Robert Horry's Advice to Magic: Cut Off The Head of the Snake

ORLANDO -- With seven championships rings – although he isn't sure where all of them are today – Robert Horry carries some weight when he talks about how to win an NBA title, and who might win the next one.

Horry was asked this week if he had any advice to offer Magic coach Stan Van Gundy on what to do defensively against the Lakers and Kobe Bryant.

Horry was a teammate of Bryant's when the Lakers won titles in 2000, '01 and '02. He also won titles with the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

"I would double team Kobe quicker. Anytime he comes off a pick, you double team him. I'm going to make someone else beat me,'' he said. "You can't let the No. 1 guy beat you. You cut off the head of the snake, then dare someone else to beat you. It's a good strategy, but it's how I became who I am. I was one of those other guys who beat you.''

Horry on Lakers: "Too Much 'Me' and Not Enough 'We'"

Although Horry's claim to fame was his ability to hit the clutch 3-point shot, he still holds the NBA Finals record for most steals in a single game. He had seven steals against the Magic in one game of the 1995 Finals. He knows something about defense.

Horry was key when the Rockets swept the Magic in the Finals. He said that this Magic team is better than the one he played against and included Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. He also said this Magic team is much like his Rockets team that won back to back championships.

"Rafer Alston is Kenny Smith. Hedo [Turkoglu] is Clyde [Drexler]. Rashard is me. Courtney Lee is Mario Ellie. Dwight is Dream [Olajuwon],'' he said. "Orlando is like a carbon copy of what we did.''

Horry also scoffed when people counted out the Magic after their poorly-played Game 1 loss, or even when they fell behind 2-0. He wasn't surprised the Magic won Game 3.

"This thing isn't over by any stretch. Orlando has a very athletic team. They shoot the 3 so well that they're always dangerous,'' he said. "They can still win this thing.''

Horry also weighed in on the Kobe/LeBron debate, over which of the last two NBA Most Valuable Players is the better player today.

"Five years from now, LeBron will be better,'' he said. "But right now, I'd still take Kobe. LeBron is great, but sometimes you have to be a little more selfish with the ball. Kobe is just so, so good right now."