Phil Jackson: Artest is 35 mpg player, Ariza wasn't

I have the same suspicion with Martin that the Kings mgt. knew his production was declining, never buy the argument that that you can't have two scorers on a team and you just need to trade one of them.

 

Trade Ariza for Artest please! Git R Done Morey!

 

Can't believe I say Game 7! I meant 6! This is what staying up all night and drinking coffee does to your brain.

 

ron artest is the man. i miss that guy.

 

THIS!

Rocket River

 

about damn time someone who knows what the f88ck they are taling about chimes in.

Martin is the same. Westphal will comment on that next year

 

As much as I dislike Ariza I can't say I wish Ron was here. That guy would have absolutely killed the development of the young guys. Not to mention, he probably would have imploded the team since there isn't a guy on the roster currently that he believes is anywhere near the player he thinks he is.

 

Ariza isn't expected to be a star level player. He's getting minutes and touches for the simple reason that there's no star presence to defer to. Once Yao gets back, he'll see what's up. He just doesn't have the presence that Artest does on offense or defense because he's a role player. Always has been, always will be.

Give the ball to Martin!

 

Dude, haven't you been watching the games? Ariza thinks his is the shiznit but is actually just a poop stain! The dude thinks he's the alpha male and acts like everyone owes him something. Not cutting when he's supposed to, not making the extra pass and chucking arrent 3 pointers. Artest could actually hit those, and was better in low post defense.

 

Yeah, he knows he has Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum which basically makes Artest the 3rd and 4th option , insuring he doesn't go 2-18 on a regular basis which he did here as a Rocket.

The bottom line is that if Morey had given him a deal, he would have had the delusion that he is #1, and it basically it would have become "Brick City".

Its funny how people forget the nights Artest lost his mind chucking threes and forcing shots while he was a Rocket.

 

If Artest was here he wouldn't pass the ball...EVER. It's also likely he would destroy the locker room with his less than sane antics.

Three things kept Ron in check last season IMO:
1. The Rockets were winning
2. The players were all great guys (no Stephen Jacksons)
3. Ron respected Yao Ming immensely

Two out of those three things are missing this season. No doubt Ron is a better player than Trevor but in this particular situation, letting Ron walk was addition by subtraction.

 

Ron on this team would have lost his mind. With the losses, he would have given up on the team and started chucking. He'd have lost his heart, been blaming everyone, acting out and clamoring to leave Houston and its losing team.

Phil Jackson shouldn't be talking **** about Ariza since he owes him big for stepping up in that Rockets series. He hit some big outside shots and had a number of key plays on defense.

Ariza was never meant to be option 1. Houston simply had no one else for much of the year. The main issue is how he complements Yao when the big man comes back next year.

 

..for this team at this time.

 

ARtest would be beastly with Yao and Kevin Martin. I guess Morey essentially traded Artest for Ariza because Ariza is younger and Artest would not be as effective by the time Yao comes back. However, Ariza does not have Artest's toughness and bulldog attitude.

 

I would rather have neither Ron or Trevor....

DD

 

did he? i thought he said he was a better fit and better for the future. i'm not sure tho. i liked artest and wanted him to stay. but yeah, he couldve lost it around december. i think he is fine as long as the team is winning.

 

Agree, Ron would have stunted the development of the young guys considerably. In 3 years Ariza will be a better player then Ron Ron and that contract he signed will look like gold compared to what the Lakers would be paying Ron Ron.

 

man i really miss Ron Ron

 

Look at the big pic folks.

Ariza has yet to hit his prime while Atrest is on the decline. This was the first of many more years left on their deals.

It looks like Artest is the better one now but 1-2 years from now everyone what be singing a new tune.

 

I don't know why people are comparing these two players now.

It's obvious that any grade on the Rockets management for this "trade" starts next year, when it matters. If Artest is still playing well then and Ariza's stinking it up, then Morey failed.

Also, Morey avoids dead money like the plague. Any contract the Rockets would've given Artest and not go knee deep into the luxury tax would involve a lot of that.