Artest To Sign With Lakers - Page 2

Arizona's Finest · July 3rd, 2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elindholm

Is Artest really that big of an upgrade over Ariza in the Lakers' system? It seems like a lateral move to me. It reminds me a bit of when they brought in Dennis Rodman.

Um yeah he is. Kobe now has a on court body guard, a guy who can guard Lebron and Paul Pierce, and who is a much better offensive player then he is given credit for.

Most importantly he takes away ANY questions about toughness about this team. I wasn't sure these Lakers would have beat a healthy Boston this year but you think KG is going to be growling in these Lakers faces?

I too think this is like when Rodman came on board. To the Bulls. And they went from great to epic.

Yuma · July 3rd, 2009, 11:17 AM

We can all hope that Artest loses it and goes Spreewell in practice taking Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson out!

Darth Llama · July 3rd, 2009, 02:23 PM

Artest is actually a pretty big upgrade, yes. He defends as good or better then Ariza and scores more then twice as much. Add in the fact that he brings the Lakers the tough edge that they lack and he's a significant upgrade. The upside to Ariza was his age and the fact he's probably only going to get better. Ariza is a serious prospect with a ton of upside, but if you asked who's better TODAY, it's Artest hands down.

Joe L · July 3rd, 2009, 06:42 PM

Jerry Buss should have opened the pockets a little wider. And Mitch Kupchak should have jogged the memory a little deeper.

Remember the last time the Lakers made a postseason acquisition of an aging star that appeared to give them an embarrassment of riches and render them unbeatable?

The year was 2004, and they signed two of them, Gary Payton and Karl Malone, and you know what happened next. By the end of the season, the fractured chemistry imploded in a Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons that was so awful, afterward seemingly half the team either quit or was traded.

Like Malone and Payton, Artest is a great acquisition in a fantasy league. But this is reality, and nothing in NBA history has ever been quite like Artest's reality.

Everyone knows how, as an Indiana Pacer, he was suspended for 73 regular-season games and the postseason after going into the stands to confront fans and later punching one on the floor.

A long time ago, huh? Yeah, all of five years.

Did you know that he has also once shown up for practice in a bathrobe, asked to take a month off because he was tired, and been jailed for 10 days for domestic assault?
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...41,full.column

LakeShowMan · July 4th, 2009, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elindholm

It's difficult for me to envision when the Lakers would want Artest to create his own shot, since he's an inefficient scorer who will rarely be even as high as the second option.

They probably wouldn't want him to do it that often, but at times when the offense breaks down, or he has a mismatch, or if he is on the court without Kobe and Pau his ability can come in handy. It is an additional facet that Ariza doesn't have.

Bufalay · July 4th, 2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeShowMan

They probably wouldn't want him to do it that often, but at times when the offense breaks down, or he has a mismatch, or if he is on the court without Kobe and Pau his ability can come in handy. It is an additional facet that Ariza doesn't have.

This additional facet may not be a good thing. Wait 'til Kobe starts pouting when Artest launches some crazy shots. You don't want role players who complain about their roles (like Shaq).

Blackification · July 4th, 2009, 03:23 PM

This is going to mess up their triangle. Artest is going to chuck and once kobe gets heated he is going to do the same damn thing. Pau gets less touches, Odom might leave, Fisher is just getting older, sasha played like **** in the playoffs, bynum even if he stays healthy will also get less touches. Not a good move Ariza only took shots when he was open we all know artest is not going to do that. Not an upgrade defensively either.

Joe Mama · July 4th, 2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LacardJoe67

Jerry Buss should have opened the pockets a little wider. And Mitch Kupchak should have jogged the memory a little deeper.

Remember the last time the Lakers made a postseason acquisition of an aging star that appeared to give them an embarrassment of riches and render them unbeatable?

The year was 2004, and they signed two of them, Gary Payton and Karl Malone, and you know what happened next. By the end of the season, the fractured chemistry imploded in a Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons that was so awful, afterward seemingly half the team either quit or was traded.

Like Malone and Payton, Artest is a great acquisition in a fantasy league. But this is reality, and nothing in NBA history has ever been quite like Artest's reality.

