Artest feels as though HE is the DPOY

[RON ARTEST]

Artest bragging about stopping someone who has struggled all season. Way to go, loser.

from what this article says it seems that manu has had 48 point his last couple of games so he hasnt struggled lately.

[SenorSpur]

I will give Artest credit for two things

1. Locking up Ginobili last night
2. Bringing a level of defensive intensity to a very, "soft", Sac team

Obviously, he's a terrific defender and had he played the full season, he would garner more recognition. He simply doesn't deserve the award this year. Of course, its his own fault that he's basically missed about 1 & 1/2 seasons.

Meanwhile, Bruce has continued his usual yeoman efforts on the opposition's best players, night in and night out.

The DPOY award simply comes down to these two guys (Artest and Bowen) and you can throw in some consideration for Alonzo Mourning.

However the more I think about it, Bowen deserved the award last year and he deserves the award this year too.

[IceCold CB1]

Western Conference, welcome to the Ron Artest self promotion tour
As all detroit,and eastern conference, fans know well by now, Ron Artest is the king of self promotion. Infact, thats the only reason he kept Big Ben from winning the DPOY in our championship season: Him and Rick Carslile begged and pleaded and sent in highlight tapes and statistical breakdowns of Rons performance on the defensive end to the voters for the award. Plus his shoe deal self promotion in the all star game, the record promotion in his interviews, shaving tru wariar into the back of his head, the list goes on. However, with all his craziness, i really think that theres no doubt anymore that Artest is the best perimeter defender in the L. The guy is a rock and when he gets into his shutdown mentality, he can take a player completely out of the game. His strength is not to be understated; Its really tough for a player to edge past him because of his strength and deceptive quickness. His craziness may really help him in that sense, because a lot of players get intimidated by his reputation.
I know this is gonna draw some ire from Spurs fans, but i really think Bowen gets away with a lot more than most defenders in the League. He plays a real physical style, but he gets a lot more liberty with hand checks and reaching in than most players.

That being said, i feel that Bowen will win the award this year because of all the times hes been snubbed in the past.

[ReppinTheD]

Not to mention he also thinks that Ben Wallace stol ethe DPOY award from him...

Artest believes he should have been defensive player of the year more than once.

"I feel like Ben Wallace stole it," Artest said of the Detroit Pistons' center who has won the award three times in the past four seasons. "Well, he didn't steal it, but I feel like I gave him three defensive player of the years. I gave him one that year I got in trouble ... that year I was suspended."

Sometimes, I can't believe the things that actually com eout of his mouth.

[JamStone]

I have no problem with the fact that Artest thinks he should have won the DPOY several other times. He believes in his abilities and he thinks he's really that good. Other players say similar things all the time.

Bruce has said as much, but in a much more diplomatic and respectful way.

Rip Hamilton has clamoured the previous two seasons on how he should have been an allstar multiple times before this year.

Shaquille O'Neal claims he should have more League MVP trophies.

Ron Artest is not saying anything different. He is just so scrutinized for other things he's said and done that it seems so crazy to make that claim.

Truth is he probably has a point. He probably could have won the DPOY a few more times. The thing is at least last year and this year, it's his own fault that he didn't and is not going to win the DPOY. The thing is he disregards the fact that even if he was deserving, Ben Wallace was deserving as well the year's he's won it. The thing is Bruce Bowen has done a lot this year to make a very strong argument that he deserves it this year.


I will say this of Bruce Bowen and Spurs fans who claim he should win it and deserved it this year ... I don't think last year should have any bearing on whether Bruce Bowen wins it this year. If part of the argument is that Bruce Bowen has been snubbed in previous years, I don't think that should hold any weight. I don't like hearing people qualify their argument by saying, "well, he's been snubbed before, so he should definitely get it this year." That doesn't fly with me. If Bruce gets it, I hope it's because he deserves it for what he's done THIS YEAR, not last season, not last year's playoffs, not because he's a good guy and could have won it in other years. He should get it if and because he deserves it for his defensive play this year. And, I think he has a very good chance this year. And, if Bruce does win the DPOY, I think that would be a great accomplishment for him. But, I hope the voters don't give it to him in part out of pity that he hasn't won it before.

