I remember Vernon Maxwell pissing off Jordan every time they played against one another. Ron is a mentally tough SOB and he's not going to back down from know one, he's got moxy. Finally this team has their knife fighter, they are not soft anymore and I love it. If I were another western conference team the rockets would be a nightmare to face in the playoffs. This is finally a mentally tough team.
don't have the time to read through the entire thread, but "thug mentality"? i know what ron did last night doesn't bide well, but "thug mentality"? really? that was way off.
Tupac had alot of haters too. But everyone knew he kept it real. Thug Life = Real Life <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O4qkJUoyLLI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O4qkJUoyLLI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
These kids are like sixteen they didn't know the nba when it was mean and tough smack talking, hand checking, all that stuff Ron is from the old school when smack talking and barking was cool They get confused that its not aggression they like when they play music every possession but we don't, we like hear the crowd scream in the house built by hakeem the dream so we lost that's the reality but THUG LIFE is REAL LIFE not a mentality
mentally tough teams don't wilt in the 4th consistently. with artest, you may argue that we're a "physically" tougher team b/c "physically" artest doesn't back down from anybody. but mentally, we're still not there. talking trash... doesn't mean you're mentally tough. the difference between vernon and artest is that vernon actually has the ability to elevate his game when these kinds of things happen. with artest, coaches and teammates actually don't want him to do those kinds of things. if that was the case, he wouldn't have had the career he has had.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zvSUbvdWbRk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zvSUbvdWbRk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> this game is a perfect example. more clips of maxwell playing more focused (though being his crazy self) and played well the rest of the game. remember that game? i've followed artest throughout his career. whenever this mentality shows up, he usually becomes a "worse" player. you gotta understand that.
It's Ron first year. Give him a chance to make his mark. Maxwell uses his trash talking as self motivation, he even smack talks with the fans. Ron is a completely different player than Maxwell cause he can play 3 positions. What his advantage is in size and strength, he is not a quick player player and not the best at ball handling. Maxwell was a prototype 2 guard with quickness and scoring abilities. Maxwell has played the 1 but he doesn't play the 3 or 4. Ron could guard Kobe in the post, but facing up, its going to be hard for him since Kobe is quicker and can jump higher. I got faith in Ron though. He's entertaining and he's making the Toyota Center crowd get on their feet.
the ron artest that has elevated this team is the ron that we've seen the past few weeks. the "smart" ron artest. there's a reason his career has gone on the way it has -> when the "crazy" side comes out. remember, artest actually believes he is the best player in this league. so when he gets into that mode, he's in a world by himself. he literally tried to take it at kobe TWICE 1-on-1 and disregarded the offense, and play gambling defense. that's not "smart." with vernon, yes trash talking motivated him. but it motivated him to be more "focused."
