LOL @ Lakers fans expectations of Artest

DraftBoy10 · Post #1 » by **DraftBoy10** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:42 pm

They expect him to understand he's a 3rd/4th option, that should play within the offense, play top 5 single coverage D in the league, and make sacrifices for the team. Ultimately, be the best damn compliment to Kobe and Pau, and even Odom.

The world isn't perfect. If Artest as 80% of what he's advertised to be, dominant defender, and top 5-10 two-way player, with an ferocious post-up game, he'd be re-signed and not let go at the price of the MLE. We are talking about Daryl Morey at GM here, he's no idiot, the guy knows what's going on.

For one, I'll miss Ron. He's a great guy, but last year this time, when we acquired him, I thought the exact same things as the Lakers did. We just added an even better defender to the perimeter(ala Kobe, Battier), one of the best interior scorers among perimeter players, and a 3rd option on offense. In reality, he was only a 3rd option on offense, arguably our worst perimeter defender besides Von Wafer, and had zero post up game and when he did operate down there he always went INTO the defense.

Not only that, the most important element, I thought he was here to win. When his shots, and minutes were being sacrificed, he rebelled upon that. I thought he was ready to let his FGA go down, at the hope his FG % goes up, and he does what's best for the team. When T-Mac was here, we all saw what happened, this guy stunk it up. Without T-Mac here, he rebelled agaisnt one of the most freelanced offensive systems in the league, looking and searching for his own offense.

Lakers fans believe they are getting the popular opinionated version of Ron, and the only mess with him is his personality. Something Phil can tame, and I agree with Phil taming it, but his game is nothing like they expect. He may have matured a person, but certainly not a player. He'll feel threatned to play on such a loaded team.

Do you guys really believe Artest will take that step becoming a premiere role player, at the sacrifice of many things; his stardom, his offensive numbers, his name, his entire approach to the game?

Baller 24 · Post #2 » by **Baller 24** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:50 pm

Yup, you're right, those guys are delusional if they think Artest is the best fit they could ask for, it's going to be a fun season watching the Lakers **** up.

Also read this:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-pla ... 056.column

"Artest is a better player, but that's not the point.

Ariza was a better fit, and that's what wins championships."

texasholdem · Post #3 » by **texasholdem** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:53 pm

Reminds me of the Barkley deal in 1996

Post #4 » by **TMACFORMVP** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 9:54 pm

I've been agreeing with you all week long, we share the exact same thoughts on Artest. Very overrated on both ends of the floor, and Ariza is clearly a better fit on a loaded team like the Lakers IMO.

They could very well win the championship just because of the insane talent they have, but it's not because Artest made them a better team, just enough of a replacement in that they're still the best team in the league. I literally ROFL whenever I see those "Kobe/Artest the next Jordan/Pippen defensively," or "quit the league right now, just give the Lakers the championship." While the latter may be the case it's not because Artest takes them to some new level. He's just too poor defensively man to man, and ridiculously inefficient offensively, while being a ball-stopper to tremendously improve a team that already has more talent than anyone in the league and the NBA champions.

BaYBaller · Post #5 » by **BaYBaller** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 10:31 pm

I'm not sure if you're just in denial because he went to LA for pretty much a bag of chips but Artest was in no way our 2nd worse perimeter defender. He's certainly lost a step since his IND days so he'd get burned guarding SGs who could slash but he still has very good hands and you really can't post him up. Basically he'd be great guarding somebody like Rashard Lewis, but horrible vs players like BRoy (which we saw in the POR series).

I also think he'll do well in LA being the 3rd option. He'll get a lot less touches and won't handle the ball much. However I do agree that LA doesn't really get that much better overall as Ariza was a better fit even though Artest is the better overall player. But still 3yrs @ the MLE, it's a very low risk move for LA.

Emre1 · Post #6 » by **Emre1** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 10:56 pm

Isn't what Artest does exactly the opposite of Phil Jackson's philosophy and the triangle offense?

DraftBoy10 · Post #7 » by **DraftBoy10** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 1:06 am

TMACFORMVP wrote:I've been agreeing with you all week long, we share the exact same thoughts on Artest. Very overrated on both ends of the floor, and Ariza is clearly a better fit on a loaded team like the Lakers IMO.