I think the hardest thing for Bruce Bowen to overcome is the fact that most of his effectiveness on defense is not quantifiable in stats (unless you dig up like Hollinger things that would take some time compiling, like players' FG% individually when Bowen defend them and forced turnovers, things like that). He doesn't excel in rebounds, blocks, or steals. He's nowhere near the top of any of those categories. So, as good as Bruce Bowen is as a team defender and a perimeter lock-down defender, statistically, he doesn't have a lot of numbers to support how good he is. That doesn't take anything away from how good a defender he is in the eyes of opposing players, coaches, and most people who know a lot about basketball. But, I wonder if the lack of statistical evidence perhaps has hurt him in the past and perhaps might hurt his chances again this year.


I said already that I think Gerald Wallace deserves some recognition. I just looked up his stats, and I didn't realize he's missed over 20 games this season. I guess that hurts Gerald's chances the way it will likely hurt Artest, Marcus Camby, and Kirilenko. Alonzo Mourning should definitely be in the conversation. And, Shawn Marion should get a cursory look just for the fact that he has played out of position his second straight year and still put up incredible numbers (ranked #3 in rebounds per game, #6 in steals per game, #14 in blocks per game, #3 in DEFENSIVE rebounds per game). SHAWN MARION isn't exactly a great man-to-man defender, but he's pretty good. And, the fact that he does all that at 6-7, 225 as a makeshift power forward is impressive in itself.

Ben Wallace has been still very good this year, just not as consistently great as he has been before. And, I always think Kevin Garnett is one of the top defenders in the league. To me, KG is the most versatile defender in the NBA.

But, since Gerald Wallace missed over 20 games, I would probably vote for Bruce Bowen if I had a vote.

[WayDowntownBang]

I have no problem with the fact that Artest thinks he should have won the DPOY several other times. He believes in his abilities and he thinks he's really that good. Other players say similar things all the time.

Bruce has said as much, but in a much more diplomatic and respectful way.

Rip Hamilton has clamoured the previous two seasons on how he should have been an allstar multiple times before this year.

Shaquille O'Neal claims he should have more League MVP trophies.

Ron Artest is not saying anything different. He is just so scrutinized for other things he's said and done that it seems so crazy to make that claim.

Truth is he probably has a point. He probably could have won the DPOY a few more times. The thing is at least last year and this year, it's his own fault that he didn't and is not going to win the DPOY. The thing is he disregards the fact that even if he was deserving, Ben Wallace was deserving as well the year's he's won it. The thing is Bruce Bowen has done a lot this year to make a very strong argument that he deserves it this year.

Good points as always, but it's a cold hard fact that if you're an asshole, you're not going to get the love. It's like Barry Bonds.. people are now DEBATING whether or not he should be HOF.. Barry Bonds. If he wasn't such a , he's a no brainer. Ron's the same way. If he wasn't such an out-of-control bag, he probably would have a few more DPOY trophies. To those who say that's not fair.. life's not fair. Why would the NBA want to reward a guy who's been nothing but a thorn in their sides?

[SenorSpur]

Good points as always, but it's a cold hard fact that if you're an asshole, you're not going to get the love. It's like Barry Bonds.. people are now DEBATING whether or not he should be HOF.. Barry Bonds. If he wasn't such a , he's a no brainer. Ron's the same way. If he wasn't such an out-of-control bag, he probably would have a few more DPOY trophies. To those who say that's not fair.. life's not fair. Why would the NBA want to reward a guy who's been nothing but a thorn in their sides?

another home run point!

[TDMVPDPOY]

duncan has been snubbed ever since his been in the league!!!! his stats dont show it, but he shows it on the court.

[JamStone]

WayDownTownBang,

Yeah, I agree with your point, but disagree with your comparison with Barry Bonds. It's not because Barry Bonds is a prick that he might not get consideration to go to the Hall of Fame. It's because he's suspected of CHEATING and his numbers are a result of that cheating. If there was no steroid scandal and yet Barry was still a prick, he would still be a no-brainer for the Hall. And, Barry Bonds being a prick still won the League MVP a few years ago. He was still voted into all star games even after being regarded as a known prick.

Everything that has to do with Barry Bonds not getting love or recognition has to do with the alleged STEROID USE, not the fact that he is a .

[JamStone]

Barry Bonds has been known as a for a long time.

2001: all star, NL MVP
2002: all star, NL MVP
2003: all star, NL MVP
2004: all star, NL MVP

It's after the BALCO / steroid scandal that Barry Bonds is not getting any love, recognition, awards, etc. Barry has been an asshole for much longer. He still got love and awards when everyone knew he was a .

