Been talking to a friend about today's game. Its great entertainment, real playoff basketball is BACK! But....all we talked about was the antics for an hour, then talked about the actual game for 5 minutes. Point still is, Rockets cant beat a damn fronting defense...would that have stopped the Lakers from resorting to thuggery? No, but beating the front hurts them more in the long run. And I absolutely agree about retaliating THROUGH the game action, not in a crazy retaliatory fight. Do some Karl Malone kneeing em in the balls while going up for a rebound, dont throw an obvious Rafer slap out in the wide open. This was a perfect game for Joey Dorsey.
The real question is, why did Ron Artest get thrown out of the game? How about Scola getting under the Lakers skin tonight. I expect a big game from him in Houston where he usually plays very well.
try to look at the big picture.. if the Lakers were so readily eager to escalate the "weak" display of Kobe's cheap shots to Shane's head in game 1.. in game 2.. how furthur would they be encouraged to do so.. if no one proceed to call attention to it.. directly at the head player perpetrating it..?
I didn't say you shouldn't complain to the refs. Battier talked to the refs, but not like chasing the refs down confronting them. And Battier did not jaw at Kobe's face. Did you see how Kobe smirked when Artest did that? Did you see how Kobe smirked when Artest was trying to talk smack in that last regular season game at LA? Artest gets played by Kobe too easily. That's the problem. That's why Adelman did not put Artest on Kobe in this series.
I'm torn on the subject, and can see both sides of the issue. On one side, you need to make sure that you don't cost the team. On the other side, despite what some people say, a lot of bullies just get egged on by no reaction. If you don't react, it just encourages them to see how far they can push it until they do get a reaction. Personally, I'm of the opinion that Artest was fine all the way up to and including the T, because what Kobe did was unacceptable (and potentially dangerous) behavior and the referees didn't see it (unlike Scola's situation). He purposely went out of his way in an attempt to hurt another player. That should have been pointed out to the referees. However, once he got kicked out of the game, Ron became a detriment. He cost the team. In a situation like this, you can't lose your cool to the degree he did. Basically, I guess I come down in the middle. Go ahead and do what needs to be done w/ regards to the referee, but always remember that this is a long series. There's always the chance to catch a guy with an elbow on an extra-hard pick.
the dismissing and discrediting of Artest's honorable intentions in all this by the fans.. is just sad.. can you even see the difference between "talking smack" in a regular season game.. and taking exception to an elbow to your neck..? i take it if someone while playing a competitive round of organized basketball.. wound-up and let loose with an elbow to your neck.. with intent to harm you.. you'd simply walk it off the other end.. if no one in the building.. officials included.. made the slightest inclination of protest.. how about when it's compounded by previous displays of this nonsense against your teammates.. ? he didn't go to Kobe to threaten him.. he went there with a firm stare and manner.. to let him know he desperately needed to start keeping it clean.. because he wasn't going to tolerate any furthur prolonging of this nonsense on the court.. when you intentionally go for a man's head/neck.. you're not playing tough/competitive basketball.. you're trying to hurt someone.. and that rightfully so.. should not be allowed to continue without showinging that there are going to be some repercussions if it continues.. he didn't retaliate.. nor is he going to.. so stop this, "Artest flew off the handle again, going nuts on people with threats of violence".. he felt he had no other alternative.. but to pass that message along to the player directly.. especially with the officials continuing to miss it..
Will, LA had to resort to dirty elbows that were not retaliations to shake up this series, to shake the momentum. It's trashy, but apparently it worked. Rockets need to play PHYSICAL in Game 3.
You guys are silly if you don't see this is a premidated strategy by Kobe and Co. They're doing this on purpose. Kobe knows Artest, they've gone back ages. He knows how to push his buttons. Basketball is just as much as a mental game game as it is physical game. Laker's beat the rockets in the mental department today. Houston needs to smarten up and not fall for the bait. And get ejected. You cannot help your team in the lockeroom. Period. Stay quiet and try to impact the game.
