Trevor Ariza will be assigned to guard Kobe Bryant during their first round series. Ariza and Bryant were formerly teammates when the Lakers won the 2009 NBA Finals.

“Pretty much all you can do is to make him take tough shots and try to match his aggression and intensity,’’ Ariza said.

Ariza knows the Triangle offense and knows where Bryant likes to score.

“One game we may do something, the second game it may be totally different,’’ point guard Chris Paul said of the Hornets’ approach to stopping Bryant.

“To say any one guy is going to stop Kobe is wrong,’’ Hornets Coach Monty Williams said. “Trev knows how to pick his spots, and he knows their offense. I’m going have to give him more freedom to gamble more. If you give that team the same look every time down the floor, they are going to pick you apart.’’