[mavsfan1000]

Bowen is definitely a better defender than Artest. Ask Dirk who already had 2 big games against Artest this year. Also Paul Pierce has gone off in Artest in the past so I don't think Artest is at the level of intensity as Bowen is.

[WayDowntownBang]

Barry Bonds has been known as a for a long time.

2001: all star, NL MVP
2002: all star, NL MVP
2003: all star, NL MVP
2004: all star, NL MVP

It's after the BALCO / steroid scandal that Barry Bonds is not getting any love, recognition, awards, etc. Barry has been an asshole for much longer. He still got love and awards when everyone knew he was a .

I hear you, and the stats are good. But, Bonds is far and away the best offensive hitter in baseball since 2001 (let's not talk about the steroid coincidence). Ron doesn't have that luxury of being "HEAD AND SHOULDERS" above his compe ors for the DPOY award.

I was just using the Barry example as something to show another guy who gets MORE of a hassle because he was a . If this was someone who was beloved in the game.. say, a Jeter.. you'd have a of a lot more apologists out there.

You're not wrong, I was just using Barry as an example. If Ron Artest was the Barry Bonds of baseball, he could overcome being a face. Sadly for him, he's not. Even for sake of argument if he IS the best defender in the league, he's not that much better to overcome it... at least in my opinion.

[JamStone]

Fair enough. I just disagree with the fact that people are debating whether Barry Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame merely because he's a . It's only a debate because of steroids. It has nothing to do with him being a . That's my point.

[WayDowntownBang]

Fair enough. I just disagree with the fact that people are debating whether Barry Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame merely because he's a . It's only a debate because of steroids. It has nothing to do with him being a . That's my point.

We're arguing the same thing. I agree with this.

Especially here in Detroit, if we're going to keep people out of the Hall of Fame for being a , it's time to take Ty Cobb's cleats out, right?

[JamStone]

I didn't think we were arguing the same thing:

It's like Barry Bonds.. people are now DEBATING whether or not he should be HOF.. Barry Bonds. If he wasn't such a , he's a no brainer.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Well, if Artest deserves consideration despite all the time he missed then so should Marcus Camby.

I think Bowen deserves it this year. He doesn't just play good D he gets in guys head, makes them do stupid stuff, which is twice as effective as anything a defender can do physically.

[JamStone]

Well, if Artest deserves consideration despite all the time he missed then so should Marcus Camby.

I think Bowen deserves it this year. He doesn't just play good D he gets in guys head, makes them do stupid stuff, which is twice as effective as anything a defender can do physically.

Except for the rare times it backfires and then Ray Allen goes off and beats the Spurs with a buzzer beating jumper.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Eh, Ray was due for a good game. My only regret is Bruce didn't kick him harder.

[tlongII]

No matter what you think about him...

Artest >>>> Bowen


Defensively and offensively.

[RON ARTEST]

No matter what you think about him...

Artest >>>> Bowen


Defensively and offensively.

thank you. i agree. i know spurs fans love bowen but get real. artest is a better defender. i do think it should be bowen this year but only because artest hasnt played the whole year.

[RON ARTEST]

Bowen is definitely a better defender than Artest. Ask Dirk who already had 2 big games against Artest this year. Also Paul Pierce has gone off in Artest in the past so I don't think Artest is at the level of intensity as Bowen is.

what the are you talking about! you have selective memory. what about the game at arco when dirk shot like 9-24? as far as im concerned the matchup with artest and dirk is 1-1. artest is a better defender just admit it. i know some of you hate ron but dont get carried away.

[RON ARTEST]

after seeing how ron has changed the kings soft mentality to being a pretty good defensive team other then against dallas a couple days ago i dont know how you can argue who the better defensive player is. if bowen was here instead of artest it wouldnt be the same at all.

[Sportman]

Artest is without a doubt one of the defender players of the nba but i just want to look at him, to defend manu during a playoff game when the games REALLY count and luckily i am going to watch it

[RON ARTEST]

Artest is without a doubt one of the defender players of the nba but i just want to look at him, to defend manu during a playoff game when the games REALLY count and luckily i am going to watch it

im just glad we finnaly have someone that can at least stay in front of the guy. in the past when peja chokeocavich was here he used to tear our asses up!

[polandprzem]

im just glad we finnaly have someone that can at least stay in front of the guy. in the past when peja chokeocavich was here he used to tear our asses up!

Sacto D still suck.