http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...ws/13751208.htm Now before we all start saying "he couldnt even last one week before he started running his mouth off"... I caught the interview with him on the local sports talk radio yesterday where they went over this and he explained his position a bit better than it comes across in print. His position is simply that there is too much talent on this team to not make a complete turnaround and that the playoffs are not completely out of reach but everyone on the team is going to have pick up the defense and he is certainly going to be leading the charge on that one. Nice words, but do you think it will happen? I for one dont think it will happen without them backing into the playoffs, but I think I might enjoy the games a lot more this year if they at least come out swinging with their fists rather than swinging in a hammock
I think Artest is pushing it a bit by making these predictions. It's very possible, they need to win at least 24 games before the season ends to hope to make a spot.
I think that Artest needs to stop smoking with Sheed, these players making guarantees are getting ridiculous. Shaq still hasn't brought Miami a championship, or even made them a serious contender. Why can't these guys just let their play on the court speak for itself. Why make yourself a target for every team in the league. Just play your hardest every game, and enjoy your mansion in the offseason.
Artest has watch his mouth, one little injury can kill their playoffs chances just like any other team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">I think that Artest needs to stop smoking with Sheed, these players making guarantees are getting ridiculous. Shaq still hasn't brought Miami a championship, or even made them a serious contender. Why can't these guys just let their play on the court speak for itself. Why make yourself a target for every team in the league. Just play your hardest every game, and enjoy your mansion in the offseason.</div> Saying Miami wasn't a serious cotender last year was ridiculous. They took Detroit to 7 games with a 50% Shaq and 50% Wade. Detroit lost in 7 games to San Anotonio. A lot of people believe if they weree healthy they would've won the title. I think they were definetly serious contenders last year. This year we have yet to know.
last year, but not this year... Detroit got better, Miami got worse... if Miami get some chmistry and J Will or pick up a SG for Walker
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting superman32:</div><div class="quote_post">last year, but not this year... Detroit got better, Miami got worse... </div> Thank you, that's exactly what I meant. They were a contender last year, but how can you make all those additions and be worse? It's mainly because Shaq is just going through the motions.
Lol, this reminds of the "Super Bowl Shuffle" haha ahh man I hope the Bears or any team never do something like that again. But Artest better be able to walk the walk not just talk the talk because that would just be hillarious if the Kings didn't make the play-offs and I see it being pretty tough for them to get in.
^ Alot of hate for the Kings and i just dont understand where it all comes from. I dont get how the Kings are an unlikeable team. Anyhow, after tonights loss against the Jazz the Kings will have to go something like 26-10 to close out the rest of the year if theyre going to have any chance of making the playoffs. That would be quite a turnaround for a team that has no idea how to play together. How the hell do the Kings score below 80 points in 2 out of their last 4 games? The Raptors started the season 1-15 and now theyre only 2 games behind the Kings. Wow. Talk about underachieving.
No no, I like the Kings. I love Mike Bibby, its just they are going to play very good basketball to make the playoffs.
2 reasons they will make it: 1) The Artest thing shakes them up, gives them a new lease on life. His defense will inspire them. 2) There's way too many playoff-tested veterans on this team. Bibby, Brad Miller, Bonzi - these guys are vets. 3) Even though the West is still a deeper conference than the East, this is one of the weaker Westerns since the Laker's dynasty ended. 3 reasons they won't: 1) Their identity was harder to see before the Artest trade, now it's even harder to see. You hardly want to reinvent your system around Artest when who knows if he'll even be back next year. At the same time you want to take advantage of him, you hardly want him to be a 3rd or 4th option. So what do you do, split the difference? That doesn't really work. Adelman has his hands full. 2) they don't have much of a bench. Those skinny rooks are promising but you can hardly rely on them to give you meaningful playoff minutes. Guys like Brad Miller and Bibby - they're not exactly energizer bunnies like Rip Hamilton let's face it, these guys are 30 something minute players not 40 something minute players. 3) Their backcourt is slow. Bibby isn't the same as he was back in 2001. The game has sped up a bit and he looks kind of slow for a PG nowadays when you have TJ Ford, Parker, Chris Paul and guys like that. They are weak in terms of a slasher, 2 guard, playmaker type. All the best teams have a guy like this an x factor that can break teams down. Dallas has several, Phoenix has Diaw (not your typical slasher but he has that game) to go with Nash, Miami was Wade, you get the picture. They are seriously lacking speed at the 2 spot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PortlandLeBron:</div><div class="quote_post">No no, I like the Kings. I love Mike Bibby, its just they are going to play very good basketball to make the playoffs.</div> they cant win on the road. They might be able to figure it out at some point this season, but I dont really think they are going to be able to do that before times runs out on em. They are a lot more fun to watch these days however.
