[LA Times] Ron Artest is an awkward fit with Lakers

Ron's beating himself up too much. I mean yeah, so far it has seemed like Ariza the role player was a better fit than Artest the role player, but still, it's a really tough argument to say that Ariza's a better player than Artest. There's a reason why NBA players voted him the toughest defender. I know ppl hate the Lakers and Ron, but he's a good (odd) guy and I think come playoff time, the Lakers are gonna be glad they have a guy like him.

 

Ron Artest is an awkward fit wherever he goes, lol. He's a bull in a china shop that plays good defense and has awkward offense. It is interesting though that Laker fans wish they had Ariza still.

I can't say I miss Artest much though. There's a little more fluidity to our offense just subtracting him alone.

 

I thought he fit pretty well with the Kings.

 

Artest was a great gamble by the Rockets and well worth the price paid, but after the Mcgrady downturn last season there was no reason to bring him back. He was the piece to put us over the hump, but when the wheels fell off the wagon (Mcgrady falling apart), he just didn't make sense anymore.

Hopefully Ariza will really blossom into the perfect role player next year, as he has looked the last couple of weeks.

 

Ariza proved his worth in the playoffs and the Lakers went with Artest for... the playoffs. When Artest holds Lebron to 34% shooting and Kobe is free to concentrate on offense it will all make sense.

 

Artest won't be shutting down LeBron. I mean, even in the playoffs last year, Shane was the main one holding Kobe. Ron's defense has lost a step or two. And in defense, those are big steps.

But Artest is not a role player. He fit well in Sactown because he was one of the main guys. In LA, he's just another guy behind Kobe. Man, if we could make 8th seed, we have a serious chance at an upset.

 

It seems as if every other analyst has Ron within the top 3, if not top 5 for Defensive player of the year this year and the games I've watched that have been nationally televised, he has stepped up in the big games, usually on the defensive end. Maybe he'll step it up in the playoffs and find his fit offensively..remember Ariza didn't truely find his stride until the playoffs last year.

 

Who didn't see this coming? Artest is an awkward fit in any offense that has him do more than spot up for 3's. And while his defense can still be excellent against the more physical SF's, Ron has lost a step and can't completely check speedy SG's.

That being said, the Lakers can absolutely win a title with Artest. He's only like the 4th option over there and you can never count him out of being able to make a big shot or defensive play.

If I was the Lakers I'd be more concerned with Bynum. They're going to need him to be effective in the playoffs, for depth purposes if nothing else.

 

SO, they're still a good team.

 

This is a stupid article, Laker Land is in pandemonium because they're 4 games behind what they were last year.....ooooooo somebody help them. Artest is doing just fine and he's shooting the 3 better this year than Ariza has in his whole career. Laker's fans should be freaking out about Kobe's terrible shot selection and the lack of shots their bigs are getting this year.

 

Ron don't fitting in their system? Shocking.

 

The inner-warrior will emerge once the playoffs begin. Ron Ron brings a physicality and a never-back-down attitude that can only be acquired on the streets of Queens.

TRUWarrior, AKA The New World Order, is the fourth or fifth option (with Bynum healthy) on the offensive end, which will allow him to exert all of his energy to the task of locking down the likes of Carmelo and LeBron. Kobe, Gasol, Odom, and even Shannon Brown will carry the load offensively, and Artest will knock down an occasional spot-up trey, or possibly exploit a mismatch by taking his man to block and finishing at the rim or getting to the line to relieve the burden on Kobe's shoulders.

 

I don't know why LA media panic. But LA fans all like Artest over Ariza. They are a tie in terms of 3pt shooting. But Artest is a much better defender. Ariza gambles too much, and he's not strong enough to guard big SF. Last year, Kobe had to switch to Melon in 4th quarter in playoffs, he won't need that this year.

 

really? almost every laker fan I've talked say they would much rather have Ariza over Artest and the few that prefer artest said their main reasoning is because he is funner to watch and listen to. nothing to do with his on-court performance. all the other knowledgable fans I know including people who have had season tickets for over 10 years all wish Ariza was on the team. Unless these Artest >>> Ariza fans are all hanging out in east LA or outside of LA in general i dont know where you get that conclusion from

I am not sure at the "much better" defender comment either...Ron is a better on the ball defender (probably even much better) on certain types of players. He has lost a lot of foot speed and lateral quickness over the years against true SGs and quicker scoring SFs. They are different types of defenders right now I would give Ron the slight edge given his experience and reputation.

But Ariza's gambling has hurt the Rockets this year because of the lack of having any shot block to help when a gamble doesnt work out. His style helped the lakers a lot last year he had Gasol and Bynum backing him up in the paint. Next year with Yao back at center his misses on gambles wont be nearly as costly as they are this year.

 

I think he'll fit, it's just matter of time.

 

Check here. It's obvious most posters prefer Artest.

http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=106721

 

recall that artest gave lebron's worst game of his career just last year...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290226010