[Yahoo] Kelly Dwyer isn't convinced this will work

It will be interesting to see how fast the mood around here will change and how fast people here will turn on him and the Rockets when the inevitable occurs.

 

I agree. I think the point of Artest is injury insurance-- so that if one of the starts goes down, you still have 2 more providing firepower.

It was difficult last season when either Yao or Tracy had to carry the offense by himself. Coach had a hard time giving the remaining healthy guy rest during games.

 

The Chicken Little crew is back! The Rockets gave up Bobby frickin' Jackson and two low first round picks for Ron Artest and people are complaining that Rockets fans are too optimistic? Pathetic. Why wouldn't we feel good? Why would some jerks who call themselves Rockets fans want to piss on everybody's parade?

Jesus, Hillboy, every contender in the league would have taken Morey's "shortcut" for that price. I guess the beauty of being a complainer is that if the Rockets would have passed on this trade you would have had something else to cry about. If you can't get excited about the Rockets after this off-season then you really should stop following the team.

 

Although I believe in free speech and the right for everyone on the forum to express their opinions about the Rockets, I totally 100% agree with this assessment!

 

No, NO, Utah, SA, PHX, LA and Dallas don't have to worry about having to deal with a Ron Artset on their teams. What those teams do have to worry about is Artest being on the Rockets team.

Seriously, are you really enamored with any of these teams in the offseason? Are you really sweating Posey signing with NO (they have to play us 3 times on the 2nd half of btob's)?

Honestly among the top teams in the West who looks more likely to show improvement?

The past is the past and Morey can only be concerned with the present. I do feel better knowing you don't like the trade though.

 

Totally agree. Artest's craziness is overhyped, anyway. The only reason Indiana went down was due to the one incident. How was Sacramento ruined by Artest? If anything, he was the catalyst that brought them to the playoffs that year. Bibby's injuries and the lack of production from others, as well as letting Bonzi go, was a major reason for their unspectacular finish last year.

There is too much evidence of teams that have won championships with so-called nutcases on their team- the 1972 Oakland A's, the 1977 Yankees, the 2001 Baltimore Ravens, the 1985 Chicago Bears- and then in basketball, you've got the prime example- the 1996-1998 Bulls- along with the Pistons of 2004, the Rockets with Maxwell, etc. But don't let facts stop you, H.B. Go on with your constant slamming of the organization- or better yet, go join a Spurs board if you're so enamored with them.

What's the point of always being a Debbie Downer? Geez, why put yourself through it? Root for the Hornets- there's a team full of high-character guys.

 

The terrorists have won folks.

 

First: I like the trade because we gave up nothing. Definitely worth the risk.

Second: Ron Ron's craziness is NOT overhyped. Wait until the end of next season before reaching that conclusion. You will know much more about him. What IS truly overhyped is the Palace brawl (which will not happen again) as if it's the only thing Ron Ron has ever done. Regarding your comment on championship nutcases: Not all nuts are created equal and some can indeed ruin team chemistry enough to kill championship hopes.

I hope it works out but I'm concerned Ron Ron will fray around the edges late in the season.

 

Couldnt have said it better...Whats up with all the hate?
BE HAPPY that next year promises to be exciting if nothing else...

 

Here's what puts people on edge. There is not much middle ground in the trade. If Ron doesn't self destruct, it's a great trade. If Ron goes off the reservation, it's a horrible trade, because low first round picks still have some value to a team that needs to shore up their bench.

 

Ron has cooled down for 3 seasons now. I highly doubt he'll screw up a contract year with his favorite coach. We're essentially the same team as last year, except we added Ron Artest. If anything we should improve. However, my one concern is him and Battier being essentially the same player. I'm not sold on Artest playing the 4. If Artest does well at the 3 playing off the ball with T-Mac and Yao, then Battier is on his way out. It all hinges on how Artest plays though.

 

Yes, but those are not great value. I am with those who think that it is worth the risk. I never wanted to trade for Artest because I thought we would have to give up at least one piece of our core. But Morey was able to get him and keep the whole team intact. So it is definitely a good trade.

