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The NBA is ed. Dynasty time boys..
Andrew Bynum arrives, Ron Artest still on his way
Bynum is averaging 22.3 points in exhibition season games for the Lakers, while Coach Phil Jackson is looking for Artest, the team's biggest off-season acquisition, to step up on offense.
By Mike Bresnahan
LA Times
Andrew Bynum is no longer late to the party, but Ron Artest is still trying to find his way.
The big fiesta doesn't begin for another 10 days for the Lakers, though Bynum and Artest are having different experiences in exhibition play.
Bynum, never known for being first down the court, is trying to stay ahead of the ball, moving with better speed.
So far it has been so good to him, the Lakers' center averaging 22.3 points and shooting 59.5% in three exhibition games, looking more like the pre-injury Bynum than the post-injury Bynum who averaged only 6.3 points on 45.7% shooting in the playoffs.
Artest, on the other hand, is being nudged along by Coach Phil Jackson, who wants to see the team's biggest off-season acquisition take a larger role in the offense.
It was the first thing Jackson mentioned when asked what he wanted accomplished in the last five exhibition games.
"Getting Ron integrated," he said. "He still looks like he's standing around watching the other guys play at times, and he's not getting involved as much as I'd like him to be involved. I think that he's got to find his way in the post and do some things out there that exerts himself and puts pressure on his teammates to hit with the ball in the right spot."
Artest is averaging 8.3 points and shooting only 33.3% in exhibition play. He had seven points on two-for-eight shooting Thursday against the Sacramento Kings.
A scan of the box scores from last season's Western Conference semifinals shows that Artest definitely isn't shy about shooting. He was four for 19 in Game 4, four for 15 in Game 5 and six for 17 in Game 6 for the short-handed Houston Rockets against the Lakers.
"In different situations where it's time for me to be aggressive, it'll happen," Artest said. "As we become better as a team, I'll become better as a player. I'll get it right. It's preseason, too, but I understand Phil. He wants me to start getting it going now.
"I'm getting used to my teammates. I can adjust to any system."
Bynum missed 32 games last season because of a torn knee ligament but has looked fine while rapidly approaching his 22nd birthday.
"Last year after I got hurt, I was kind of behind the ball the whole time. I was struggling to get up and down the court," he said. "That's my new focus this year, trying to be in shape, trying to stay in shape and get up and down the court. It will give me the most opportunities."
By his own admission, Bynum was winded in the NBA Finals against Orlando, having difficulty staying with All-Star center Dwight Howard.
"He was making me tired," Bynum said.
Four months later, he is the one wearing out defenders.
In the first quarter against Sacramento, he made a jump hook, a 13-footer, two alley-oop dunks, a layup and was six for six from the free-throw line.
"He's completing at the basket," Jackson said.
Jackson isn't thrilled with Bynum's defense, however.
"That's an area that he's working at," Jackson said. "I'm much happier with it this year than I've ever been before. Screen-roll [defense] is an area in which it's a work in progress with him."
Etc.
Is Bynum's offense taking away from Artest's scoring opportunities? Jackson doesn't think so. "That might be a possibility, but that still doesn't mean you don't figure in it as a viable part. You don't have to score, but you're a viable part because the defense is playing you and you're creating the spacing just by who you are." . . . Kobe Bryant caught the final few innings of the Dodgers-Phillies playoff game after practice. The Philadelphia native has never been partial to the Phillies and was wearing a blue Dodgers cap. . . . Lamar Odom (bruised shin) might play tonight against Charlotte, but Pau Gasol (strained right hamstring) and Luke Walton (sore back) are less likely to play. Their injuries are not considered serious.
The NBA is ed. Dynasty time boys..
Oden > Bynum
drew looks scary good. he looks quick again and is blocking shots like crazy and has his hops back,i wouldn't be suprised if he emerges as the #2 guy
Oden can't even stay on the court without fouling people or getting injured. His knees look as old as his face.
