Ron Artest has done a terriffic job of playing hard since he's been here. He is a true competitor, plays hard all the time, and has helped this team win a couple of games. On the flip side, he has seemed out of place to me. He looked great in Adelman's offense, but we don't run it a whole lot, and he is best at being the centre of that offense. He also doesn't seem to have the defensive impact I expected, and that could be because we have asked him to score first. I've been wondering - and really, just wondering - if there is a better fit for this team at this time? I would wait till Battier comes back, but I'm thinking this team has nothing that it can trade except Artest and Head. Head won't fetch anything useful. I've also been wondering is this is the best situation for Ron. He is playing his heart out and when his contract ends, he deserves a pay day. But the way he fits with this team, I'm not sure he is worth big bucks to this team. He may be better as a starter on a team that needs his specific skills more than we do (post scoring, high post passing, toughness). One name I've been thinking about is Mike Miller. It would probably require a 3-way trade. I was thinking that once Battier is healthy, we need someone who can be a scorer/passer who is efficient. Mike Miller is a great passer and a superb shooter - doesn't bring much defense, but would provide a good boost to this team. An added bonus is that he is T-Mac's best friend. I've been thinking that T-Mac deserves some kind of wake up call, but punishing him doesn't work. The right thing to do is to bench him for an extended period of time, but for us to win, we have to ake him happy for the time being, and deal with his problems at a more appropriate time (offseason). T-Mac is at his best when he feels like the best. We need to reaffirm to him that he is key to this team and we need him, that's why we are so upset by his play. Mike Miller may bring T-Mac to a better place not only because of his friendship, but also his style of play. What are your thoughts? Any other options? Is it worth considering swapping Artest? Am I out of my mind?
Artest gives Houston toughness; and that translates into advantageous officiating. IMO, YM, Artest, Battier, and Scola are untouchable. A Billups, Bibby or an attacking type PG would complement the four players.
I agree. He became the go-to-guy in the Utah game during overtime. When Yao was unable to convert or get calls Artest stepped in and got several calls in the closing minutes to seal that game for us. Who else currently on the Rocket's roster could do this for us? I can't think of anyone else who could bring it that night like Ron did at the end of that game. Yao doesn't get the calls and Tracy doesn't dare attack the basket over and over like Ron did. I'm not sure Battier is capable or he would just defer to Yao. Scola would try to do too much and probably get called for a foul of his own.
He's doing fine, it will take time. He's been injured, the lineup has constantly been changing, and his role has changed every week because of it. And we're only 1/3 of the season in.
Ya, you know which team needs those skills? The Houston Rockets, we aren't trading him, we don't need to trade him. We played our asses off for most of the game last night, Rafer did a phenomenal job I think, we got 2 steals and a chance to win the game, we probably wouldn't have lost that game had Artest, or Battier, been playing. We don't need to trade anyone except Head, we've got size at the backup center now, we've got two phenomenal defenders, we've got veterans, we've got shooters, we've got speed. We can not draw up better realistic team. We look terrible at times because our team is not 100 percent, doesn't have everyone back, and doesn't know how to play with everyone out there. Now we can not continue to have TMac play the way he is for the rest of the season, even if he steps up in the post season like I feel he will. We need to be able to have the last 2 months of the season to really gel together as a team. And lastly, Von Wafer needs to play more. I don't know how other teams missed out on this guy, but he has skills. He can shoot, drive, dunk, fly, he is a younger, but less skilled, Tmac. In the sense that he can jump and shoot is really the only similarity haha. Bury Head on the pine and play Von more, even at the 3 he was pretty effective, his D will get better as the season progresses and he gets more consistent minutes.
He doesn't have confidence in his team mates or the system. He will play within the offense for a few minutes and if it isn't clicking he starts shooting 3s or bullying his way to the basket. I can't blame him either because he has shown that he can win games for the team this way. Unfortunately, on the nights when he doesn't have it going he is killing the team. I don't think he has a bit of respect for McGrady right now either. A guy like Ron needs a strong leader or he will instinctively take over that role. Somebody else on this team better grow a pair.
See this is exactly why I said he wouldn't fit here, the lack of leadership void, but you know what....it ain't TMac...so at this point, give Ron a go. DD
I've already said that Artest is doing everything he can do and comes through for us at times. What I'm thinking is that his best would be better served on a different team and Mike Miller's best (for example) would be a better fit for our team. This may create tension when we re-negotiate a contract, because the Rockets will say his production wasnt great when in fact the guy was trying his best every night, on a bum ankle too. I just feel this team would run a lot smoother and be more efficient on offense with a scorer/passer off the bench rather than a tough defender/post guy. It's possible. Artest has shown us all his qualities and I don't doubt them. I just wonder if there are better tools for this offense than those which Ron Artest posseses.
I want to add that Artest would work for us if the following happened: 1) Brooks was consistently at his best. 2) We acquired someone in the mold of Mike Bibby. Right now, when Artest is on the floor, there's zero spacing. Unless T-Mac is out, while Battier and Brooks are making shots from distance.
I said before the season and it still fits now, Battier, Tmac and Ron are redundant.....and none of them move that well without the ball. Battier does some, but you can not have two ball stoppers like Ron and Tmac on the floor at the same time.....they just don't fit. DD
I would like to thank the Academy, my parents, but mostly the guy that has the mostest talent and does the leastest...my man Tmac. (sniff, sniff)..... DD
(Not going against the OP here). If Mike Miller is a 90% fit, Ron Artest should still be at least an 85% fit, warts and all. But for this team's current personnel you feel compelled to find that peeeerfect perfect fit to make it work. If there's a contribution from Artest, he's helped revealed how SHALLOW the leadership and competitive attitude really is. And they might need to overhaul the entire thing besides making him a scapegoat as a bad fit. Think of last year on the way to facing the Jazz: Who here last year would have said NO to adding Ron Artest and Brent Barry to the playoff roster? (No dont bring us those guys, we need that "perfect" fit ) General opinion was Rockets were a Brent Barry or Artest AWAY from advancing. Now we have to talk about how they dont mesh in well. And go back to what, last year's team? This team does NOT have the excuses for all that.
I think that Artest is such a terriffic player, but he is only a 60% fit here. I think he is capable of much more, but not on this team. He is limited on this team. Mike Miller, I feel, would help tremendously. I don't want to say for a second that I don't find Ron's leadership and toughness extremely valuable - I think that it will definitely come in handy, especially in the playoffs. I'm just thinking that Mike Miller would facilitate the offense more, giving Rick Adelman more options, and making things easier on the other role players. I still think this team CAN win the championship with Ron Artest. I guess I'm just thinking about what COULD give us a better chance this year AND for a couple of more years.