They could very well win the championship just because of the insane talent they have, but it's not because Artest made them a better team, just enough of a replacement in that they're still the best team in the league. I literally ROFL whenever I see those "Kobe/Artest the next Jordan/Pippen defensively," or "quit the league right now, just give the Lakers the championship." While the latter may be the case it's not because Artest takes them to some new level. He's just too poor defensively man to man, and ridiculously inefficient offensively, while being a ball-stopper to tremendously improve a team that already has more talent than anyone in the league and the NBA champions.

you're right, you have been agreeing with me all week long in the Gen. Board.

But you know what's amusing, I go there simply trying to educate the Lakers fans about Ron Artest in their own forum, and i get warned and possible "gone time" by a mod for trolling and flaming.

I guess the truth is that devastating? I'm just giving something they don't want to hear, but I'm not saying Ron's gonna kill LA, it's simply 50-50...high risk, high reward scenario.

LAL4Life · Post #8 » by **LAL4Life** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 1:24 am

Baller 24 wrote:The Church of Kobe is just a disgusting organization..Kobe fans are the equivalent of Nazi soldiers, since they idolize the same type of person..they're the Jehovah's Witnesses of the NBA if you wanna flip it..

This has nothing to do with basketball, but I find the bolded part of your sig grossly offensive and inappropriate. I don't give a (bleep) how much you hate Kobe Bryant, wtf are you thinking throwing the term "Nazi soldier" around like that? You're either incredibly ignorant or just a (bleep)-hole. Or more likely, both. You need to remove that ASAP. Hate Kobe and Kobe fans all you want, but that is absurdly offensive.

RaoulDuke79 · Post #9 » by **RaoulDuke79** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 1:47 am

LAL4Life wrote:
Baller 24 wrote:The Church of Kobe is just a disgusting organization..Kobe fans are the equivalent of Nazi soldiers, since they idolize the same type of person..they're the Jehovah's Witnesses of the NBA if you wanna flip it..

This has nothing to do with basketball, but I find the bolded part of your sig grossly offensive and inappropriate. I don't give a (bleep) how much you hate Kobe Bryant, wtf are you thinking throwing the term "Nazi soldier" around like that? You're either incredibly ignorant or just a (bleep)-hole. Or more likely, both. You need to remove that ASAP. Hate Kobe and Kobe fans all you want, but that is absurdly offensive.

Looks to me like Baller didn't write that, he just put it in his sig. Reading comprehension is difficult but worthwhile.

LAL4Life · Post #10 » by **LAL4Life** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 1:56 am

RaoulDuke79 wrote:
LAL4Life wrote:
Baller 24 wrote:The Church of Kobe is just a disgusting organization..Kobe fans are the equivalent of Nazi soldiers, since they idolize the same type of person..they're the Jehovah's Witnesses of the NBA if you wanna flip it..

This has nothing to do with basketball, but I find the bolded part of your sig grossly offensive and inappropriate. I don't give a (bleep) how much you hate Kobe Bryant, wtf are you thinking throwing the term "Nazi soldier" around like that? You're either incredibly ignorant or just a (bleep)-hole. Or more likely, both. You need to remove that ASAP. Hate Kobe and Kobe fans all you want, but that is absurdly offensive.

Looks to me like Baller didn't write that, he just put it in his sig. Reading comprehension is difficult but worthwhile.

Right back atcha wise guy, maybe follow your own condescending advice. Nowhere did I say he wrote it, but that doesn't change the fact that he included it in his sig, and that's pretty terrible.

HTown_TMac · Post #11 » by **HTown_TMac** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 2:09 am

LAL4Life wrote:Right back atcha wise guy, maybe follow your own condescending advice. Nowhere did I say he wrote it, but that doesn't change the fact that he included it in his sig, and that's pretty terrible.

Maybe that was the point of him putting it in his sig... To show the ignorance of another poster..

DraftBoy10 · Post #12 » by **DraftBoy10** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 2:22 am

Lakers fan shouldn't bitch about Nazi refernces, or even Hitler. It was your coach that referred to Rick Adelman as Hitler, and even posted a picture of them side by side in a pre-game playoff match up when he was with Sacto.

