Ron Ron Dropping Some Weight and Focusing on his D

[frozt]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lak ... 0098.story

Pretty cool that he's making a conscious effort and keeping track of the performance of players he is guarding.

[Joe Kleazy]

"I'm not a scorer," he said. "I'm not averaging 20-something points a game. I'm not expected to come out and get those type of numbers. It's just not that type of team. I could have no points the whole game and if we win, I'm cool with that." ( RON ARTEST )



It thats not the best part then I dont know what is.

[Pablo Escobar]

Artest is a true team player not worried about the offense doing what the team needs him to do which is be a lockdown defender

[LAL4Life]

Love it, so happy this dude's a Laker. His attitude is awesome and his dedication and commitment to this team are great to see.

[crazyeights]

Love his attitude...but I just hope that 5 year contract doesn't come to haunt us. With a 35 year old Ron Artest, a change of diet might not be enough.

[Danny Darko]

good read, thanks for posting. I'd love for him to get down to 240 and get some lateral and hops back.

[dula14]

I love the attitude Ron has demonstrated this year. He has really hushed the critics who felt he would be a distraction to the Lakers because of his volatile past. His focus and dedication to getting back to the lock down defender he once was is also very encouraging.

[stunnar0b]

its about time ron loses some weight............
we're dead at the one spot!!!!!!!!!!

[slifersd]

Seems interesting that the only player who is working his tail off is the guy who didn't win the ring with us last year. Gasol, Kobe, Bynum and Odom should all take a lesson from him and start working on thier games again.

[arigold24]

Seems interesting that the only player who is working his tail off is the guy who didn't win the ring with us last year. Gasol, Kobe, Bynum and Odom should all take a lesson from him and start working on thier games again.

Might want to take Kobe's name out, if anything Kobe busts his tail too much lol.

Props to Ron Ron for dropping the weight, now just learn more of the triangle and get your jumper consistent.

[Sofa King]

Gasol's been playing too much basketball especially in the Summer with no real break. Odom... married a Kardashian. =/

[Slava]

Seems interesting that the only player who is working his tail off is the guy who didn't win the ring with us last year. Gasol, Kobe, Bynum and Odom should all take a lesson from him and start working on thier games again.

lol easy there tiger. Just a week ago there was an article on LA times saying that Artest came to shoot at 6AM in the gym and he found Kobe already working a sweat with no one else around.

Kobe can be criticized for different stuff but work ethic is never one of them.

[salmahayek]

It's nice to hear, but didn't Artest know all this coming in?

His role was going to be the shut down defender so Kobe didn't have to do it all the time or it would give us the ability defensively to cover two elite wing players with good shot blockers behind them.

Also, we, or maybe just I, thought that he would also bring a nice BB IQ to the team and help facilitate the half court offense within the triangle.

I could see him taking 40 - 50 games to get comfortable with his new teammates offensively, but he very well knew his role coming in defensively and should have been prepared from the outset, IMO.

[The Skyhook]

I love the attitude Ron has demonstrated this year. He has really hushed the critics who felt he would be a distraction to the Lakers because of his volatile past. His focus and dedication to getting back to the lock down defender he once was is also very encouraging.

+1 Yeah for a guy who was supposed to be such a distraction for the Lakers he has been the opposite and his worth ethic is exactly what the Lakers need.

[laduane1]

Lakers will get at lease 3 good years out of Ron. After that it might not be the player he was at 30. He will be like a Rick Fox. Good on some ends and burned on other ends. Just enjoy him game to game.

[Slava]

The last season is team option I believe? Anyways the Lakers have Pau and Ron signed up till 2013-14, which is what they believe is their window of opportunity and with Kobe's extension for another 3 years, this takes care of most of the core.

[Dr Aki]

3 yrs guaranteed with a ETO before season 2012/13 starts

i really love this attitude from artest... opposing teams aren't going to win trying to outmuscle us down low...

artest getting back plenty of speed to gives us a smidgeon of what ariza brought (lift, first step speed), would greatly help on both sides of the court

[Magicontinues]

Good, he's looked awfully slow this year.

[So Gutta]

245 would be perfect. He needs to stay in front of guys a little better... there aren't too many 3's who post up anyway, so speed is preferred over strength. I have a feeling it will benefit his offense too- more lift= being able to finish better.

I'm glad to see him dedicated to his craft. He needs to get back to old form if he's going to be the piece we envisioned when we let Trevor go.

[spree2kawhi]

hes talkative..