line of defenders -- some elite, some less so -- who were tasked with stopping the unstoppable. In advance of the 15th anniversary of Bryant's 81-point game, several of them sat down with ESPN to discuss the monumental task that stood in front of them every time they faced Bryant's Lakers.

"[Kobe] wanted to kill everyone on the court," said Metta Sandiford-Artest, the 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, who was often tasked with shutting down Bryant before becoming his teammate for five seasons. "It didn't matter if you were the worst player or the best player on the opposing team."

Shane Battier knew that feeling well. The two-time NBA champion was twice selected as a member of the NBA's All-Defensive team. In his prime, he was known as an elite defender who took pride in his intense preparation -- which was taken to another level when facing Bryant.

"Everyone in my family or my friends knew, don't mess with me the day before or the day of a Kobe game," Battier said. "You never knew if this was the night where he decided, 'You know what? I'm going to embarrass the guy guarding me' -- which I think he tried to do a lot."

During the 2007-08 season, Battier and his Houston Rockets went on one of the more improbable winning streaks in NBA history. Despite missing stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady for long stretches, Houston had won 21 consecutive games when Bryant and the Lakers rolled into town on March 16. "Kobe was coming to Houston to end the streak," Battier said. "Pau [Gasol] was out that game. So I was like, 'Oh, Lord. This dude is going to shoot the ball 40 times.'"

NBA fans will remember that as the "hand in the face" game. Battier had used the technique for most of his career, dating back to his All-America days at Duke. But that game against Bryant is where it gained fame.

Bryant scored 24 points, but the Rockets came out victorious. It was one of the lower-scoring performances for Bryant in his 37 regular-season meetings against Battier. He averaged 28.6 points in those games, including a trio of 50-point performances. Bryant was such an intense competitor, Battier decided the best course of action was to use that against him.

"You go through time, whether it was Raja Bell, Ruben Patterson or any of the alleged 'Kobe stoppers,' and it became a one-on-one machismo contest," Battier said. "I'm a tough guy, but I'm not tough like those other guys. So I did the opposite. I almost tried to play like Eeyore [from Winnie the Pooh]. Any time I had a good game against Kobe, I'd go out and say, 'You know, he just missed shots. I'm a lucky guy.'"

AFTER HIS DISMAL performance in his first showdown with Bryant, Allen vowed that kind of embarrassment would never happen to him again. His preparation became central to his defensive prowess. Especially when he knew he would be facing Bryant.

"I was always mindful of the head fake," Allen said. "He'd always back you down, back you down, back you down, turn around, and then came all the head fakes. It's that fourth head fake. I knew I had to be ready to time my jump."

The two ended up facing each other 24 times in the regular season and 10 more in the playoffs, splitting those meetings 17-17 (and splitting their Finals series meetings 1-1). Despite knowing what was coming, Allen admitted that Bryant was still very successful scoring against him, averaging 25.8 PPG in their head-to-head meetings.

Rose had a front-row seat to see the legend of Kobe Bryant skyrocket during the 2000 NBA Finals, and he nearly altered the course of Bryant's career. Less than nine minutes into Game 2 of the Lakers' series against the Indiana Pacers, Bryant was isolated on Rose on the left wing. The then-21-year-old Lakers star pulled up for a jump shot, and Rose slid his foot into Bryant's landing zone -- a play that is now by rule a flagrant foul.

"One of the things that happened in my career, I don't think it's cute or am I proud of it," Rose said. "I came from an era where you did whatever it takes to win. We also realized very quickly we couldn't guard him. This dude is something different. So I acted like I was contesting the jump shot and purposely made him come down on my foot. In my mind, I didn't want him to break his ankle. But I wouldn't mind if he missed the next few games because we would have a better chance to win.

WHEN TAKING THE court against Bryant, opponents never knew which version of Kobe they were going to see on a given night. Sometimes he would be distant, ice-cold. No pleasantries would be exchanged. Other nights, he'd be playful, in a joking mood. He'd fraternize with you, then light you up for 50.

Allen said he preferred it when Bryant kept his distance before tipoff. It helped him stay focused on the task at hand. Other times, a cordial Bryant would lure his opponents -- Allen included -- into a trap.

"As dynamic and with the finesse Kobe can play with, most people probably don't think he can get grimy," Allen said. "That dude right there, he'll get an offensive foul and throw an elbow right in your nose or neck."

Inspired by players that are truly impossible to stop, Unstoppable player items have physical attributes, skills, and abilities that reflect phenomenal streaks, broken records, and more. Starting on October 5, log in to Ultimate Team to acquire a Derrick Henry player item that can be upgraded to a 89 OVR with tokens. Then earn 90 OVR Champion player items with unique X-Factor ability requirements; once activated, their X-Factors will not deactivate until the end of the game.

Hispanic Heritage returns to kick off a series of Heritage programs in Madden NFL 24. Celebrating players with Hispanic roots throughout the history of the NFL, Hispanic Heritage honors Hispanic cultures and customs, as well as the stories of our featured players through Challenges. Earn Hispanic Heritage players by completing Challenges and upgrade them to 86 OVR with upgrade tokens.

Good Morning Football host Kyle Brandt is partnering with Madden NFL 24 to elevate the revamped Angry Runs ability and assign it to a new player in Ultimate Team every week during Season 2. Add the free login player to your roster who will receive boosted ratings for a limited time with a special chemistry. Additionally, the Angry Runs X-Factor will have more accessible activation requirements allowing the player to make more unstoppable runs than ever.

^^Offers may vary or change. See retailer site for details.

***Conditions & restrictions apply. See Official Rules at maddenchampionship.com/rules for details. Competitors may receive a maximum of five (5) Red Zone Packs during the MCS season, with a maximum of one (1) Red Zone Pack per EA Major.

In the exhilarating world of football, there is nothing quite as mesmerizing as witnessing a striker gracefully peeling off defenders with unrivaled finesse. With lightning-fast footwork and unparalleled agility, these skilled athletes have the ability to leave their opponents in awe. In this article, we delve into the artistry of peeling off defenders as a striker, exploring the techniques, mindset, and sheer determination required to make it happen. Get ready to be captivated by the breathtaking moves and unstoppable spirit of these incredible players.

Strikers are deemed more valuable than defenders due to their ability to score goals. The significance lies in the fact that goals equate to points, which in turn translate into job security for lower-level managers. Moreover, at the highest level, goals hold the potential to secure trophies and ensure a steady stream of merchandise sales, thereby elevating the overall worth of strikers in comparison to defenders.

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