Laker's fan Slavin Calls out Artest

[DaDakota]

All from the Artest thread earlier
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Post 56: conversely, he destroys LA's chemistry and losing Odom hurts them more than Artest helps them.

Why do people like Artest so much? Which team has he lead to anything, EVER?

The guy plays hard, but he is a ball stopper, he does NOT move without the ball and he does not play off of it either, he needs the ball to be effective, he does not fit with TMac......as a primary handler....

Artest is a bull in a china shop, but to me, he is just not worth it.

I would be happy to trade Battier for the right complimentary piece, but not for Artest.....not today, not ever.

Post 61:

The point is that we need players that move without the ball, creative penetrating types, that is not Artest.

He has a great one on one game.....but IMHO, his game does not translate well to a TMac and Yao game.

Post 67:Artest has sold out his teamates and organization at every stop, and has not been a winner or leader, more of a cancerous distraction...everywhere.

I do not want him taking a leadership role on the Rockets......sure he has skills, but they don't translate well to this team, and I doubt seriously the Maloofs have any interest at all in helping Adelman.....

Well of course add him if you can get him for expiring contracts, but trading any starter or significant player is a LOT to lose and risk, this team has great chemistry and will be even better under Adelman's system in year 2.

I think many people are overvaluing Artest and undervaluing chemistry....

Just say no to JR Rider part deaux.

Post 74:

But if you want to talk about leadership and Artest....IMHO, the Rockets are in a leadership transitional stage, where the mantle is being passed from Tmac to Yao....I think Yao will make a fine leader, and is just beginning to accept that role, the last thing I want to do is bring in an UBER strong personality like Artest to gum up that transition[/b].....we don't need it....we have our Tim Duncan, let's find good guys to surround him with....

I honestly think that Artest is a cancer, a distraction, and is prone to just going off the deep end.

---------------------------------------------

And on and on it goes...you get the idea.

Inda is just mad at me because I busted him for his multiple personalities on this board.

Kill Bill would start a thread, and Inda would instantly post in it like it had merit.....he did the same thing on Clutchfans got caught and banned for it.

The rules are more lax here....which is fine....but just pointing out what he is, and how he comes into threads trying to get back at me....

Whatever, he can take aim, but his shots bounce off....

DD

[Culburn369]

And on and on it goes...you get the idea.

Inda is just mad at me because I busted him for his multiple personalities on this board.

Kill Bill would start a thread, and Inda would instantly post in it like it had merit.....he did the same thing on Clutchfans got caught and banned for it.

The rules are more lax here....which is fine....but just pointing out what he is, and how he comes into threads trying to get back at me....

Whatever, he can take aim, but his shots bounce off....

DD

You've been less than forthright. You come off weak & puny. You're talking out both sides of your mouth for over a year, Dakota. Your ass is completely covered no matter how it/Artest turned out. That's BS. Take a f'in stand and live with the reality. It ain't end of the world if you're proven right OR wrong. And just because you were decimated by injury doesn't make Artest the boogeyman. You were the lone competent team (aside from the Lakers) in the entire '09 Playoffs, inclusive of the injuries. Artest was part of that effort, if not the spearhead. He didn't pull a Wafer and fold the tent. He played the string out and took his fate.

[DaDakota]

You've been less than forthright. You come off weak & puny. You're talking out both sides of your mouth for over a year, Dakota. Your ass is completely covered no matter how it/Artest turned out. That's BS.

That is false, I said Artest was better than Mad Max, which is true...lol - had nothing to do with our discussion about him and chemistry, do you understand what Context means?

Take a f'in stand and live with the reality. It ain't end of the world if you're proven right OR wrong. And just because you were decimated by injury doesn't make Artest the boogeyman. You were the lone competent team (aside from the Lakers) in the entire '09 Playoffs, inclusive of the injuries. Artest was part of that effort, if not the spearhead. He didn't pull a Wafer and fold the tent. He played the string out and took his fate.

LOL - yeah, everything in your world must be black and white.....

I never wanted Artest, but if the team can get him for peanuts, then sure, roll the dice.

Whatever, if that is too hard for you to understand, no biggie.

Here try this on for size....Artest will totally screw up LA's chemistry and they will not win another ring with him playing any significant role.

Enjoy ! See ya next May when I remind you of this......LOL.

DD

[Culburn369]

I never wanted Artest, but if the team can get him for peanuts, then sure, roll the dice.

DD

"but"....you can't follow "I never wanted Artest" with a "but".

