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No one on the Lakers want to say it in all the current discussion - but Ron Ron is the key to the Lakers success. People keep harping on defense, but in truth one reason why the ball is moving as well is that Artest isn't shooting the ball well enough (16.7% in the last 5 games) so that people won't sag off him. Nor well enough so that Kobe, Fish, etc. have confidence rotating the ball to him when he's open (and right now that's almost always - look at game tape - all teams are playing off him and letting him shoot).

The Lakers exploded last year when Ariza started hitting 3's down the stretch and in the playoffs. It just makes the Lakers a different team. Other than Kobe, and the guards in spurts, there is no one who scares teams from the 3 line. Artest getting better out there would completely change the Lakers offense and the overall potency of the team. No one wants to say it as he works so hard on D, but it is what it is.

You may have a point if the offensive system we have now isn't a huge mess. Last year after Bynum got injured everyone knows their role, they may be less talented than this year's Lakers, but everyone provided exactly what the team needs, and even though our outside shooting has become suspect since Sasha and Farmar started struggling there is enough spacing for everyone to do their own job. This year there is no coherence. We have two 7 footers occupying the paint, we don't know who the focal point on the post should be, Gasol is obviously uncomfortable switching between playing the 4 and 5, and Odom has been inconsistent whenever he doesn't play with Gasol full time.

To me, it's not so much that it's Artest's fault than the team not doing an adequate job at setting up our 'shooters'. I'm amazed he's still shooting 3s at 37% with the way our offense has become. Until this team figures out how to move the ball Artest will continue to miss shots.

He has to hit the open shots. While it would be nice, we don't need him doing anything more on offense. It is essential for him to make quick decisions with the ball and hit open shots. If that doesn't happen, Kobe is going to be doubled relentlessly

WE DIDNT SIGN RON TO FILL UP THE BOX SIGNED HIM FOR HIS DEFENSE AND IF EVERYONE THINK WE MADE A MISTAKE LETING ARIZA GO RON IS SHOOTING BETTER TREVERS BECOME A VOLUME SHOOTER CANT CREATE HIS OWN SHOT HES SHOOTING FROM ANYWHERE HIS DEFENSE IS PRETTY GOOD BUT HES NOT A LOCK DOWN DEFENDER NOT TUFF ENOUGH

Spacing is the key. Ron, Fish and Kobe are critical to this when playing with Pau and Drew.

Artest has yet to find his niche in the offense EXCEPT FOR the 3-point shot. He has had so many layup attempts blocked this year... it's very difficult to watch. All he does is pray for a foul.

Sad as it is to say, at this point, I think the only shot I even want him to attempt is the 3.

Fisher/Kobe/Artest/Gasol/Bynum is a VERY VERY slow team. No wonder the ball isn't moving very well.

So Gutta wrote:Artest has yet to find his niche in the offense EXCEPT FOR the 3-point shot. He has had so many layup attempts blocked this year... it's very difficult to watch. All he does is pray for a foul.

Sad as it is to say, at this point, I think the only shot I even want him to attempt is the 3.

Fisher/Kobe/Artest/Gasol/Bynum is a VERY VERY slow team. No wonder the ball isn't moving very well.

Not this year, I mentioned this earlier this season and nobody believed me

It's always like this, Ron made a strong then somehow missed the shot badly or getting blocked by someone.

He doesn't have the vertical game. He needs to learn some moves from Kobe who has all but lost his vertical game and now favours footwork for the easy shot.

True, I said it before. Artest needs to knock down those threes, so the defense would stop playing zone. Ariza did it well last year.

It took 65 games in before a Rocket fans put a downer. Mitch has really improved on the moves he makes.

acion wrote:No one on the Lakers want to say it in all the current discussion - but Ron Ron is the key to the Lakers success. People keep harping on defense, but in truth one reason why the ball is moving as well is that Artest isn't shooting the ball well enough (16.7% in the last 5 games) so that people won't sag off him. Nor well enough so that Kobe, Fish, etc. have confidence rotating the ball to him when he's open (and right now that's almost always - look at game tape - all teams are playing off him and letting him shoot).

The Lakers exploded last year when Ariza started hitting 3's down the stretch and in the playoffs. It just makes the Lakers a different team. Other than Kobe, and the guards in spurts, there is no one who scares teams from the 3 line. Artest getting better out there would completely change the Lakers offense and the overall potency of the team. No one wants to say it as he works so hard on D, but it is what it is.

I agree. We're at our best when Ron is hitting 3s and spacing the floor. Now I don't expect him to hit every open shot but going 2-10 is unacceptable.