That said, people shouldn't treat Artest like he's the savior, leading us into the promised land. He is not. There is a reason why Artest is paid so little for his tremendous talent. His own unstable nature just neutralizes a lot of his greatness.

I agree with the poster who said that he's insurance. He gave us depth when injuries occur. Without injuries, we would have been a title contender without Artest. This one I agree with Kelly D.

 

I'm wondering like others if Artests "Ball stopping" will be a factor....hopefully he reacts better than he has in the past and moves through lots of screens and is improving his ball ahndling and shooting? Worried, no. Uncertain, yes.

 

Typical reaction from someone who doesn't want anyone else to have an opinion that's different from their own. I suppose that we should all carry little red books and march in lockstep with whatever propaganda Les and Rockets dish out. Look, if you believe otherwise, then go ahead and be my guest. Nothing I'm saying here states that you should do otherwise. As for pissing on your parade, that's all in your head Bmoney. I merely expressed what I feel: I don't like this move at all, period. And there is no way I will ever like it because it violates everything I believe in.

And again I ask the question that no one here has answered: If this guy is soooo great - if he is indeed the key to winning an NBA championship, then WHY was he traded away from a team in dire need of talent for the NBA equivalent of pocket lint? Surely, such a fantastic player as Artest would have been far more valuable than what they gave up so why was Sac all too eager to get him out of town? That's an important question that the Rockets now get to find out for themselves. I expect then to learn the hard way that you never get something for nothing. One would think they'd have learned that lesson by now...

 

* He has only 1 year left on his contract.
* The team is rebuilding around youth and won't likely win anything with or without him during the remainder of his contract.
* He is unlikely to at the end of his deal. If he leaves as FA, they get nothing in return.
* He was clearly unhappy with ownership, and will likely talk negatively about ownership to the media if he stays.

Remember, Pau Gaso, whose contract wasn't expiring, was sold for slightly better combo of "picket lint" without reputation of being crazy.

 

Have no fear. History bodes well for the on court successes of such players.

 

I hope for you that you aren't as bitter, negative and condescending in real life as you appear on this board.

I don't even disagree that Artest is a crazy psychopath. But there is a difference between just being a fan who is expressing thoughts why this might not work on the one hand and pointing the finger at "them" (the Rockets - for me that's "us" - even when we are not winning), calling them inept, etc. on the other hand, which is what you do. You very much make it sound like you don't WANT the Rockets to win.

Why don't you move on to something else.

Regarding Kelly's article, I agree that we should keep Battier in the starting lineup. Why mess up something that worked well last season. Since Artest is a bit of a ball-stopper and requires that the offense goes more through him than Battier, I think it would make perfect sense to let him lead the second unit as the 6th man.

 

Boston's recent history had been pathetic before they made two bold moves. They traded for 2 guys that were stars on their respective teams but never won jack in the playoff besides when Garnett and the Twolves had that one year with Cassell and Sprewell.

The point is you have to take certain risks in order to be able to be a contender especially at the price Artest came in. I agree, there is a possibility that he may got nuts but the Rockets had to make a move and not stay pat in a tough Western Conference with injury prone players.

 

He was traded away from Sacramento because they're not close to winning a championship and they're rebuilding, which is why they wanted Greene. Anybody with a brain knows that. I mean, using your logic, Clyde Drexler wasn't worth it since Portland shipped him out. And they got him for practically nothing. Boston got Ray Allen and Garnett for nothing, why would those great talents be traded for practically nothing. Oh, that's right, they weren't. They were traded away for young talent to build around. Sacramento got a draft pick and a player who has lottery pick potential. So maybe the Rockets didn't get a fantastic player like Artest for nothing. And maybe getting Artest isn't the exception but more of the rule. It's rare to trade one superstar for another superstar straight up so why would Artest be any different?

 

And it'll be interesting to see how you react when he helps the Rockets make a deep playoff run.