Does Ron Artest Fit With The Lakers?

Nah, their starters are good enough to win big again. That's the beauty of bringing Odom off the bench. The starters/rotation is good enough to win without Odom, however when he decides to show up they're nearly unbeatable. Odom was perfect for this role because the Lakers didn't need to depend on him. If he's smart, he'll resign. Agreed on them needing a PG upgrade, though.

 

I too dont know how Artest will fit with the Lakers or even worse with Kobe. Artest jacks up shots at times and will take away shots from Kobe. I would take Odom over Artest any day so I dont understand why Lakers not keeping Odom. I think its a bad movie on Lakers part. Even with this if they are still able to keep Odom then props to them. Will be one heck of a team then but if Spurs can stay healthy all season long then i dont think Lakers have a chance because Buynum will still suck, Fisher is getting old and Lakers bench is too weak.

 

Its a good look for the Lakers, I hate the Lakers But Ihave to be honest they have a nice team.

 

i say the Rockets steal odom from the lakers. I dont want them having artest and odom. ugh.

 

Personally I think this is a lateral move, or at least a slight upgrade at best. But we are talking about the defending champs so that's still pretty good. Artest will help their half court offense to be sure, he's no longer needed to create his own shot and can just park himself at the wing and top of the key for open 3's (which is a role that he will thrive in).

But the most dangerous thing about the Lakers offense (aside from Kobe going nuclear) is how good they were in transition. Artest for Ariza is definitely going to slow down their transition game. Add this to the fact that Artest is starting to lose a bit in the defense dept, I don't think this that much of a slam dunk.

 

Ron Ron is clearly in decline. Anybody that's watched him much over the years can see that. Brandon Roy showed he's lost a step and a half. As we found out in the playoffs, if his outside jumper isn't going in, Ron struggles mightily to be effective on offense. His shot gets easily blocked when he attacks the rim and the refs don't bail him out when he flails.

The Lakers had better re-sign Odom because Artest <<< Ariza + Odom.

 

Where is LO going to go too?

House money says he resigns to L.A.
(one of the reasons Artest chose Lakers also)

 

Despite of the Lakers' championship run, their team this year lacked toughness. Ron Artest brings toughness to the Lakers and makes them a much better team. I would not be surprised if we see another three-peat from the Lakers.

 

I think this assumes that the coaching staff will let Artest get away with that. I don't think that is going to happen. And who said anything about not keeping Odom? I have to say though, I love watching people underestimate Andrew Bynum.

 

So what is Ron gonna do when Kobe slaps him upside the head like he did to Gasol all during the playoffs last year? I can't wait to see the Lakers crash and burn.

 

You know, it's a dynasty in the making.

 

Kobe slapped Pau upside the head to fire him up, because Pau was playing with a lack of intensity. That's never going to be a problem with Ron. Kobe didn't slap Gasol because he was a prick, but it was an awkward attempt at firing up his soft teammate.

 

WIth Kobe Bryant? Ron ARtest. I'd say not at all.

 

No he will slap him upside the head when he don't pass the ball and throws up shots that don't make any damn sense.

 

Wait until they trade Bynum for Amare or Paul...

 

Holy crap............. No way... but I can see it. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDGE!

 

Count me in the minority here.

I thought Ariza fit that team like a glove and I don't see how Artest makes them any better.

I'm really confused at the assessment here regarding his defense. He was absolutely atrocious at times defensively last year and this was even with all the help he had behind him. I would say that at the very best, he is just average defensively now and that is being generous. He routinely got lit up by the quicker wings in the league such as O.J. Mayo. Without the benefit of playing next to Shane now, these are the types of guys he will have to guard on a regular basis as I don't see Kobe wanting to put in that kind of effort. On the other hand, Ron was superb last year guarding the bigger guys such as Lebron or Lamar Odom, but these types of wings are few and far between. Ron needs to drop about 20 lbs.

Offensively, I'm not sure what he really adds to that team. He doesn't use his size at all. He's a better 3 point shooter than Ariza, but is as inconsistent as it gets. He can create his own shot, but I'm not sure if that's really even a good thing with his skillset...

The one thing he adds to that team is intensity and toughness. He'll play his ass off every night and give that team a whole new edge. I know this was the alleged achilles heel after they got spanked by the Celtics, but they just won the championship. Then again, it's unlikely that the league sucks as bad next year as it did this year.

I'm in the minority here in that I don't think he will hurt them much offensively in the half court. It's long forgotten, but when Tracy was in the lineup, he never pulled that crap where he dribbled around trying to create. It was only after Tracy was gone and Ron convinced himself that the team needed him to score. Ron has a clear sense of hierarchy. If he just stands in the corner and shoots 3's, they should be fine. I think its defensively where they will lose ALOT swapping out Ariza for Artest as well as in transition. Time will tell if the increased toughness he brings offsets that loss.

 

cabbage --

i definitely agree with you that Artest's defense is VASTLY overrated at this point of his career.

 

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