How has Artest played against Ginobili?

[cd98]

People are relying too heavily on the Sacramento/Spurs 2006 match up to assess Artest's ability to guard Ginoboli. Ginoboli was injured in that series, even missing a game. He played like crap during the entire round one and half of round two (versus the Mavs). Unless Jason Terry became an awesome defender in games 1-3 of 2006 and all of a sudden could guard Ginoboli, health was the main factor. Of course, Artest also was injured in in round 1.

Artest vs. Ginoboli won't be the most important match up when the Lakers play. It will be Duncan (and other bigs) vs. Gasol (and other bigs) and whoever guards Parker vs. whoever guards Kobe. In other words, Defense vs. Defense.

Ginoboli/Artest probably cancel each other out.

[cd98]

By the way, Artest has always been an overrated defender, and Bruce has always been an underrated defender (considering their abilities).

The media gets something in their minds and then can't shake it. For example, how do you explain Nash as a two-time MVP and Stockton never even coming close. The media bought into Artest's physicality as proof of his prowess as a defender. He was never the quick-footed, active player. You can't hold guards in the NBA, so I think his ability to guard Ginoboli will have a lot more to do with team defense then his individual ability.

[mingus]

there's no one that can distress Parker or Manu on the defensive on the L.A. Lakers. both those guys will eat up whoever wants (or needs - no one on that team wants to guard either one of these guys, unless they want to get humiliated) to guard them.

Spurs in 6.

[iggypop123]

Artest is still a good defender, but Laker fans thinking he is the same as a few years ago will be sorely mistaken. He has lost quite a bit of his lateral quickness.

if thats what spurs fans think then why all of a sudden ginobli has added steps to his quickness.

[DPG21920]

if thats what spurs fans think then why all of a sudden ginobli has added steps to his quickness.

What does that have to do with the fact Artest is not the same defender anymore? Artest has clearly lost a significant amount of his lateral quickness.

I don't see anyone saying Manu "has added to his quickness".

[honestfool84]

Last time Manu and Artest played in the playoffs Manu had...

10 points on 5-10 shooting
32 points on 10-20 shooting. Artest didn't play
8 points on 3 of 9 shooting
3 points on 1-4 shooting
27 points on 9-14 shooting
10 point on 4-10 shooting

last time was also almost four years ago.

[iggypop123]

What does that have to do with the fact Artest is not the same defender anymore? Artest has clearly lost a significant amount of his lateral quickness.

I don't see anyone saying Manu "has added to his quickness".

if you guys are saying artest has lost a step due to age why has manu not lost several steps due to injury?

[honestfool84]

I think that was the last time Manu was healthy too. Artest won that battle, and his team sucked.

well we'll see this year.

if manu is healthy, and artest is at his best, i think manu wins.


there is definitely a lot of biased crap going on, from both sides. i don't think manu will tear up artest...and i don't think artest is the defender he used to be.

i guess we can only wait and see.

[DPG21920]

if you guys are saying artest has lost a step due to age why has manu not lost several steps due to injury?

Once again, the fact is people are acting like Artest has not lost a step. He has. Manu has been injured and the last time he was healthy he had not lost a step. Ron has been healthy and we know he has. Now that Manu is back we will see where he is at.

[21_Blessings]

well we'll see this year.

if manu is healthy, and artest is at his best, i think manu wins.


there is definitely a lot of biased crap going on, from both sides. i don't think manu will tear up artest...and i don't think artest is the defender he used to be.

.

Artest doesn't have the lateral quickness he used to but he is still a top tier defender in this league. Still defended Lebron James better than anyone else in the league did. What he lost in speed he's gained in muscle and defensive IQ. Maybe he won't be able to chase every quick SG but he excels at defending bigger SFs like Pierce, Melo and Bron.

The scary thing about this Lakers team is they don't even really need Artest's offense. They are going to turn him loose on the defensive end much like the Spurs use to do with Bowen.

So maybe Manu beats Artest off the dribble a few teams. He'll still be running into two, long 7 footers in the paint. A combination of Pau/Bynum, Odom/Pau, Bynum/Odom will be on the floor most of the time. And we haven't talked about Kobe playing the free safety role (which he's great at) since he doesn't have to chase around the other team's best offensive option anymore.

[Man In Black]

Artest doesn't have the lateral quickness he used to but he is still a top tier defender in this league. Still defended Lebron James better than anyone else in the league did. What he lost in speed he's gained in muscle and defensive IQ. Maybe he won't be able to chase every quick SG but he excels at defending bigger SFs like Pierce, Melo and Bron.

And we haven't talked about Kobe playing the free safety role (which he's great at) since he doesn't have to chase around the other team's best offensive option anymore.

I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you that these 2 points in your post are opposed.
On 1 hand, Artest isn't as fast as used to be and that he excels at defending rugged forwards. On the other hand, Kobe doesn't have to chase around the team's best offensive option anymore but what if that option is a quick SG or combo guard like say Brandon Roy? Since Ron can't guard these guys and Kobe is better at playing free safety who guards these types of players? Turnstile Derek Fisher? Maybe Luke Walton? WHO?

[21_Blessings]

On 1 hand, Artest isn't as fast as used to be and that he excels at defending rugged forwards. On the other hand, Kobe doesn't have to chase around the team's best offensive option anymore but what if that option is a quick SG or combo guard like say Brandon Roy? Since Ron can't guard these guys and Kobe is better at playing free safety who guards these types of players? Turnstile Derek Fisher? Maybe Luke Walton? WHO?

Ron can guard players like Brandon Roy. Just not his most effective matchup.

[z0sa]

artest is a question mark til its all said and done. he seems good right now, but who knows what is going on in that dude's head. at any time, including a game 7, he could revert into crazy mode

[cd98]

Artest doesn't have the lateral quickness he used to but he is still a top tier defender in this league. Still defended Lebron James better than anyone else in the league did. What he lost in speed he's gained in muscle and defensive IQ. Maybe he won't be able to chase every quick SG but he excels at defending bigger SFs like Pierce, Melo and Bron.

The scary thing about this Lakers team is they don't even really need Artest's offense. They are going to turn him loose on the defensive end much like the Spurs use to do with Bowen.

So maybe Manu beats Artest off the dribble a few teams. He'll still be running into two, long 7 footers in the paint. A combination of Pau/Bynum, Odom/Pau, Bynum/Odom will be on the floor most of the time. And we haven't talked about Kobe playing the free safety role (which he's great at) since he doesn't have to chase around the other team's best offensive option anymore.

You're omitting that everytime guards got into the paint against the Lakers, it spelled trouble. All their bigs were available against Houston and everytime Aaron Brooks got in the lane, he killed them. And he didn't have Yao or McGrady to pass off to when the bigs rotated. If Parker and Ginoboli get into the paint against the Lakers, it will spell trouble as both are top notch finishers and both Tim Duncan and McDyess can finish. It also opens the floor for the Spurs 3 point shooters.

Lakers biggest defensive weakness was keeping guards out of the lane. That made them vulnerable to Houston. Fortunately for them, every other team they played did not have a speedy point guard (Billups, injured Nelson).

[21_Blessings]

You guys keep using Houston as a example like it means anything. You might as well subs ute Houston for Charlotte.

If Yao never went down the Lakers would have ended that series in 5 or 6.