LOL, man you guys are bitter. The dude was only here 1 year and he did a decent job playing 2nd man to Yao when T-hurt was out. Ron's a vet, and can be damn good at times. He'll pick it up in a few games once he gets use to the Lakers. I'm actually pretty surprised how vunerable the Lakers look w/o Gasol. Whatever happened to Bynum? He's seems to be stuck in the 'oh I'm about to be dominant, but not quite yet' stage. For the last 3 years now?
Ron gave the team swagger? I think he just added to it if anything while the guys on the Rockets last year didnt go out and pound their chest, flex muscles the way Ron did they all carried a quiet confidence to them that translated in their gritty play. Ron got in Kobe's head? Its the other way around if anything Kobe got into Ron's head. The only player that got to Kobe was Shane and that was evident by the incessant "self-talking" Kobe displayed in game 2. Outside of that game 2 where Kobe was on fire Shane was the one who frustrated kobe to no end. Ron could not play defense at on Kobe, remember the game in the regular season when Ron tried to trash talk to Kobe and Kobe just lit him up in the fourth quarter? Ron let himself get ejected from game 2 when the game was still within reason for a Rockets comeback. Also as GRENDAL mentioned, Ron did not get the Rockets past the first round if anything he hurt the rockets with his inconsistent play..it was a combination of a very favorable matchup and the play of all the guys. I've said before that you replace Ron with the McGrady of the last season he played (vs Jazz, 22 win streak season) and the Rockets still advance pretty easily. Though Ron played better defense on Roy than he did on Kobe it was again mainly Shane's defense on Roy and Hayes' defense on Aldridge that stopped the blazers offense. Brooks and Scola were far more responsible for the Rockets winning that series after the Blazers were determined not to let Yao beat them after the smackdown he put on them in game 1. Personally I like Artest a lot off the court, he is a great interview and caters to the fans a lot and gives them what they want. I do like his work ethic as well, but production wise on the court he is clearly not the same player he was or he believes himself to be. I am more than happy with the "trade" of Ariza who at least right now isnt as complete of a player as Artest but has plenty of room to grow without all the extra baggage and of course is significantly younger. Ron did what he thought was best for him, he got a 5 year deal, got to play for a contender he is on the downhill of his career and gets to play for a ring. I dont blame him for leaving, he wouldn't have really grown as a player or help the team grow this year at all. I dont get why so many people are still fascinated with the guy and have to justify him having a bad game to say "hey told you so" the guy isnt a Rocket anymore so why should it matter. Ron is a good player, he will have some good games this year where he is going to be unstoppable (much like he did for the Rockets last year) and he is going to have some bad games too. I really dont care anymore I've let it go the rest of you guys should too and focus on the guys who are still wearing Rockets jerseys right now
So . .. . what I am to understand is IF THE LAKERS DON'T Win it all . .that means Ariza is better than Artest? by that reasoning If the Rockets don't get to the Second Round Artest is better than Ariza so If both of those happen . . . well . .T-Mac Sucks . . or something. . . . Sorry I'm getting confused All I know is. . . .without Artest. . .we didn't get to the second round With Artest we did. . .and we played hard. . . and unlike previous years It seemed like we FINISHED games I like the Second Round so I like Artest Rocket River Ya'll can continue to hate on him if you like . . .
It takes most players time to find their place in the triangle offense and become effective and efficient in it. For a player like Ron who is used to freewheeling all the time, hijacking plays and trying to take things upon himself, it's going to be especially difficult. He's probably going to get much better later in the season, but there's also a good chance that the whole thing implodes before he gets there if weird antics and locker room issues begin to grow (it almost seems inevitable that he and Kobe will eventually have a significant confrontation). It's a good thing for them that they have Derek Fisher who can provide leadership for that team and perhaps keep the guys under control ... otherwise I'd pretty much give them no shot. Right now I wouldn't read anything into his numbers early. This thing could still end up being home run for the Lakers, but that all depends on Artest and whether he is willing to change his ways and truly buy into the team philosophy. He certainly had a hard enough time doing so here in Houston.
The "Ron Artest not doing so well..." thread? If we're gonna talk about Ariza vs. Artest the whole season, we may as well do it in the thread with the more suitable title. That said, "their expected role on their team as well as team depth is completely different" is something I agree with. Comparing Ariza to Artest will be like Gay vs. Battier.
*sigh* I think I'm grumpy this morning DD, just woke up. I should of known better about the told ya so, lol. Forgot what I said about the Wafer stuff. Don't know why i'm so jumpy this morning, lol.
Wow! Great post! Detailed, insightful analysis based on 2 games. I think we have winner in category "teams swapping players"..
I have extremely conflicted feelings about Mr Artest. In some ways I respect him, in others I think he is very overrated. As much as I hate the guy leaving to get a ring I don't necessarily blame him. However, looking at the Ron/Ariza switch I like our side much more. Look, we've alread seen glimpses of Ariza emulating a younger t-mac which is something we never saw with Ron. Ron Artest in the 4th quarter of the Mavs game proved why he is a liability: missed open looks, bad fouls, and turnovers from selfish play. He has Kobe Freaking Bryant on his team and yet he still sees himself as the number one option. Ariza got offered an almost identical contract from LA, yet he still came here, why? LA has a plethora of talent, and on that team Ariza was the 5th/6th/7th...12th option. Why does Ron think he is going to have different role than Ariza did for LA? He is an arrogant ass thats why. Did we all forget this guy said his defense was better than Shane's? The guy is good, the problem is, he is well too aware of this. All in all, I will boo Ron because he left and take an almost sick pleasure in his failures, but at the same token, my logical side knows it's for our better that he's not here anymore.
Ron didn't go there to be the number 2 or 3 guy. He went there to get a ring - the same reason he came here. If Ron was arrogant, he would have went somewhere, demanding to be the focal point of an offense. He got a good contract as well as a chance to be a champion.
I'm not saying he went there to be the number 2/3 guy, he went there for a ring. The thing is, he thinks he is a top player, thats why he's arrogant. If the lakers don't win a ring, Ron will blame Kobe and Phil, book it.
Artest could have the worst season in the history of basketball, and Ariza could average 30 points a game, but if the Lakers succeed and the Rockets struggle, Lakers fan will still claim they got the better end of the "trade". Kind of like how some Rockets fan claim we got the better end of the Battier-Gay trade.
Hey RR, Off topic but always wanted to ask... Are you part of the Harris/Jones family? We had a family reunion this year with ridiculously bright orange shirts? Just curious...
This... And this: Personally, my opinion is that Ron is too heavy and it has impacted his effectiveness, especially on defense. And it will take some time for Ron to meld with Jackson's system. If he can. The main reason, IMO, that the Fakers got Ron was for the post-season, where he would match up against James, for example. If that scenario happens for LA, they'll be glad Artest in with them, assuming he doesn't go off the deep end and stays healthy. But they should have resigned Ariza. Artest is very, very high maintenance, to put it mildly.