LAL4Life · Post #13 » by **LAL4Life** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 2:31 am

DraftBoy10 wrote:Lakers fan shouldn't bitch about Nazi refernces, or even Hitler. It was your coach that referred to Rick Adelman as Hitler, and even posted a picture of them side by side in a pre-game playoff match up when he was with Sacto.

Just wow.

So because the coach of the basketball team that I root for made some effed up comment a while back, I'm not allowed to voice my disgust when someone supports the comparison of Kobe Bryant fans to Nazi soldiers. Is that right?

RaoulDuke79 · Post #14 » by **RaoulDuke79** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 2:52 am

Internet.

fisterkev · Post #15 » by **fisterkev** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 3:34 am

Someone get this guy a brush so he can wipe the sand outta there... :roll:

Magic Mamba · Post #16 » by **Magic Mamba** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 4:11 am

Baller 24 wrote:Yup, you're right, those guys are delusional if they think Artest is the best fit they could ask for, it's going to be a fun season watching the Lakers **** up.

Also read this:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-pla ... 056.column

"Artest is a better player, but that's not the point.

Ariza was a better fit, and that's what wins championships."

In your dreams... don't hate on the lakers just because your FO let Artest walk his way to a championship... so r u guys rebuilding?

Baller 24 · Post #17 » by **Baller 24** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 4:26 am

I'll do what I want. And I can't believe this thread got distracted, but it's clear Ron Artest is the most overrated perimeter defensive player in the league, he didn't deserve to be on the All-NBA Defensive 2nd Team this year, it's all based on rep now, and we saw that he can get torched by some of the best offensive players, due to his lateral quickness being absolute crap. He's good against slow small forwards, but seriously, how many of those are there? Pierce being one? I see LA fans saying Artest matches up with LeBron well and can shut him down, LOL on what level? LeBron runs a 4-4. It's incredible, but they'll soon realize what this deal will do to them, Ron needs shots, he takes shots, he likes wide open shots, he likes taking bad shots, he doesn't like posting up, he doesn't like working hard to go inside, he over-dribbles the ball far too often, and COMPLETELY stops the motion offense, in even with one of the best, most loose offense systems in the league. I liked Ron's personality, but that's about it, I'm happy that he came here nonetheless, but he played completely opposite than what we as Rockets fans expected, now Lakers fans will realize this for the next 3 years as he too disrupts L.A's consistent system. P.S. I don't see Ron shooting 40% from behind the arc again.

LApwnd · Post #18 » by **LApwnd** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 6:42 am

well then as bad of a fit as Ron supposedly will be with the Lakers....why in the HELL did Hou. sign Ariza? :lol:

, he barely put 9ppg playing along Kobe/Pau, getting wide open shots and the D was hardly ever focused on him. How are you guys gona benefit signing him? I'll take my chances with Crazy arse Ron any day over the likes of an Ariza, who's game improved due to our system. I'm pretty sure the same HATE and "hoping" of it turning ugly for the Lakers with the Pau trade as well :lol:

texasholdem · Post #19 » by **texasholdem** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 7:29 am

LApwnd wrote:well then as bad of a fit as Ron supposedly will be with the Lakers....why in the HELL did Hou. sign Ariza? , he barely put 9ppg playing along Kobe/Pau, getting wide open shots and the D was hardly ever focused on him. How are you guys gona benefit signing him?

We signed him to be the new Robert Horry not the new Clyde Drexler.
It's about the future now not the present.

PocketRockets · Post #20 » by **PocketRockets** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 7:55 am

I think the "artest expectations" aren't far off from the truth. If they re-sign odom too, then they are still the favorites to win the title next year. If not, then they are really taking a gamble b/c if Ron is gone, can't fit in or suspended for something, it really thins out their lineup. Kobe has shown he can facilitate for most of the game if need be, for the sake of laker fans, you guys better hope Ron can give up the rock at the end of games. If not, then I hope you don't have high blood pressure b/c ron will rupture your aneurysm. Financially though, you guys got him for a great price so there's no risk there.

Ron gave us some good moments so I have nothing but love for the guy. I wish him good luck in his future endeavors.