Ron Artest set for deal to Rockets

[Kobe24Forever]

Artest will bring some needed toughness, but I agree with you for the most part.

After living through the Rodman era in S.A. I'm wondering if a similar scenario might play out.

The Spurs too were perceived as an underachieveing team with soft star. They brought in Rodman to get them over the hump, and we all know how that turned out.

I'm interested in seeing how Artest reacts if or when Yao and T-Mac shrivels under pressure. My guess is he'll make the way Rodman viewed Dave as respectful.

With all due respect, Rodman was a stud in the playoffs, David Robinson probably cost them the series not playing up to his standards.

[nil.ball]

With all due respect, Rodman was a stud in the playoffs, David Robinson probably cost them the series not playing up to his standards.

hehe, hope yaoming will play up to his standard..

[Kai]

Artest will bring some needed toughness, but I agree with you for the most part.

After living through the Rodman era in S.A. I'm wondering if a similar scenario might play out.

The Spurs too were perceived as an underachieveing team with soft star. They brought in Rodman to get them over the hump, and we all know how that turned out.

I'm interested in seeing how Artest reacts if or when Yao and T-Mac shrivels under pressure. My guess is he'll make the way Rodman viewed Dave as respectful.

When have you exactly seen T-Mac or Yao shrivel under pressure? We have not made it out of the first round with either, but it hasn't been because T-mac or Yao haven't performed well, our team lost the games, not just one person.

Also, T-Mac didn't perform well in the 4th qtr (which only took place during the first 2 games, not the whole series) of the playoffs because he had to fill in for Rafer's distributing role while still being an offensive juggernaut without Yao. Being exausted and "shriveling" are two different things.

[Blackjack]

With all due respect, Rodman was a stud in the playoffs, David Robinson probably cost them the series not playing up to his standards.

Rodman did most of his damage behind the scenes and while Dave had a poor series (by his standards) against the Rockets, Bob Hill could be blamed for alot of it.

I've heard several reporters and people who followed the Spurs back in the day say that had it not been for Rodman, the Spurs probably would have had a ring much sooner. Whether I totally believe that or not I'm not so sure, but I do believe Rodman did a number on that teams chemistry inside and out of the locker room.

[Blackjack]

When have you exactly seen T-Mac or Yao shrivel under pressure? We have not made it out of the first round with either, but it hasn't been because T-mac or Yao haven't performed well, our team lost the games, not just one person.

Also, T-Mac didn't perform well in the 4th qtr (which only took place during the first 2 games, not the whole series) of the playoffs because he had to fill in for Rafer's distributing role while still being an offensive juggernaut without Yao. Being exausted and "shriveling" are two different things.

I'm sorry, your right.

I'm clearly talking out of my ass... I mean, it's not like T-Mac has been in the league since around.... '97? His career clearly started when he went to the Rockets, thus he's really never come up short.

I apologize to you and the city of Houston for doubting the clutchness of such accomplished players as T-Mac and Yao. I only that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

[AusSpursFan]

quietly concerned about this development, I don't have a crystal ball, but looking at things the way they are now we just moved up the order in the draft.

[Josepatches]

funny that only on spurstalk is that tony parker considered a super talent on the same level as both manu and duncan.

Agreed but I would say funny that only on spurstalk are those tony Parker and Manu considered super talents on the same level as Tim Duncan

[iggypop123]

While I agree that Artest at the 4 would be a bad idea (most of the time), I still have to ask you when you actually do see more than one than one legitimate 7 footer on the floor?

we will have them

[iggypop123]

Well we did get within 2 games of it this year, and added Artest, Barry, and Yao (sort of) without losing anyone (besides the great Bobby Jackson that is), so I'd say it's at least realistic to think we are on the short list of favorites for the #1 spot.

wait until the schedule is out. one team will get screwed with some crazy 8 game road trip like we did last year.

[wisnub]

Could this deal be just what the rockets need to finally make it out of the first round other than Yao and Tmac being healthy?

This freak the out of me..not another one championship contender in fully pack West. I think if Yao and Tmac is healhty, provided they have Battier and Scola...addition of Artest not only make them past first round...hate to say it but our chance against team is not that great. Even if we get past them somehow, we surely run out of gas in Finals....just like a dejavu

[wisnub]

i almost forgot they got Barry too

[Spur-Addict]

]Well then I hope he enjoys finishing 3 or fouth and out in round 2.[/B] Houston already plays us tuff without Artest, but with him, and adding some players to the bench from the draft, I gotta say they look better than us on paper, and they have good team cemestry so we need to add someone.