[Culburn369]

Here try this on for size....Artest will totally screw up LA's chemistry and they will not win another ring with him playing any significant role.

Enjoy ! See ya next May when I remind you of this......LOL.

DD

When did Artest screw up your chemistry?

[DaDakota]

"but"....you can't follow "I never wanted Artest" with a "but".

Sure you can, it is what we do in business every day, we attach values and assess risk....Artest was a cancer, but getting him for Donte Green and a first round pick....sure...take the shot....and if it doesn't work (Which I said it wouldn't) then you can move the asset for another player.

The Rockets failed when they didn't move his contract, so they got nothing for him......and thus it was a mistake on Morey's part....one of very few, IMO.

Asset management - that is what you do....

When did Artest screw up your chemistry?

All last year, the dude was horrible with McGrady, he caused trouble in the clubhouse, and after his antics in the playoffs getting on the team bus with sponsors in his underwear the Rockets never wanted him back.

And if he is such a prize then why is it that the Lakers signed him for less money than he was making last year.

You guys screwed up......you should have kept Ariza, he played his role very well, Artest has his own role in mind.

Trust me, you will see...

Does this mean that you're going in hiding, full of shame for the bull you were called on?

I don't hide, am not afraid of being wrong, putting my opinion out there.....

Artest will screw the Lakers up....that is my take...

DD

[Culburn369]

Sure you can, it is what we do in business every day, we attach values and assess risk....Artest was a cancer, but getting him for Donte Green and a first round pick....sure...take the shot....and if it doesn't work (Which I said it wouldn't) then you can move the asset for another player.

The Rockets failed when they didn't move his contract, so they got nothing for him......and thus it was a mistake on Morey's part....one of very few, IMO.

Asset management - that is what you do....



All last year, the dude was horrible with McGrady, he caused trouble in the clubhouse, and after his antics in the playoffs getting on the team bus with sponsors in his underwear the Rockets never wanted him back.

And if he is such a prize then why is it that the Lakers signed him for less money than he was making last year.

You guys screwed up......you should have kept Ariza, he played his role very well, Artest has his own role in mind.

Trust me, you will see...

But, everybody blamed McGrady and said you were better without him. Now you want to rewrite history.

And the underwear event didn't even get mentioned until he went to California.

We signed him for less because he wanted in...wanted to play with Odom & Kobe. He sold himself short.

Buss had two choices:

Odom & Artest

OR

Ariza

Odom delivered it in the '09 playoffs, and his reward was less money, but, they gave him Artest in lieu.

If Buss doesn't usher Ariza out of town immediately and plays grab ass with him he runs the risk of Odom getting flat-eared and bolting. Then we get neither Odom OR Artest and we're down to Ariza. Buss ended it before it ever got started when kicked Ariza over the CA. border in broad daylight.

I don't understand why this is so hard to comprehend.

[DaDakota]

I understand the Lakers thinking, I just don't believe they did the right thing.

And why was it Odom and Artest, or Ariza and Odom?

Ariza got the same money in Houston that Artest did....how would it be different.

Kupchak never even offered Ariza a contract, just said go out and set your worth...if he had offered him the MLE, even Ariza said he would have taken it.

And.....as for McGrady...I am NOT a fan of his either.

DD

[Culburn369]

I understand the Lakers thinking, I just don't believe they did the right thing.

And why was it Odom and Artest, or Ariza and Odom?

Ariza got the same money in Houston that Artest did....how would it be different.

Kupchak never even offered Ariza a contract, just said go out and set your worth...if he had offered him the MLE, even Ariza said he would have taken it.

And.....as for McGrady...I am NOT a fan of his either.

DD

Because that is what Odom wanted. & Odom delivered in the '09 Playoffs. Buss owed him, but, Buss was shrewd:::he pinpointed Odom's wants/wishes(Artest) and immediately granted the wish, saving himself a undetermined amount of money. Odom was already on public record recruiting Artest. Artest had likewise sold himself out in public thru the shower event with Kobe, so, Buss bumrushed Artest to the line which is dotted and by jettisoning Ariza in full view of both Artest & Odom. It was all made possible by basically two events.

1. The public "love affair" twixt Odom/Artest/Kobe.

2. Odom delivering it in the Finals.

[DaDakota]

OK,

Then I think Buss screwed up by pandering to Odom...

DD

[Culburn369]

OK,

Then I think Buss screwed up by pandering to Odom...

