CowsMoo wrote:How about the fact that he also played alongside Battier. Doesn't that contribute to the stats?
In a certain extent, but not as much as you'd think.
As I've said earlier in my original post, this is not a reflection of Artest alone, however for those still wondering if these stats are not indicative of Artest's true defensive set, notably since being traded to HOU to team w/ Battier, here's a case in point:
LEBRON vs ARTEST
Here's the stats I originally put up for Lebron's career against Artest:
PTS 24.6 -- FG% .447 -- 3P% .231 -- FTA 7.1 -- REB 5.8 -- AST 5.3 -- TOV 5.1
Now let me put up the stat for Lebron against Artest BEFORE he was traded to HOU w/ Battier:
PTS 24.7 -- FG% .456 -- 3P% .226 -- FTA 7.3 -- REB 6.0 -- AST 6.0 -- TOV 5.1
Now compare them side by side:
PTS 24.6 -- FG% .447 -- 3P% .231 -- FTA 7.1 -- REB 5.8 -- AST 5.3 -- TOV 5.1
PTS 24.7 -- FG% .456 -- 3P% .226 -- FTA 7.3 -- REB 6.0 -- AST 6.0 -- TOV 5.1
So you see, the difference is insignificantly minute.
The only climb was James' AST at +0.7, otherwise everything esle is basically a +/- of about 0.1 or 0.2. PTS differential is 0.1, FTA differential is 0.2, REB differential is 0.2, etc. Also, look how eerily similar every other stats are: PTS, REB, FG%, 3P%, FTA, heck Lebron is still turning the ball over at 5.1 times per game.
Not to mention, Lebron's 3W - 7L record is 2W - 6L before Artest was in Houston.
CARMELO vs ARTEST
Here's Carmelo's career numbers vs Artest:
PTS 19.9 -- FG% .411 -- 3P% .250 -- FTA 4.8 -- REB 5.4 -- AST 2.3 -- TOV 3.2
Now Carmelo's numbers WITHOUT Battier teaming w/ Artest in HOU:
PTS 18.6 -- FG% .413 -- 3P% .136 -- FTA 5.1 -- REB 5.6 -- AST 2.1 -- TOV 3.1
Side by side comparison:
PTS 19.9 -- FG% .411 -- 3P% .250 -- FTA 4.8 -- REB 5.4 -- AST 2.3 -- TOV 3.2
PTS 18.6 -- FG% .413 -- 3P% .136 -- FTA 5.1 -- REB 5.6 -- AST 2.1 -- TOV 3.1
So as much as it would be very nice of me to spend so much of my time to do this for the rest of the other players as if I'm getting paid like John Hollinger to do this, point is, it's really moot.
P.S.
Regarding the "WADE vs ARTEST" numbers posted originally... those stats are ALL Artest's defensive numbers, because both he and Wade only faced-off against each other once last season, and Mr. Battier missed that game.