They pretty much have to go .750 the rest of the way in order to have a chance. That type of record takes some consistency and this team would be hard pressed to come up with it all of the sudden and maintain consistency the rest of the year. Crazier things have happened though.
What's the point of him guarenting it? 99% of the basketball world knew when Artest came in SAC was gonna go crazy good. Artest makes others around him better. His D is helping team and all the attention he draws frees up Kevin Martin. Artest is a warrior he'd rather die than go to lottery.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Diesel:</div><div class="quote_post">Saying Miami wasn't a serious cotender last year was ridiculous. They took Detroit to 7 games with a 50% Shaq and 50% Wade. Detroit lost in 7 games to San Anotonio. A lot of people believe if they weree healthy they would've won the title. I think they were definetly serious contenders last year. This year we have yet to know.</div> Not to go off topic or anything, but Detroit also had a couple of 50% players, mainly there number one scorer, Rip Hamilton. The Heat were always serious contenders, but they were considered to be the number two team in the East. They would have needed to pull off two upsets to win the championships. In the end, it was too much to ask for. Anyway, on the topic, you get a feeling that Artest is trying to clean up his image. It's new hearing something reasonable coming from his mouth.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_fan:</div><div class="quote_post">Not to go off topic or anything, but Detroit also had a couple of 50% players, mainly there number one scorer, Rip Hamilton. The Heat were always serious contenders, but they were considered to be the number two team in the East. They would have needed to pull off two upsets to win the championships. In the end, it was too much to ask for. Anyway, on the topic, you get a feeling that Artest is trying to clean up his image. It's new hearing something reasonable coming from his mouth.</div> So are you telling me that a 50% Rip Hamilton is more valuable to the Pistons than a 50% Wade and Shaq? That's like taking Rip out of the game and taking Shaq and Wade out of the game. That would be a complete blowout and rape by the Pistons. Wade probably wasn't even 50% because he relies on his quickness and durability to drive it in. That injury was killer for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Diesel:</div><div class="quote_post">So are you telling me that a 50% Rip Hamilton is more valuable to the Pistons than a 50% Wade and Shaq? That's like taking Rip out of the game and taking Shaq and Wade out of the game. That would be a complete blowout and rape by the Pistons. Wade probably wasn't even 50% because he relies on his quickness and durability to drive it in. That injury was killer for him.</div> If I can remember correctly, Rasheed was also having problems. The key to Detroit is that they are all equally good players, perhaps with Tayshaun being a little below. Detroit's team is all about the chemistry and not one of the players are the stars of the team. With the injuries known, Rasheed and Rip, their chemistry was somewhat broken. The bottom line is, that Detroits team were able to suck up the injuries and win the series. I'm not indicating that the injuries by the Detroit players were as serious as the Miami injuries, but they were pretty close. Shaq shouldn't even be mentioned, what do you expect from him? A Shaq with no injury is not the real Shaq. I mean, when was the last time he wasn't injured?
Well, Miami did suck up the injuries too, Dwyane Wade came in game 7 after getting about 3 pain relieving injections, and Shaq was fighting as hard as he could to stay in the game. If I remember correctly, the Pistons won game 7 by a huge offensive board by Rasheed, and it was 82-84 before 4 Piston free throws that sealed the game. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not indicating that the injuries by the Detroit players were as serious as the Miami injuries, but they were pretty close.</div> They were pretty close? I don't buy that. Where did you get this info? Anyway, I think the Heat still should have won that series. Shaq was injured in the first game, where doctors limited his minutes, nevertheless he got like 4 dunks in the opening period against Big Ben. Wade was injured pretty badly in game 7. Anyway to get back on topic, I think that these gurantees made by players are really dumb, they don't mean much and are usually negative consequence bringing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting houston_owns_u:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyway to get back on topic, I think that these gurantees made by players are really dumb, they don't mean much and are usually negative consequence bringing.</div> Tell Rasheed Wallace that. Everytime he gaurensheeds something, it becomes true.
Great to see it. The Kings looked goodover the weekend. But the competition for the 6,7 and 8 spots will not be decided until the last week. I think the Hornets will get one and probably the Lakers, and if Sacramento can run off 8 and 9 long win streaks between losses for the remainder of the season, it may be statistically more than possible. Personally I think they were 2-3 weeks too late with the trade.
