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The more and more I watch this team I'm coming to the conclusion that matt barnes is a better fit for our team. I mean the guy is athletic and is hitting the 3 consistently.

And if you guys haven't noticed Ron's minutes are abnormally low.

Thoughts?

Not defensively, I would say no. We need ARTEST against big marquee players, but Barnes has more than suprised us all. Lakers definately got their moneys worth.

Phil better recognize and give more minutes to Crazy Horse.

Ron needs to start getting them stats for mah fantasy team. >:(

But seriously, no. ALL the Killer Bs are simply a luxury to keep the starter's minutes down, but they will never be a replacement for any of our starting 5. Don't forget about Game 7 dude.

Nevar forget.

I don't think he's a better player than Artest, but it appears he may fit better than Artest does. He's a much better passer than I thought he was. Artest's worth shines through when we need him as a defensive stopper, but the challenges to this great laker team are so infrequent.

Also everybody looks better on the Lakers with the best PF & SG in the NBA making everybody else so wide open all game.

The season is already over, let's start the playoffs already; this is strictly a formality to me.

Nope, Ron has his off nights but he's still better. The amount of minutes Phil plays Barnes is really nice as it is. He plays Barnes just enough for him to average his career averages. If say, you were to start Barnes and he plays 30+, you get no more +gain from him. He'll just be a guy that's playing 30+ but averages what he does already. Ron on the other hand...well, you know that magic touch he had in Game 7. Plus, it all depends on WHO you play. Barnes excels at the speedy teams with normal SFs. Ron on the other hand does a good job at the Melo/Lebron/PP type SFs. If Ron's getting less minutes that's fine as well, he'll need em for the playoffs.

GAME 7

We all know how Ron Ron last season came up
BIG in the playoffs when it was his time to shine.


Matt has a opportunity to write a new chapter this season.

Reputations are made and worth assigned in the playoffs....
Artest is still the guy.
Barnes still has a lot to prove.

what i can't seem to understand, is that Artest came into training camp looking so much better, his shot, everything, and to see it all fall off again, its really confusing.

if we face Boston again in the finals we''ll need him say more?

Biohazard wrote:if we face Boston again in the finals we''ll need him say more?

Not to knock on Ron or anything but Pierce doesn't really seem to be bothered by Ron. Throughout his career Pierce has averaged his career averages against Ron. So I think having Ron against Boston maybe some what overrated.

People talk about Ron making this team tougher but I think this team became tough after losing in the FInals in 2008. If you remember after we lost to Boston in the Finals and we matched up against them in the regular season our guys stood their ground and didn't allow Boston to intimidate them. Kobe got into it with Rondo and Lamar got into it with Garnett. Ron does make this team tougher but its not like he turns them into the Detroit Bad Boys.

The Skyhook wrote:

Biohazard wrote:if we face Boston again in the finals we''ll need him say more?

Not to knock on Ron or anything but Pierce doesn't really seem to be bothered by Ron. Throughout his career Pierce has averaged his career averages against Ron. So I think having Ron against Boston maybe some what overrated.

People talk about Ron making this team tougher but I think this team became tough after losing in the FInals in 2008. If you remember after we lost to Boston in the Finals and we matched up against them in the regular season our guys stood their ground and didn't allow Boston to intimidate them. Kobe got into it with Rondo and Lamar got into it with Garnett. Ron does make this team tougher but its not like he turns them into the Detroit Bad Boys.

You make some good points..Odom vs. Garnett was classic it was funny seeing Garnett thinking he was going to intmidate a 7 footer from Queens

Kilroy wrote:Reputations are made and worth assigned in the playoffs....
Artest is still the guy.
Barnes still has a lot to prove.

Well said... we're spoiled to have Barnes and the rest of the B's as our 2nd unit. Those guys have been good so far.

As for Ron, he'll show up as we progress through the season.

I honestly used to think that Matt Barnes was one sour m***** f*****. But that's probably because i hardly saw him play and watch his interviews. This guy seems genuine. The one thing i enjoy seeing is how our bench happily accepts their role.

defensively i don't think barnes matches artest's impact. artest still has super quick hands and is always knocking the ball away from his defender or deflecting passes. offensively though, its not even close. artest pretty much relegates himself to spot up shooter duty. barnes on the other hand crashes the boards, chases down loose balls, and is simply smarter and faster with his decision making.

i like the way the minutes are being used right now though, barnes deserves more minutes than ron.

Flatout.........NO. Barnes isn't better than Ron. Let's not get carried away.

Here's my take. Let me know what you think.

I think Artest came to the Lakers and felt he had to change. He wanted to fit in. He didn't want to disrupt any chemistry, and he really wanted to prove naysayers wrong about how he would be a distraction to a team that had strong chemistry. I don't think Artest has been totally confident as a Laker. I think a lot of his shots are bad because he's not sure if it's really a good shot or not. While he's a great fit for us with his charisma (perfect for LA) and his physicality, I am not convinced we've seen Ron-Ron in his comfort zone. At least on the court. The Artest we saw at the Championship celebration is about as genuine and comfortable as I've seen him.

Barnes, on the other hand, realized that the Lakers got him for a reason. He hasn't really changed from the player he was on the Warriors and Magic. He'll contribute offense when it makes sense, and he's comfortable with his offensive input. He plays the defense that the Lakers acquired him for, and he won't hide the B.A. swagger that makes him special.

Personally, this season, I've been more comfortable/confident with Barnes on the court. I think he has a better basketball IQ than Artest. I trust his shot more.

Thoughts?

No. They're different kinds of players...

I'm sure Ron will have his big nights, and Barnes will have his big nights.

It's a long season guys.

I think dcash said it best.

But I will add that part of having GREAT chemistry is having backup guys that can effectively push the guys in front of them to play at a higher level.

Barnes good play right now will only serve to improve Artest down the road.

This is the definition of HEALTHY competition. If Artest were weak minded, I'd be worried that he'd lose confidence whenever Phil chose Barnes over him to finsh games but I think Artest will only use the competiton to make himself better.

Personally, I absolutely love it. I have been praying for Luke Walton to be languished for many many years now so that we could have a SF core with no defecencies.

Bravo Kupchak and god bless Colangelo for passing on Matt Barnes ... I hope he's found a home.

Let's trade Bynum and Artest for Howard.

The Lakers depth is the best thing about this team. Guys could be struggling for a game or even a stretch but it will hardly hurt the Lakers because of how many guys can step up and fill the void.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJM9jiysgWw[/youtube]