Everyone knows how, as an Indiana Pacer, he was suspended for 73 regular-season games and the postseason after going into the stands to confront fans and later punching one on the floor.

A long time ago, huh? Yeah, all of five years.

Did you know that he has also once shown up for practice in a bathrobe, asked to take a month off because he was tired, and been jailed for 10 days for domestic assault?
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...41,full.column

the problem with the 2004 LA Lakers comparison is that the 2004 LA Lakers signed two superstars in the twilights of their careers. I would argue that Ron Artest is at the top of his game. That Lakers team also did not have great depth, and more importantly Karl Malone was severely injured in the finals. He was the glue on that team, and I contend that IF he had been healthy that finals would have looked quite different.

I think signing Ron Artest was a good move for the immediate future, but they could regret letting Ariza go a few years from now. I'm anxious to see what happens with Lamar Odom. Who's left with decent free agent money to use this summer? The only team that comes to mind right away is Portland. Everybody else is going to be talking mid-level exception. I actually think signing Ron Artest looks like a better move if they lose Lamar Odom.

Joe

Renz · July 4th, 2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackification

This is going to mess up their triangle. Artest is going to chuck and once kobe gets heated he is going to do the same damn thing. Pau gets less touches, Odom might leave, Fisher is just getting older, sasha played like **** in the playoffs, bynum even if he stays healthy will also get less touches. Not a good move Ariza only took shots when he was open we all know artest is not going to do that. Not an upgrade defensively either.

Yeah, the Lakers will be lucky to make the playoffs next season.

mojorizen7 · July 4th, 2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

a postseason acquisition of an aging star

This is way off base in reference to Artest. This writer is clearly a baseball fan.

mojorizen7 · July 4th, 2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackification

This is going to mess up their triangle. Artest is going to chuck and once kobe gets heated he is going to do the same damn thing. Pau gets less touches, Odom might leave, Fisher is just getting older, sasha played like **** in the playoffs, bynum even if he stays healthy will also get less touches. Not a good move Ariza only took shots when he was open we all know artest is not going to do that. Not an upgrade defensively either.

I must strongly disagree with you my friend. Again, Artest has been accused of being a ballhog when in fact key injuries to his last two teams(Sac Town & Houston)have forced him into a role of "doing it all" including scoring and taking bad shots.

He's a third option star IMO. I'm not saying that he doesn't freelance too often from time to time because he does. Put him in the right role next to nos. 1 and 2(Kobe/Gasol...TMac/Yao.....Kevin Martin/Bibby) and he's not a chemistry killer IMO.

From what I know of the triangle offense it's very structured and disciplined so guys know when to pass, when to shoot and when to give it to Kobe

.
We'll see...
Outstanding aquisition by the LakeShow.

Renz · July 5th, 2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojorizen7

This is way off base in reference to Artest. This writer is clearly a baseball fan.

Plashke just threw that in to bolster his argument, even though it is BS. Artest keeps himself in great physical shape.

As far as being an "old 29", as Plaschke also claims, that's more rhetoric to back up a baseless argument. Artest has only played in 44 playoff games in his 10-year-career. Why does Plaschke consider Artest an "old 29"? Funny that he doesn't elaborate because he is obviously clueless.

Bufalay · July 5th, 2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renz

Plashke just threw that in to bolster his argument, even though it is BS. Artest keeps himself in great physical shape.

As far as being an "old 29", as Plaschke also claims, that's more rhetoric to back up a baseless argument. Artest has only played in 44 playoff games in his 10-year-career. Why does Plaschke consider Artest an "old 29"? Funny that he doesn't elaborate because he is obviously clueless.

Old 29 because he's been in the NBA for 10 years.

Donald · July 5th, 2009, 06:53 PM

Bill Plashke is a freaking moron. If Kevin Ding or Roland Lazenby has issues with the deal, then I'd listen. But Adande, Plashke, et al are a bunch of loons.

cardsfanmd · July 6th, 2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donald

Bill Plashke is a freaking moron. If Kevin Ding or Roland Lazenby has issues with the deal, then I'd listen. But Adande, Plashke, et al are a bunch of loons.

yeah that ^