By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle Feb. 6, 2009, 10:32PM On the third floor, Rockets management crunched the numbers. In the basement, coaches studied the video. By the time players arrived on the practice floor in between, there were a myriad of issues to address and corrections to be made, as the Rockets sought to turn themselves into the team they thought they’d be when they acquired Ron Artest to be the missing piece they sought for so long. It did not take that deep analysis to reveal the need to turn Artest back into that player. His struggling offense took only one of many lines on that list, but there was little question that getting Artest going had become a crucial issue for the Rockets. “I always take the good with the good, the bad with the bad,” Artest said. “I’d rather not have excuses. I’d rather just take the blame. Put it all on me. That’s how I feel. “When I first got here, it was all praise and I was happy. We’re losing now and I’m going to take it. We just have to turn it around. Hopefully, well, I know I’ll step it up and help turn this thing around.” Artest’s 37.8 percent shooting is not only the worst of his career, it has been one of the only consistent things about the Rockets’ season, with Artest also hitting on 37.8 percent in the six games since his return from his sprained ankle. Though known for his defense, his shooting has been vital. In wins, he has made 42.1 percent of his shots, in losses just 29.9 percent. Some of that could be attributed to a tendency to try to take over and carry the Rockets through tough times. “He really forces it,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. “He’s trying to turn something around, make something happen. Still, rather than getting Artest to shoot less often, the Rockets worked to get him more of the sorts of shots he makes. “We have to find a way to where we get him more involved and give him better opportunities,” Adelman said. “And we have to find a way to get him in better positions. I talked to him about when he had the ball isolated on somebody, they were doubling him. He’s just got to kick it out and re-establish like the big guys do and not force the issue. “We have to free him up where it is not a one-on-one, isolation type situation, where maybe he is snapping off picks, where he has some room between him and his guy and he can take his shot, he can attack the basket.” Bringing it There is ample reason to believe Artest will be more effective with the offense brought to him rather than initiating his own scoring. He is hitting just 34 percent of his shots off the dribble this season. But when shooting off cuts to the basket, he is making 53 percent, and when shooting off screens he is hitting 56 percent. Against Memphis, he hit few of either, making just one of 10 shots. He struggled to get loose that night, often stretching in front of the bench, and on Friday, he reiterated his comments from Wednesday that he has had difficulty adjusting to coming off the bench. “When the first quarter starts and I don’t get in until three (minutes are left), then it’s hard,” Artest said. “I get in and I get warm later. The third quarter starts and I don’t get in until three minutes (left). That’s just something that I have to work through. If he wants to change it and help me get loose, I don’t mind getting in there early. Obviously, we’re trying to work through things. But that’s the only reason I was tight. I’m used to starting. “If I have to come off the bench and go in at three minutes and be tight playing, that’s what I will do. You just work with it. You find a way. You be tough and you work with it. There’s no complaints. And if I play bad, like I always say, I’m going to accept it. I’m not going to complain.” Coming off the bench, however, does not seem to be the problem. Even after Wednesday’s 1-of-10 shooting, he is making 40 percent of his shots off the bench this season; 36.9 percent as a starter. He would not, however, object to Adelman’s plan to have more of the offense brought to him. That could keep him on the perimeter, but he has been effective at bringing Yao Ming spacing and delivering him the ball inside. Leaving it to coach “He’s the coach,” Artest said. “He probably sees things while he’s watching film. He probably wants to try to get me involved. I haven’t asked him. I haven’t gone to him and said, ‘Hey coach, I need to get in or I need the ball more.’ That’s something that he sees. Obviously when I’m out there playing, and I’m healthy and I’m playing, I’m real effective, but he probably sees something. “I can shoot. That’s why I work on my game. I worked on my game so I don’t mind not being close to the basket or being used however I’m going to be used. That’s what I worked for this summer, to be ready for anything. “You get in there and go hard. People want to see the Ron Artest they see often, but you’re not going to see that with me now. But I’m going to give 100 percent. You might get a lot of bad games and you might get some good games. I don’t know.” The Rockets, however, are ready to find out.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3929 A few other good articles are on there as well. If this team doesn't go on one of those ten game statement making win streaks soon things could truly fall apart.
I wonder if Feigen got those numbers from Synergy Sports or if someone with the Rockets told him that. I wish I wish that service was available for us normal fans as well. It would be great if the Rockets could publish some of those numbers on their official website.
This had nothing to do with being injured, he's talking about not being warmed up when the team needs him because he doesn't start. he's just saying in the future he'll have some bad games if he isn't loose and some good games when he is. I never quite got that, isn't that what the pregame shootaround/routines are for??? Reminds me of tmac complaining, i think it was last year, about not having his shooting touch, then he started adding some extra pre game shooting drills to warm up and find his touch and he started shooting pretty good after that...
This is not Ron's problem, God, his victory in every game is full of desire, he would not surrender the leadership team, he insisted on fighting at the last minute, he has never given up.
This certainly is a hope. Artest's impact has been very dissapointing so far. Ron is a good talker. He talks like he plays, with passion. I love his will do "anything" attitude. However, he is contradicting himself here saying, i'll not comlpain yet saying he works better if he starts. Maybe thats just stating a fact. The other day he even said he does the things he does because he thinks he is one of the better player in the league. He is without a doubt a fine player and no one can deny that but if he has to reiterate that to us than that says something about his state of mind. Maybe he feels the organisation isn't putting enough faith on him. He goes out, tries to take over games and fails. Cycle continues. I dont mind him starting but obviously you want to see who works with Yao on the floor. We also want someone to hold on the reigns when starters are resting, which he really hasn't been doing. I'll even suggest going far enough to start with him on 2 and get mcgrady off the bench. That way Mac can have his shots, Artest can start and everyone is happy. Or bringing him in at 6 min mark is viable too. But ball must not stop too often. Problem is what has been stated. He tries to dribble shoot, ISO then he gets it wrong. His catch and shoot looks pretty good so coach/management knows thats what he should be doing. They dont want to say dont take many shots in his face. What they are saying by setting some plays for him is that "Here is your chance to shoot". That way both parties benefit.
Not surprised he can't take anyone off the dribble, he looks like he's stuck in mud with his first step. Looks as slow or slower than Battier along with possessing no athleticism whatsoever, Sacramento knew what they were doing when they gave him up. The guys that pined for this guy before he came to the Rox are plain wrong, he is overrated.
shoot compared to whom?? Battier has been more of a disappointment. Tmac's zig zag pattern even more worse. Rafer Alston's I'm hot now not later and like to throw up 3 whenever is just killer. All three of these guys has been worse then Artest.
I don't think he has said anything about Artest being the only problem. Everyone in the team have been disappointing. It's universally known.
The Chronicles of Ron Artest: The knee, the back, and the ankle Wait...that's Tracy McGrady. Anyway, I had a lovely night.
No comments on Ron from Tmac, why? Ron's game without Tmac since Dec: W Clippers 5-15 3-6 W Warriors 9-21 4-9 W Hawks 5-10 2-4 W Jazz 7-18 3-6 W Celtics 7-13 2-4 W Warriors 10-17 4-6 45.7% FG, 51.4% 3PTs and Rockets win all of them.
Do you WANT there to be issues in the locker room or something? Let things work out how they will. They are grown men, either they will find a way to win or they won't. We watch and we hope for the wins, not sitting and wondering why they aren't talking **** about each other.
I just pust some FACTS here. Ron shot 3-20 3pts (except a good 4-9 in Pistons which we all know why) since Tmac was back, if you think everything is still fine, then fine.