Look at the trash they sent for him, if he acts up they can buy him out and be out almost nothing. Artest is no more a loon than Steve Jackson was when pops took him.

cry baby

[Spur-Addict]

In the regular season, the Spurs shouldn't even play Manu against the Rockets. He'd take a couple years off of his life trying to score on both Artest and Battier at the same time. Those should be some automatic vacation games for Manu.

Damn the Rockets look like they've won their 12th paper championship. Luckily they only have two real championships to show for it. But WTF, how do they always end up with the fallen stars . . .

To be honest, if Van Gundy was the coach i'd be a bit more concerned.

[Spur-Addict]

What the .... again, the spurs haven't done to get better and they continue to hold on to has beens like bowen instead of thinking about the future...

...bowen is the best, he is all san antonio, but , i can't take seeing him shoot another side 3 pointer and then gettin lit up by Kobe for ing 40 a game in a playoff series....

, that's a given..;

it's time to retool this ing team and they constantly have their heads up their asses.

Some1 needs to ban this loser

[Spur-Addict]

Ron at the 4 would be a bad idea. The Rockets would be a poor rebounding team if they did that, with Yao being the only legitimate 7 footer on the floor.

You're a hating loser, all the time, go away.

[Spur-Addict]

While I think this is a great trade for HOU considering what they gave up, I don't believe Ron Artest addresses any major needs they have. They already have an elite SF defender and one of the premiere perimeter players in the league. Artest doesn't really move well without the ball, how are you gonna divvy up the possessions between him, T-Mac, and Yao?

You can't just throw a group of stars together and expect results. The pieces have to fit. For BOS the pieces actually fit exceptionally well, PP/RA/KG all complement each other's games perfectly. Gasol was a perfect fit in the triangle offense. Ron Artest on the Rockets........not so much.

Only problems they have=health...you are a hater..loser...YOU LOSE, LOSER, LOSER, LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!

[Spur-Addict]

LMAO at all the Rockette bandwagoners popping up all of a sudden.

"WE'RE RELEVANT, WE'RE RELEVANT"

Another post by you?...You're more lame then I thought...DAMN...

[Bruno]

Kings got a quite good return for Artest. He has done everything possible to hurt his trade value lately and getting a first round pick and a prospect coming from a good SL is not that bad.

Rockets have a heck of a team on the paper. If everything works, they will be at Lakers and Celtics level. Their biggest weakness is the PG spot : Alston is coming from a good season but could easily be back at a crappy level, he has still done that before. Artest could also hurt their chemistry, some clashes could happens with T-Mac and/or Alston.

[ploto]

Paging Robert Horry...

[ceperez]

Um, they didn't steal Barry from us, the Spurs front office let him go.

Not exactly, if we had known that Maggette wasn't available, then we would have the money to match the Rockets offer. The Rockets made Barry an offer before the Spurs knew what players were not available to them.

Knowing what you know now, doesn't it give you the creeps that when we play the Rockets, Barry is standing their beyond the 3 point arc waiting to make up pay big time when we double Yao or McGrady.

[21_Blessings]

wait until the schedule is out. one team will get screwed with some crazy 8 game road trip like we did last year.

The Lakers get screwed like that every season. Which is why the Clippers need to get the out of Staples Center.

[ceperez]

Rockets have a heck of a team on the paper. If everything works, they will be at Lakers and Celtics level. Their biggest weakness is the PG spot : Alston is coming from a good season but could easily be back at a crappy level, he has still done that before. Artest could also hurt their chemistry, some clashes could happens with T-Mac and/or Alston.

I don't think Manu is going to be able score much with Artest and Battier hounding him the whole game. In fact, he may even be a liability in the defense with Artest posting him up (just like what the Jazz did with Harpring and the Lakers did with Radmanovic).

Duncan always has a difficult time against taller players like Yao.

Parker is probably where we have a matchup advantage. Against the rockets will need to play an up tempo game and use our new found quickness (gist, mason, hill) against them.

[21_Blessings]

^^ Spurs are done.

[anakha]

^^ Spurs are done.

Just like the Lakers were going to win games 3-6 of the NBA Finals?

[ceperez]

Daryl Morey ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_Morey ) is running rings around our front office.

His hiring follows the recent Moneyball trend of moving away from scouting in favor of more statistical-based analysis. Several baseball teams have hired executives with non-traditional baseball backgrounds, but the Rockets are the first NBA team to hire a general manager in this vein.

Morey earned a BS in computer science from Northwestern University, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 2000. He teaches an MBA-level course at MIT led "Analytical Sports Management."

Swings deal to grab Scola.

Swings deal with Blazers to trade Batum for Greene and Dorsey.

Ups Greene's stock in Summer League and then trades him for Artest.

Convinces Barry to sign instead of the Spurs.

This guy is a scary genius. I don't know who's better, him or the Blazer's GM Kevin Pritchard.