This is exactly what i think. He forgot to add: 'Roy is the best player I have played against but he is not the best player in the NBA' 'Why' 'Because I am the best'
Ive always thought Barkley was underrated. Especially at 6ft 5! His defense was non-existent although he was an impact defender in the clutch. Still, underrated, never was sure if Malone was really better.
he did respond back, he chopped on his hair, and webber chopped on his ghettoness....that was a classic ron quote, "he's the best playa i eva played against, cept for this guy _______ _______, but he went to jail when we was like 15, 16"
ron is pretty funny. I think his sense of humor is good. I like how they pulled u p charles's rockets stats vs arrests stats.
Sure, the guy is a bit messed up in the head, but one thing to keep in mind is to try to see it from his angle because the dude does run on raw emotions.. which in turn leads to irrational and illogical behavior. See: 1) asking for time off to promote his new album 2) punching fan in stands 3) feeling the need to jack up bad shots when the Rockets start losing control of the game 4) "i'm the new and improved lebron" comment, and fearless defense throughout the game rendering Lebron ineffective and totalling the lowest assist and rebound totals ever and thus, 5) "Roy is the best I've ever played against" comment Ron says this knowing that Roy is the only player who's really been able to torch him this season. Ron was able to hold Kobe and LBJ throughout the season, but doesn't realize that in a 7-game playoff series the opponent is able to adjust their offensive game plan accordingly. Which in turn utilizes Roy in a more efficient manner that Ron perceives as unguardable. Once Ron advances past this series though, and moves onto Kobe and the Lakers and ultimately LBJ/Cavs in the NBA finals he will come to the realization that they are indeed more skilled than Roy when they have the same opportunity to adjust to Ron's defense.
That was all mental...I think. Just like some blazer site had an article the other day that Houston is in trouble now since we lost game 5. This is Artest's way of getting back to them. He wants Roy to think he is the best player in NBA and try to do everything himself. But seriously, Ron has to shut him down today. And post him up and take him to the basket. Roy cant stop Artest in the post. The only reason why he got blocked so many times is because he doesnt want to pass the ball when they bring help defense. If Pryzbilla is coming in to block the shot, that means Yao is open. If he learns how to pass when help comes, he will be dangerous in the post.
Barkley definitely was not underrated. He won the MVP at the height of the league and was arguably the best player in the league at a time when Jordan was active. Most people in their 20s and younger think of him as a clown on TNT and his stock has dropped as a result of him never having won a ring but in his time he seemed destined to win a championship and he was very very important not only in basketball but taken seriously culturally. He dated Madonna before Rodman, beat down Shaq and people took him seriously when he talked about running for Governor in the days before Obama, the Governator and Jesse the Body. In his older days he's got fat and kissed a donkey so he's a joke and that might be how younger cats see him but anyone who followed the NBA when he was active knows that he was a dominant player That video was funny as hell too... Ron is crazy as a mother
Anybody get the name/spelling of the Queens legend Artest was talking about? I want to look him up now. I think the quote Artest mentions about Jordan is from this 2002 SI profile. Tinman, you've never heard the story? As the self-appointed historian of this site, I thought everybody knew that one. Granted, Jordan was past his prime, but he was still Jordan when it happened. Jordan was considering a comeback with the Wizards, and he was getting back in shape in Chicago, inviting old friends in the league to super-secret pick-up games. Artest was then during his second year with the Bulls, and so was in the neighborhood. From an old Sam Smith column , which is awesome in its entirety: When I first bought basketball almanacs as a kid, they listed Jordan's position as "God, er, Guard." Ron Artest, second year in the league, broke God's ribs. Never question Ron Artest. Ron Artest 1, Michael Jordan 0.
Dude of course I heard of that story. Like I said an EARLY 90s Jordan still would have ran circles around him. Sorry Wizards Jordan wasn't half the player as early 90s Jordan. As I mentioned before early Jordan was too quick and Ron can't handle quickness and your article is OLD ASS JORDAN, I'm talking LATE 90s Jordan.
i remember there was more to that story. jordan had made everyone that was there at the time swear not to divulge what had happened, if i recall.
Fair enough. Would early 90s Jordan have been as deathly afraid of Artest as old Jordan? I think Jordan feared only Oakley during his prime (leading to their lifelong Oakley-as-permanent-bodyguard/enforcer friendship). It's maybe possible Jordan was cautious around Maxwell, who might have thrown a dumbbell at him or threatened to shoot him if he drove on him (what did Maxwell always whisper at the opponent's free-throw line?). But otherwise, Jordan's entire reputation was based on his being without peer; Jordan talked smack against all comers, mentally destroying opponents, even his own teammates (e.g. young Kwame Brown). And Jordan was afraid of Artest. How would this fear have played out in an actual game, or, dare to dream, a pick-up one? Would Jordan have quit and played baseball a few years earlier?
btw, it might just be me, but it's pretty clear judging by his facial expressions, that he is being facetious with the whole thing about roy. then again, ron artest doesn't have the same mannerisms as normal people.
Mike wasn't scared of anyone. Remember that quote where he said he planned to continue taking it to the basket regardless (in response to a question about the Bad Boy Jordan Rules).
Yep. Notice how carefully Smith phrases it: the "story goes," yet he gives no indications he believes it false. All press accounts at the time indicate that nobody knows how it happened. From what appears to be a third party link to a Sun Times write-up of the time: I've watched a lot of basketball games, and ribs do not generally tend to crack on their own. I prefer the legend.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200201040WAS.html Old man Wizard broken rib Jordan dropped 29 points on Ron Artest. Ron was 3 of 12 for 25% shooting for 8 points. http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200201040WAS.html And before you say Jordan had the better team, he didn't. Chris Whitney Hubert Davis Jahidi White (Steve Francis dunked on him) Popeye Jones that was his team.
