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I dont think this is official yet, but if it happens I agree...Jackson can keep Artest in check and this pretty much cancels out the fact that theyre losing Ariza. They'll re-sign Odom so basically its the team that just won the title-Ariza+Artest. It will be a dog fight if we land Sheed or McDyess.
Artest will likely not be a huge black hole if he comes to LA. If he does that he simply won't play. It's not like Houston where they had nobody else to handle the ball in the clutch.
In LA Ron will have a very well defined role as a 3rd/4th option at best. If he cannot accept that then he will not play, period. Given Phil's history with coaching unruly players I would be surprised if Artest acts out and plays himself off the team.
The bottom line is that Artest is a bigger, stronger, and better defender than Ariza is. If you didn't notice, Ariza got abused by both Ron Artest and Melo in the playoffs. He can't handle bulky SF's like Pierce or Lebron the way Artest can. He's also a better shooter than Ariza, a better passer, and more capable of creating for himself.
There is obviously going to be some risk, but the Lakers are not a stupid franchise. They don't have 15 rings for nothing.
well I think it makes the Lakers better. Artest is an upgrade from Ariza imo and Artest always seems to give the Spurs trouble because of his size.
lol .... they won this championship cuz of the refs (just watch the end of game 2 finals if you don't believe ... there's no way NBA referees can be that bad ... and even if they were that bad, which is impossible, why would they be bad in a way that only favors the lakers ??? just watch how many times (without ANY physical contact, i'm talking big time spacing between the defender and kobe) they've sent Kobe to the line in the last 5 minutes, and then watch how they fouled out his defender (Pietrus) and watch how they prevented Hedo from scoring ... all that in crucial moments where everybody began realizing the lakers wouldn't be able to finish off the magic in that game ... by the way, that game changed the whole series (imagine if the lakers were goin to orlando for 3 consecutives games without the 2-0 lead ... it would have crushed their patheticaly weak confidence ... if they had any to begin with)Quote:
Originally Posted by DrHouse
as for the spurs, they played with heart, but they were defeated by a better team.... the spurs were too old and too injured to defeat a young athletic dallas team
the lakers are not true champions and everybody knows it ... you're not gonna be really proud of your teamn until they play for real and win a championship without cheating (the gasol deal was clearly a cheat with undeclared money being transfered between the memphis and lakers ownerz)... but hey, that's just how the world works ...and if you seriously believe that deal was legit then I'm gonna stop talking to you cuz I don't have time to waste
Im not one of the Artest haters, but lets conclude it like that:
offense:
he may be better than Ariza in that regard, but Artest taking away shots from Kobe and Gasol is pretty bad for them...even in Houston the opponents best defense play was a shot by Artest a lot of times...so basically Ariza as a roleplayer should be better than Artest as a kind of 3rd, 4th or 5th star.
defense:
I'm not sure, if Ariza is already the better defender of them, but I like how it changes the Spurs chances...Artest bay be pretty good aainst guysl like Paul Pierce, but against Manu and Tony I prefer Artest beeing our opponent rather than Ariza
futhermore:
I'm pretty sure, Kobe and Phill will make sure, Artest doesnt go Charles Manson in LA, but who would you rather have as a locker room guy? Ariza as the quite roleplayer, that is team fist, or Artest, that hasnt proven anything other than beeing David Sterns greatest concern.
What about Odom now? If he stays, I see poblems....not caused by Artest himself, but Odom if he is the 6th man again!
overall: I think it good trade for us Spursfans...Not sure about other teams, as I like Artest on LeBron, Pierce or Carter...Now our job is to make sure, that LA won't play any of these teams in the Playoffs!
I am more afraid of them with Ariza than Artest. Artest played like crap the last 4 or five games of his series against the lakers. Kobe is still going to be shooting the ball, doesn't change much, it makes them less athletic if it does anything.
I don't think this is true. It's coming from Artest texts and he's having fun. But go ahead, dream away.
We shall see.Quote:
Originally Posted by HarlemHeat37
If they do land Artest, than that's great!
Ron will take away looks from Kobe.. :D
Really? I must have missed it. Seems I remember something like Artest shooting 38% from the floor for the series.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrHouse
Slow the fuck down, this move isnt bad or anything for LA...but its not like Ariza was a scrub he was a huge part of their team. This pretty much just patches up the Ariza loss and keeps them at the same level that won them the title since Im sure theyll re-sign Odom. If the Spurs get Sheed or Dyess, and Manu comes back strong it will still be a dog fight between LA and SA.Quote:
Originally Posted by TonysTeam
Btw, this has always been and always be Tim Duncans team as long as he's wearing a Spurs jersey.
yeah, it's weird. This guy just loves to mess with the media.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Body
He said yesterday that he signed with NY.
Then he edited. What an attention whore. :lol
http://twitter.com/96TruwarierQB
http://twitter.com/Real_Ron_Artest
throw a beer at him.
Artest is just messing around IMO, because of the Ariza to Rockets rumors
Remember, he is a joker :lol
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4303679
Let me make one thing perfectly clear, as Nixon used to say . . .
Artest to the Lakers is not good news. :wow
Now that it's confirmed that he was messing around, you must feel really retarded :lmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by SteelerNation
I knew it..
This was 3 hours ago..
http://twitter.com/Real_Ron_Artest
Unbelievable.. :rolleyes.Quote:
Yeah, I'm signing with LA. Not the Lakers, though. The Sparks. The money's not great but they say I can get down w/ Candace Parker.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lefty
Where does it say that?
hes a ball stopper....not going to work in the lakers offense.
Steelernation = :donkey
:lmao
T. Ariza is a quality SF but R. Artest is still one of the top SF in the league, and the Lakers have definitely improved themselves with this signing.
wow Artest is one funny mofo
It's real.
http://espn.go.com/nba/
Jesus Fucking Christ. STFUQuote:
Originally Posted by TonysTeam
Oh noesQuote:
Originally Posted by rayray2k8
Now I feel like a :donkey
:lol