ducks
10-14-2005, 11:58 AM
Player Spotlight: Ron Artest
by Chris Bracke - Associate Editor, Fanball.com
Friday, October 14, 2005
Stop me if you've heard this one; I went to the fight last night and a basketball game broke out. The adage often associated with hockey became an unfortunate theme for Ron Artest and the Pacers last year. A November brawl in the waning moments of a game in Detroit saw Artest and teammate Stephen Jackson charge into the stands to confront beer-slinging fans and wind up with a season-long suspension for Artest. A handful of other fines and suspensions were also handed down which inevitably ended the Pacers championship hopes.
Successful people learn from their mistakes and Artest has made his fair share during his six-year career. Before the Motown Madness, Artest didn't seem to learn from the controversies he created, but he now appears focused following a season that was abbreviated to just seven games.
In those seven games, he displayed an offensive arsenal not previously seen from the defensive stopper. He averaged 24.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and nearly one block per game to build on a breakout 2003 campaign (18 points, five boards per night) that had appeared to be his offensive ceiling. He certainly looked like he had become more than just the ferocious defender who had narrowly missed winning three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards. Not only did his scoring spike, he also shot nearly 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 92 percent from the line in that limited sample size.
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Artest recently told the Indianapolis Star, "I'm still going to be playing hard and wild and out of control like an animal that needs to be caged in." There is little doubt that he will be the same aggressive and animated player he has been ever since his first year with the Bulls, but last year's statistical spike stands out like Courtney Love during bingo night.
It's true that during his seven-game season, now-retired guard Reggie Miller didn't play and forward Jermaine O'Neal was dealing with a sore foot, therefore pushing him into a greater role. But it should be noted that the Pacers were 6-1 in those games and clearly a better team when Artest played a significant role in the game plan.
Now with Miller retired, two rookies not likely to contribute significantly, and the team still waiting on Jonathan Bender to emerge, Artest will be the primary complement to O'Neal on both the offensive and defensive end of the floor. While last year's numbers may be lofty expectations, he is capable of averaging 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and over two steals per game. Consider that the injury prone O'Neal is already dealing with a sore quadriceps and it becomes easier to justify Artest as a top-10 forward and top-20 player overall. In three mock drafts conducted at Fanball HQ this preseason, the St. John's product has gone as high as 14th overall and no lower than 21st overall.
Heading into this season, he seems more focused than ever before, claiming this season will be like the Star Wars film "Return of the Jedi," only it will be known as "Return of the Defender." If he fulfills his declaration to play like an un-caged animal and builds upon last year's offensive outburst, he could end up with an all-too familiar beer bath, only this time the suds will be flowing in celebration rather than rage.
by Chris Bracke - Associate Editor, Fanball.com
Friday, October 14, 2005
Stop me if you've heard this one; I went to the fight last night and a basketball game broke out. The adage often associated with hockey became an unfortunate theme for Ron Artest and the Pacers last year. A November brawl in the waning moments of a game in Detroit saw Artest and teammate Stephen Jackson charge into the stands to confront beer-slinging fans and wind up with a season-long suspension for Artest. A handful of other fines and suspensions were also handed down which inevitably ended the Pacers championship hopes.
Successful people learn from their mistakes and Artest has made his fair share during his six-year career. Before the Motown Madness, Artest didn't seem to learn from the controversies he created, but he now appears focused following a season that was abbreviated to just seven games.
In those seven games, he displayed an offensive arsenal not previously seen from the defensive stopper. He averaged 24.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and nearly one block per game to build on a breakout 2003 campaign (18 points, five boards per night) that had appeared to be his offensive ceiling. He certainly looked like he had become more than just the ferocious defender who had narrowly missed winning three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards. Not only did his scoring spike, he also shot nearly 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 92 percent from the line in that limited sample size.
ADVERTISEMENT
Artest recently told the Indianapolis Star, "I'm still going to be playing hard and wild and out of control like an animal that needs to be caged in." There is little doubt that he will be the same aggressive and animated player he has been ever since his first year with the Bulls, but last year's statistical spike stands out like Courtney Love during bingo night.
It's true that during his seven-game season, now-retired guard Reggie Miller didn't play and forward Jermaine O'Neal was dealing with a sore foot, therefore pushing him into a greater role. But it should be noted that the Pacers were 6-1 in those games and clearly a better team when Artest played a significant role in the game plan.
Now with Miller retired, two rookies not likely to contribute significantly, and the team still waiting on Jonathan Bender to emerge, Artest will be the primary complement to O'Neal on both the offensive and defensive end of the floor. While last year's numbers may be lofty expectations, he is capable of averaging 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and over two steals per game. Consider that the injury prone O'Neal is already dealing with a sore quadriceps and it becomes easier to justify Artest as a top-10 forward and top-20 player overall. In three mock drafts conducted at Fanball HQ this preseason, the St. John's product has gone as high as 14th overall and no lower than 21st overall.
Heading into this season, he seems more focused than ever before, claiming this season will be like the Star Wars film "Return of the Jedi," only it will be known as "Return of the Defender." If he fulfills his declaration to play like an un-caged animal and builds upon last year's offensive outburst, he could end up with an all-too familiar beer bath, only this time the suds will be flowing in celebration rather than rage.