Think of Pippen throwing it in to Dream over and over again in that one season he was with us, and Pippen's complaint on his way out after the season. "I didn't come here to be an entry passer to Hakeem." And remember Artest is in a contract year, ie. need to pad the stats.
I say play both. 1-3-1 Zone can be super effective for our team. 1-3-1 Zone PG: McGrady SG: Artest SF: Shane Battier PF: Luis Scola CN: Yao Ming 6: Rafer Alston 7: Brent Barry 8: Carl Landry 9: Joey Dorsey 10: Dikembe Mutombo 11: Mike Harris 12: Aaron Brooks 13: Steve Francis - Luther Head - Steve Francis - Chuck Hayes 1-McGrady 3-Battier, Yao, Artest 1-Scola
I voted Battier because I don't think Ron's ego would allow him to come off the bench and give his best for this team. However, Artest would be ideal off the bench throughout the game, maybe finishing the game. He would be our Ginobili.
That was that trade, this is a whole different trade. Artest is not Pippen. Also, Artest loves Rick. He was campaigning very hard for the Kings to keep him and even said he'd donate his salary to charity if the Kings kept Rick. Yeah its his contract year and we have his bird rights. We can offer him as much as any other team so if hes going to play hard for a contract year, its going to be a contract from Houston that he would want.
battier off the bench and you won't see Battier limping down the court late in the season like last year man that was easy
Unless you want Artest to go crazy, you better start him. Just kidding, but not too far off. Artest should start. This team have been looking for that third scorer and you don't get one just to bring him off the bench. No matter what people think of him he is a star(not superstar) that should start and Battier is a good role player that should come off the bench. Artest=Ray Allen; Battier=Posey(comparisons are not style of play, just role on team)
Tmac too! Now the Rockets won't have to force Tmac to play big minutes during the regular season to stay competitive. That's HUGE for their post season run. ...my vote is Artest off the bench playing the Ginobili role. I think Artest is competitive enough to understand that makes them a hell of a dangerous team having offensive and defensive pressure out there the entire game. Most teams have a noticeable lack of one or the other for stints when the starters get their rest.
...also look at it like this. If Barry is coming of the bench for a few minutes a game, it will most certainly be with Artest on the floor. Think of lineup where Artest, Barry, and Landry all play. Artest posts up where he can overwhelm most guys or the opponent doubles with either a guard(Barry makes them pay) or a big(Landry cuts to the hoop and dunks it). They can play the inside out game with the second team to extend leads. That lineup doesn't work near as well with Battier playing with the second team. Hell, Barry would be in nearly the same role he was in with the Spurs playing off a scorer in the 2nd team.
I had a bad feeling that Shane might get traded latter in the season to tinker our PG position... Just take a look at the gap between our front court and back court...
Artest needs to earn his starting spot here! He should come off the bench for the first couple of months. If he outplays Battier, then he will be the starter. In that case, Battier will be traded for an upgrade pg.
I don't think we got Artest to bring him off the bench. I believe he will and should start the first game of the season.
It would be a beautiful thing having Artest coming off our bench and be our six man/ginobili of sorts. I think Battier complements Tmac too much to have Artest start. Battier's defense is just as solid if not better than Artest. Battier is a better spot up shooter too, so that is perfect with Yao and Tracy. Dunno, having Tmac/Yao/Artest out there at the same time too often is asking for suicide in my book. I would reserve that combination in the 4th quarter, or if we are trying to go small with like Landry, Artest, Tmac, Barry, Brooks.