Well Kobe can bait Artest all he wants to because Artest isn't even guarding Kobe. Anyways...Artest was hit in the throat, I can't believe some people would rather him just do nothing about it. Remember...Artest went to the refs FIRST calmly...they were going to do nothing about it. Once that was made clear Artest was going to make it clear that HE would do something about it. Also it's clear to me Adelman had no problem with it.
if you call that simple goading.. and a "push" of "his buttons".. then let's not given Kobe's observative or "strategic" ability too much credit.. because a hard elbow to the neck.. is safe to assume.. would "push" the "buttons" of any man...... it makes Kobe's elbow/knee push off on Shane.. look like Alston's child-reprimanding, head-band-spinning-slap upside Eddie House's head.. that is.. if that's all you're earnestly calling it......
The team can call attention to it in between games by sending in tape and talking to league officials. The players responsibility and focus should be on winning the games at hand.
going for anything above a man's torso.. is just as bad as going for the legs.. in most competitive sports.. perhaps.. when Yao is under-cut.. or has his legs swiped from under him as he goes for a lay up or a dunk.. these same people can chalk it up to sheer Laker "strategy".. that we must just all not allow to get under our sensitive skins.....
No other player would react that way to an elbow. Heck, i've seen Kobe get elbowed and not retaliate. Artest is a loony tune and Kobe knows this. Anyways, Houston smarten up.
As I see it, the biggest rule in the playoffs should be that you NEVER intentionally do anything that hurts your team's chances of winning. The only exception I'd make for Ron's actions would be if he thought this game was already out of reach and wanted to fire everyone up for the next game. But this game was still well within reach. Unfortunately, two of our best 3-point marksmen were shampooing their hair in the locker room when we needed them the most. I'm sure Ron will think it over and make a note to handle it differently next time. I'd suggest a knee to Kobe's groin, but I doubt it would hurt his vagina all that much.
this wasn't a mere shrewed foul.. durvasa.. this is continued.. ignored.. and now actually rewarded.. overt displays of above the torso.. intended harm.. to a player.. it needed to be sought to right there and then.. by the official to the guilty player.. or by the effected player.. to said perpetrating player.. you can't let such delicate lines be crossed.. over.. and over.. and go without demanding a complete cease and rectification of such unacceptable poor behavior.. especially by a star player that seems to think he continue to get away with it..
But it doesnt make it a story on all the highlight shows and other such things. Sending in the tapes only makes it come off as whining, even when you have a legit beef. This will be all over the PTI, Around the Horn, TNT Pregame, heck even radio shows like Dan Patrick and Jim Rome. It will get TONS of play nationally. If it were just sent in as tapes the next day, it might get a mention at the end of a 30 minute inside the NBA episode or something. And get play locally in Houston, and perhaps LA.
This thread is great, not only because we all hate Kobe for what he did, but we are getting to hear arguments from both sides: those who think Artest was justified to do what he did, and those who think he was wrong. There should be a poll for this. But judging from the two-star rating of the thread atm, most people here support what Artest did. I'm on the side thinking he should've walked away. Here's my beef: The game was already physical, already had technicals, and already had ejection. Everybody know that the refs will do everything they can to keep the game in control. Any small incident, and the refs will react to it. Artest, unfortunately, was the goat for this referees' mentality. On the other hand, Kobe did his taunting all night every time he made a shot, but only after the ejections did the refs assess him a technical. But I digress. Should Artest be tossed? No. Should Artest be mad? Absolutely. Should he conplain to the refs? Sure. Was the ref unfair to Artest and blew the call on Kobe? Yup. But should he run TOWARD Kobe and jaw at his face? No. Scola walked away. Battier walked away. Ron Artest wants to show that he doesn't take crap from anyone, he should do that by winning the game, and not getting in someone's face to escalade the situation. Ron should know better. I love Ron Artest in this game, and for three quarters he was nothing short of amazing to keep us in the game. He wasn't going to be denied tonight. Then he got tossed. He should've known that the Rockets needed him, on a night when Yao was a non-factor. The moment Artest was ejected was the moment Rockets lost any edge they had. This has been and will continue to be a physical series, and the tougher team will win. In game 1, Yao was tough by returning to the game and lead by example. Battier was tough by relentlessly hounding Kobe on the defensive end. In game 2, Ron showed real toughness when he refused to back down on the offensive end, but in the end he made one poor decision. I just hope that the Rockets can learn from this, and not stoop to Lakers' level.
