It's been about a week since the Lakers signed Ron Artest, and I still don't think his acquisition necessarily makes L.A. a better team or one that is more likely to repeat.I'll admit that I don't know why, exactly. I know, I know, it doesn't make total sense. You drop a talented player like Artest onto the Lakers' roster and how can't it make them better, right?
I get it; I'm just not with you. There's just something uncertain about the Artest-to-the-Lakers move that I can't put my finger on.
Maybe it has something to do with the assumption Artest is no longer the volatile personality he's been in the past, or the supposition that coach Phil Jackson can keep Artest productive.
Those two things aren't locks. Sure, Artest seems to have toned things down in the past couple of years, but we've seen indications during that same period that he can still run right up to the edge at times. That he hasn't gone over recently is no assurance he won't soon.
And as great as Jackson is as a coach, he has had times in the past when players have not flourished or responded under him. Heck, Kobe Bryant has had stretches where Jackson didn't get the most out of him.
For everyone who mentions that Jackson brought out the best in Dennis Rodman, it also must be pointed out that Jackson didn't get the most out of Isaiah Rider (Remember: "Phillip?") or Mitch Richmond. How did Gary Payton do under Jackson?
Those were not dissimilar acquisitions than the Lakers getting Artest.
Part of this does have to do with Artest as a player. He does tend to dominate the ball, a no-no in the triangle offense. But it's also about the Lakers' dynamic, not only on the court but in the locker room.
It's not just Artest and Kobe. What about the rest of the locker room? What about Andrew Bynum's growth as a player? What about Derek Fisher's role in the locker room. The Lakers' chemistry has been honed to virtual perfection over the past couple of years.
Anytime you add and subtract from the roster you risk fooling with that. When the one added is Artest, isn't it fair to say the risk gets higher? That sure seems reasonable.
There is no doubt you can look at the Lakers and say (assuming they re-sign Lamar Odom) they've gotten better on paper. Artest is better than Trevor Ariza at this point.
But they play the game on the hardwood, and I'm not yet sold that the Lakers will be better there. But I'll admit ... I'm not exactly sure why.
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
As a Laker's fan, I will be very surprised if they repeat...Artest isn't necessarily the best chemistry and while I'm chagined at Trevor thinking that the $5.7 he got from Houston indicated that he was wanted more than the $5.6 mid level exception available with Lakers...I'm even more concerned now that Lamar is going to "have to look after my family" by going somewhere else for more money to a place with no shot at the ring...it appears that money's the thing until someone is so old without one that they're willing to forgoe the bucks for the shot...(see KG, Ray Allen, Gary Payton, and a host of others)....unless of course you've already made so much that now you're thinking about your legacy or HOF cred...oh well...it was only a pipe dream to think there were many players out there who simply love basketball and love winning more than money...Trevor is the latest casualty to this philosophy...bye bye Trevor, don't let the championship door hit you on the way out...you'll never get another shot at it, or at best, it'll be years and years...the rockets are nowhere close and won't be for a long time...as for Artest....well tic, tic, tic...
Well, well, well another butthead with a STUPID COMMENT. Let this play out. Jackson will get the best out of Ron. He brings a toughest to the team. I really think people are very scared that LA might repeat, big problem for the haters....smile.
If we sign Lamar, we're definitely better on paper, but the game is played on the court. We lost a lot with Ariza, but we gained something with Artest. I think we'll be better, just because of the toughness and intimidation factor Artest brings, which we have'nt had since Shaq, but it's always hard to repeat as Boston found out.
Ronnie will be great with the Lakers. He is a 100% team player, plays great D and is never selfish. Wish he never left Indiana.
The writer of this article is about as confused as a fly on which turd to land on... If you's can't figure it out then let it play out!!! Poor Trevor, he made a choice for himself and a ring is not in his best interest, he want's to be the star, the Kobe,the team leader, and he will fade away into the same pattern as well as the other laker wanna be's who went after the money first then the team, good luck Trevor, you did get one ring, which is one more than most NBA players will ever get. Artest knows, more than we think, sheesh, he knows that the best chance for a ring is with the Laker's, they will always be in the mix, because everyone knows LA's their best chance. If Lebron want's a ring he has to be a Laker, the poopy cav's will not happen!!! Repeat is all on the minds of the Lakers and their fans, yeah baby dream all you want, we have Kobe and Jack!!!
He's a perfect fit. Kobe will keep him on a leash like his personal pit bull..
I think it will definietely be a plus.
Bynum can still grow. Gasol will keep doing his thing, Ariza will continue to be better and Odem
is always the ace in the hole. Now with Artest,
the Lakers have all the ammunition they need for a repeat. Artest wants a "ring"
GO kobe....Go Lakers.
marylulu325
I hate to tell you this.....ARIZA IS NOT WITH THE LAKERS ANYMORE!!
Matt Steinmetz- You don't know why you think that the Artest experiment will fail? It's called wishful thinking. After all, you are from the Bay area; you are an ardent supporter of the Golden State Warriors; and, thus, I suspect, that you dislike anything and everything from southern California, including the Lakers.