DD

If he doesn't pander to him, he'll lose both Odom & Artest and he's stuck overpaying Ariza. Then we're ed.

Buss could rationalize pandering to Odom because everybody and their mother had been dogging Odom for 10 years to execute in the playoffs. And he finally did while concurrently courting Artest in public. Buss jumped all over it and paid each of them less money then they were worth. On raw sight Artest is hungry/Odom sated but feeling pressure to assist Artest in getting sated/Ariza is sated.

Once Odom delivered in the Playoffs and Finals Buss was committed. He just got extremely fortunate that Artest came a flirtin'.

[DaDakota]

If he doesn't pander to him, he'll lose both Odom & Artest and he's stuck overpaying Ariza. Then we're ed.

Buss could rationalize pandering to Odom because everybody and their mother had been dogging Odom for 10 years to execute in the playoffs. And he finally did while concurrently courting Artest in public. Buss jumped all over it and paid each of them less money then they were worth. On raw sight Artest is hungry/Odom sated but feeling pressure to assist Artest in getting sated/Ariza is sated.

Once Odom delivered in the Playoffs and Finals Buss was committed. He just got extremely fortunate that Artest came a flirtin'.

Hitching your wagon to a guy who busts his butt every once in a while is a bad move.

Odom is the classic case of a guy who has lots of talent and lacks the work ethic to maximize it.

When players get to make decisions on who stays and goes, it rarely works out.

DD

[picc84]

I'm concerned but what do you want us to do? Give up hope? The guy is on our team whether we want it or not, our only choice is to be positive and hope for the best.

[Culburn369]

Hitching your wagon to a guy who busts his butt every once in a while is a bad move.

Odom is the classic case of a guy who has lots of talent and lacks the work ethic to maximize it.

When players get to make decisions on who stays and goes, it rarely works out.

DD

Yes, and the key to keeping Odom awake is his commitment to Artest, perhaps not wanting Artest to see him "asleep" at the wheel, wanting to assist Artest to the end.

Buss got his (Odom delivering in the Finals). That is what Buss wanted and he got everything he asked for. You can only win it once each time. You can't do better than that. He can't win it and transform Odom. He can't win it and make CO. go away. He can only win it. It does not get better than that. That's as good as it can get. He can't win it (with Odom) and then give Odom short shrift saying in essence: "Well, you did it, but, I still don't have faith in you." He can think that, but, he can't say it aloud. He's got to look eye & "pay" Odom. And he did...with Artest.

[DaDakota]

Yes, and the key to keeping Odom awake is his commitment to Artest, perhaps not wanting Artest to see him "asleep" at the wheel, wanting to assist Artest to the end.

And thus begins the problems with Artest.............

DD

[Culburn369]

And thus begins the problems with Artest.............

DD

But, it's Odom who is ostensibly "asleep"...Buss is betting he'll feel responsible to Artest and his attendant championship aspiration to "stay awake" assist Artest to a ring, Buss by default gets another, Kobe cops another and he'll worry about '11 when Artest & Odom are both sated & tp'ing/mooning Venice Beach when '11 gets here.

[jazzypimp]

Culburn I feel bad that we here at spurstalk are keeping you away from your quality time with your kids. I am going to start a pe ion for your kids to get their daddy back. They've been neglected for too long!!
There needs to be an intervention.

[Culburn369]

Culburn I feel bad that we here at spurstalk are keeping you away from your quality time with your kids. I am going to start a pe ion for your kids to get their daddy back. They've been neglected for too long!!
There needs to be an intervention.

Don't fret, they're all adults and gone on their own.

[jazzypimp]

Don't fret, they're all adults and gone on their own.

LOL

[exstatic]

The Scorpion and the Frog

One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a river.

The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the situation. He couldn't see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back.

Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting in the rushes by the bank of the stream on the other side of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help getting across the stream.

" ooo Mr. Frog!" called the scorpion across the water, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?"

"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to kill me?" asked the frog hesitantly.

"Because," the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!"

Now this seemed to make sense to the frog. But he asked. "What about when I get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore!"

"This is true," agreed the scorpion, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to the other side of the river!"

"Alright then...how do I know you wont just wait till we get to the other side and THEN kill me?" said the frog.

"Ahh...," crooned the scorpion, "Because you see, once you've taken me to the other side of this river, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to reward you with death, now would it?!"

So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.

Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.

"You fool!" croaked the frog, "Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?"

The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog's back.

"I could not help myself. It is my nature."

Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.