<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest, the NBA's 2003-04 defensive player of the year, likes the intense defense Spurs forward Bruce Bowen plays but doesn't believe Bowen should win the award this season. "They should just give it to me," Artest said. "Guys are having 40 (point games), and they play against me and don't get nothing. I'm playing some good D." After asserting his right to the award in a locker-room interview before the game, Artest spoke briefly to Bowen before tipoff and told him they should share the award. Artest, who was placed on the inactive list by the Indiana Pacers after he demanded a trade in mid-December, has played in only 50 games this season, 33 since being traded to the Kings. If he plays the rest of the Kings' schedule, he would have missed 26 of 82 games after what amounted to a paid suspension by the Pacers. He does not think the missed games should be a factor to voters. "It shouldn't be," he said, "especially if we do well and get to where we need to go (and make the playoffs). I've been doing the same things, and I don't have Jermaine (O'Neal) behind me this year." Artest believes he should have been defensive player of the year more than once. "I feel like Ben Wallace stole it," Artest said of the Detroit Pistons' center who has won the award three times in the past four seasons. "Well, he didn't steal it, but I feel like I gave him three defensive player of the years. I gave him one that year I got in trouble ... that year I was suspended." Artest said he often doesn't get a chance to see other players play, other than in highlights. Those, of course, rarely show great defensive plays. "Has Bruce been playing good defense?" Artest said. "I haven't really checked him out. Of course, he's a good defender, but I don't really know who's stopping this year." </div> Source
granted I have not had many chances to watch bowen this year so I really cant compare them, but last night it didnt appear that bowen was espeically effective defensively. I will say that artest is pretty much shutting down most other players he comes up against with few defensive lapses. I dont know about the best in the game... deserving of consideration for DPOTY? without a doubt... but best? I dont know if i can say that at this point.
"Ben Wallace stole it." Yeah, okay Ron. Shut up and prove it. You've already predicted 2nd round let's see if you're right.
they had a good win last night he played a good game. they need to give him the ball more. but to the subject i don't think he is the best defender in the nba i can't say that. he might be on the top 10 best defenders but not the best. he has not showed me good defense in all his games yet.
Artest has to be a top 2 defensive player in the league. You could make a case that Zo is better, but to me thats it. Ron Artest made the KINGS a GOOD defensive team! We're talking about the Kings here, quite possibly the worst defensive team in the league.
I really like what AK47 does on defense. He's all over the place deflecting passes or blocking shots. I love Ron Artest, but he's only played a small fraction of the season. As for his Ben Wallace comment. Someone needs to remind Artest stealing is part of being a good defender. So there!
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I really like what AK47 does on defense. He's all over the place deflecting passes or blocking shots.</div> amen. I love AK-47. he's the best defender, because not only does he play great man defense like Artest and Bowen, but he's also one of the top help defenders in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I really like what AK47 does on defense. He's all over the place deflecting passes or blocking shots. I love Ron Artest, but he's only played a small fraction of the season. As for his Ben Wallace comment. Someone needs to remind Artest stealing is part of being a good defender. So there!</div> Steals aren't that big of a factor. What matters is shutting down your man, getting a hand in his face everytime, altering shots, harrasing the ball handler. Gruesome defense if you will. Better than Ben Wallace? Hmmmmmm. I think he in the top 5 defenders in the league among B. Wallace, Bowen, G. Wallace, and Larry Hughes(when healthy). I don't think he is better than B. Wallace in defense as a whole but I think he is good at shutting down individual players. Ben Wallace gives an aura on the court. There is a difference between an all around defender and an idividual one. Bowen, Hughes, and Artest are these while Ben Wallace, and Gerald Wallace are the all around defenders. Gerald Wallace is great, I love the guy and think he is underrated but he isn't winning games. He is on a losing team so apparently his defense isn't that much of a factor in games. I also like AK-47 but same situation with Gerald. Truth be told AK-47 CAN really do it all. The guy is a beast compared to most.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Steals aren't that big of a factor. What matters is shutting down your man, getting a hand in his face everytime, altering shots, harrasing the ball handler. Gruesome defense if you will.</div> Agreed. Steal's aren't a measure of great defense. Defense is all about holding the player you are guarding to a minimum amount of points. Let's take the example of Allen Iverson and Shaquille O'Neal. AI average's 2.00 steals a game, Shaq average's 0.41 steals a game. Who is the better defender? Who shuts down their man more? The answer is Shaq. The same goes for shot blocking aswell. There's only been 3 occasions in the last 20 years when a DPOY also lead the league in SPG.
hmmmm... i like AK47 but you really cant test his D coz all the top gunners are guards and he usually guards big men 3 or 4's ehem ehem! ron isnt 100% correct, kobe had a lot i thnink 30+ the last time the lakers and king played... lakers beat sac.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Steals aren't that big of a factor. What matters is shutting down your man, getting a hand in his face everytime, altering shots, harrasing the ball handler. Gruesome defense if you will.</div> Saying that, how could you cite Larry Hughes as an elite defender? He's a defensive risk taker through and through. He'll get good numbers because of his quickness playing the passing lanes, but he's not a top-notch defensive player. To me, what sets Ron apart is his versatility on defense. When most defenders only defend their own position, Ron can guard the other 2s, 3s, sometimes even 4s and 5s because of his strength. Gerald and AK are obviously amazing defenders, but G is usually only guarding 3s, and AK's mainly on big men. Ron can guard almost the whole court. All that said, I think there are three players in the running. Ron, Bowen, and B Wallace. Ron and Bowen are in the same boat, powerful 3s who can guard a number of positions. B Wallace is up there just because of his dominance. Stick him in the paint and you take away 10 points from the other team, automatically. Combine that with his incredible rebounding, and he's easily a candidate to win the award.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Salim For 3:</div><div class="quote_post">Saying that, how could you cite Larry Hughes as an elite defender? He's a defensive risk taker through and through. He'll get good numbers because of his quickness playing the passing lanes, but he's not a top-notch defensive player. To me, what sets Ron apart is his versatility on defense. When most defenders only defend their own position, Ron can guard the other 2s, 3s, sometimes even 4s and 5s because of his strength. Gerald and AK are obviously amazing defenders, but G is usually only guarding 3s, and AK's mainly on big men. Ron can guard almost the whole court. All that said, I think there are three players in the running. Ron, Bowen, and B Wallace. Ron and Bowen are in the same boat, powerful 3s who can guard a number of positions. B Wallace is up there just because of his dominance. Stick him in the paint and you take away 10 points from the other team, automatically. Combine that with his incredible rebounding, and he's easily a candidate to win the award.</div> Now thats where I'd put Hughes, defensive play isn't always that gruesome D. Defensive play can also come in the form of reading passing lanes and attacking those lanes.
dont forget Marcus Camby. My List: AK-47 Ben Wallace Bruce Bowen Ron Artest Camby G-Wallace Zo's recent injury is going to hurt his chances.
Artest held Lebron to 18 points when the the Cavs first played the Kings with Artest. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ben Wallace gives an aura on the court. There is a difference between an all around defender and an idividual one.</div> Well, since acquiring Artest the Kings are one of the better defensive teams in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CRM2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">Bowen for dirtiest player of...all time?</div> Nope. Watch some tape of those old Pistons teams, Laimbeer, Rodman, all those dudes were dirtier than Bowen.