Keep prodding and agitating Ron-ron Phil, as a spurs fan I'd like to see Ron psychotic by the start of the season.
Ron Artest is always on the way...
Lakers finally beat the Bobcats yesterday, that's a good start to the Ron-Ron era.
Preseason win against a bottom feeder, want a cookie?
Now, shouldn't Ron-ron be havin' a good game for it be a good start?
Ron-ron stunk it up in the starting unit, again. 0-5 on free throws, wtf? 6 personal fouls in 18 minutes?
Sounds like Ron-ron is going ape since Phil reamed his ass, err... r...when Phil was "making a simple comment to Ron"
Vujacic had better stats than Artest, so did Artest suck or Vujacic play well? Or a combination of both?
Artest won't be a trouble though he had sucked in preseason games...he had a rough summer, signing with LA and then attending some sponsor's activities and making Peak sneaker commercial in China.
All Coach Phil needs to do is getting him back in shape and fitting in. When Kobe handles the ball, Ron's weakness of making brainless decisions when handling won't be a problem, which is different from Rockets. When without ball, his stand-still 3 point is good, that's a good thing for LA.
Both.
But the refs were pretty terrible. Almost a 4 hour game.
Understandable with the Mavs whippin' that ass you'd still be a bit raw over it.Keep prodding and agitating Ron-ron Phil, as a spurs fan I'd like to see Ron psychotic by the start of the season.
tee, hee.
The Bobcats have owned the Lakers for the last 4 years or so...I'll take any wins against the Bobcats as a good sign.Preseason win against a bottom feeder, want a cookie?
Now, shouldn't Ron-ron be havin' a good game for it be a good start?
Ron-ron stunk it up in the starting unit, again. 0-5 on free throws, wtf? 6 personal fouls in 18 minutes?
Sounds like Ron-ron is going ape since Phil reamed his ass, err... r...when Phil was "making a simple comment to Ron" ...
Everybody says Ron is going to ruin chemistry and screw the Lakers...but when he plays within the offense, takes only 5 shots, it's a problem?
The worst WC nightmare is happening, Ron-Ron is playing team ball.
The Machine's shot is back.
Since he got his own signature sneaker from Peak.
He's commenced the long road back admirably.
***& did ya see Radmo's line? Mother'fer finally stepped up and played well with the Lakers...in the house.
You haven't been paying attention, have you?
Hahah, he was probably pissed cuz he got boo'ed by the fans
True, but team ball and Ron Artest don't belong in the same sentence together....But, anything's possible, except thisThe Bobcats have owned the Lakers for the last 4 years or so...I'll take any wins against the Bobcats as a good sign.
Everybody says Ron is going to ruin chemistry and screw the Lakers...but when he plays within the offense, takes only 5 shots, it's a problem?
The worst WC nightmare is happening, Ron-Ron is playing team ball.
He dragged your team kickin' & screamin' within a victory of ousting the eventual NBA Champions. That squirt Wafer quit on ya, but, not Artest.
C'mon, you know, dj: he forsaked ya so yer pissed, yer lit up. Understandable.
No sense arguing with this headcase. Let him celebrate his laker preseason meaningless victory where apparently fouling out in 18 minutes, turning the ball over 3 times and missing all 5 of your free throw attempts is going to be the type of game that instills fear in every WC opponent.
I didn't know he had a shoe...Since he got his own signature sneaker from Peak.
Ron Artest also wears/endorses PEAK even though he doesn't have his own shoe....yet. I'm betting he'll get his own Peak shoe.
I don't know what shoe this is but I thought it was pretty cool:
That is his own Peak shoe, namely PEAK Artest I, he wore that last season.Ron Artest also wears/endorses PEAK even though he doesn't have his own shoe....yet. I'm betting he'll get his own Peak shoe.
Sasha is shooting the ball very well right now. He could really help the Lakers bench if it continues.
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