Unfortunately for you, Artest will more than adequately replace Ariza. Whether the Lakers will come back with a championship trophy, however, will hinge on the following questions:
(1) Will they be able to sign Odom? It may be the Lakers are waiting to see if Millsap signs with Portland (in which case, Odom likely will take the Laker 8 million offer) or if Utah matches Portland's offer, in which case the Lakers will probably offer Odom 9-10 million to try to keep him from going to Portland. However, this game of "chicken" could backfire on the Lakers.
(2) Will Bynum get back to the form he had last year prior to his injury? In a couple of the playoff games, he showed flashes of doing just that, but for the most part, he appeared to lack the defensive quickness and offensive explosiveness that he exhibited earlier in the season. I think that next year he will regain that form and average 15 points and 10 rebounds.
(3) Will Farmar and Sasha find their missing 3 point shots? When these guys were on, the Lakers second unit was the best in the league and generally would increase any inherited lead. However, when these guys were off, as they were much of the second half of last season and throughout the playoffs, the second unit surrendered a lot of big leads. It appeared that Phil Jackson's tendency to quickly pull these two players destroyed their confidence and was a big factor in their shooting troubles.
(4) How effective will Fisher be next year, given that he will be another year older?
(5) If Fisher loses some of his effectiveness, will Shannon Brown and Farmar be capable replacements?
(6) Can Morrison start making outside shots?
Agree with last post. It's just wishful thinking on your part, Matt. If you still perceive Artest as the uncontrollable headcase from his early days, you just haven't been watching basketball the past few years.
I wasted my time reading this blog...I'm not exactly sure why.
You can be sure LeBron James won`t be crying if LaMar Odom leaves the Lakers, perhaps forcing Artest to play power forward if Bynum continues to not play defense when paired with Gasol. Unless Odom signs with the Magic, who then might not miss Turkoglu as much as it looks like they will. So far, off season transactions have been moving in the direction of giving James a clear path to the Championship victory, despite the fact the Cavs. needed to CUT salary. Phoenix is paying Wallace $10 million a year NOT to play for them, to the Lakers can try picking him up if they think he can come back from his injury. But so can any other team. And Fisher couldn`t keep pace with the unknown Rocket guards. Is he going to be back at all next year, if not, who replaces him? If Brown and Farmer start at guard, with Bryant and Artest at forward, Ariza and Odom lost in free agency, who will back up at guard? Sun Yue?
They said the SMAE thing about Dennis Rodman. Tell me that Chiago was NOT a better team with out him. Go ahead, I am listining.......Truth is, you guys remember to much of the past. I watched front row, what Ron did to the TrailBlazers. Nope, Ron Artest and Kobe? Are you stupid? Hands down..........
I have no doubt that Artest will be a major contribution to L.A. I hope Ariza does well in Houston though, i really liked him as a player.
Giles...You know exactly NOTHING about the Lakers.
Lamar is spelled just as I wrote not "LaMar" as you wrote it,Fisher has 1 year left on his contract and will be back,Farmar and Brown would not both start in the backcourt because Kobe is a 2 guard and Artest and Gasol are the starting front court with Bynum at the 5.When Gasol moves to the 5 Josh Powell would be the 4 although there will be some moments where Artest is the 4.
Although in the triple post offense all parts are interchangeable.
Lastly and least important Sun Yue will not be back.
As long as the Lakers resign Odom they return to the Finals. Whether they repeat will depend on them staying healthy and hungry. Boston will be very tough with K.G. returning and the addition of Wallace. Cleveland has a chip on it's shoulder from the Orlando beat down. They also will be very motivated.
I was wondering what kind of lunatic wrote this article, and now I know: a Warriors fan. Meaning irrational hatred of all things outside of Oakland.
Nice to see everything in the article is automatically worthless then.
AFTER GIVING UP ARIZA AND STILL NOT SIGNING ODOM.................I FORSEE DARK CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON. SHOULD HAVE LEFT WELL ENOUGH ALONE. RESIGNED WHAT WE HAVE!
A person with some sense. Well said, it is hard to repeat.
Three key points for Laker fans to remember: 1) Lamar Odom has not yet signed somewhere else, so could still resign with the Lakers; 2) Bynum should be recovering from his knee injury, and might learn to play defense instead of whining about not getting enough shots; and 3) even if Odom does leave, there are still other athletes the Lakers can sign IF they are willing to pay the luxury tax, and teams with a chance to win the championship if they add guys are more likely to pay the tax than other teams. So don`t assume a Cavaliers championship just yet, though it has been looking good for them so far this summer. And of course Bryant is currently a two guard, but he wins to win, if the team feels Bynum can`t play the D paired with Gasol, Artest won`t shirk from playing bigger guys, neither will Bryant. But Artest was added so he wouldn`t guard Bryant, and would guard Anthony and James so Bryant wouldn`t have to, which means the Lakers are hoping to have Artest at wing guard and/or wing forward, but Coach will adjust any way he has to in order to try to win.