I'm still not ruling out a 1990 type season for our boys....until we are knocked out the playoffs, we always have a shot to win the NBA title.
but but but, some guy named Yardape said it's not possible and that everyone who knows hoops would disagree. How can one possibly argue against that? STOMP
Artest was only able to ride Roy as much as he did because there wasn't one other perimeter player worth a fuck on the floor. If Roy had one other wing or pg that helped him out, he wouldn't have been as beat up or exhausted. Let's not give Artest credit for the failing of the Portland roster.
Artest WAS the best 1 on 1 defensive player in the NBA. He isn't anymore. Still pretty good, though. Also, Kobe isn't the best 1 on 1 offensive player anymore. Probably number 2 at this point. Number 1 would be King "The power forward point guard" James.
He earned every point? In the playoffs? How unusual. Artest truly is a monster out there. He's pretty good. He's not as good as he used to be, and only debatably better than Ariza defensively at this point. Roy was worn out because Houston threw both Artest and Battier at him. Yes, it's rough sledding when you have two good, committed defenders dogging your every move. And Roy still had a huge series. None of this suggests to me that Artest fundamentally changes anything.
It's fine to be optimistic, but unrealistic expectations just cause trouble. I'll make a prediction right now: before the end of 2009 either Canzano, Jaynes, or both will write an article proclaiming that the Blazers should win the 2010 title...and that the fans should turn on them if they fail to do so. Do some of you really enjoy setting the team up to fail?
I disagree. Kobe best one on one. Hardest to guard comin at you! And I would still take Artest over anybody in the league to D up up 2 or 3!
The thing that is funny is had the Blazers landed Artest everyone on this board myself included would be saying we now have our lock down defender we always needed. He goes to our hated enemy Lakers and his skills have diminished! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Do ya have to get a prescription for that color of ROSE???? Artest took the Rockets on his shoulders without Tmac and put them in the playoffs, imagine what he'll be able to do with the best player in the game Kobe, and the best coach in the league Phil? I call it like I see it! The Lakers got the best acquisition of the summer hands down! How will the Lakers this year be any easier for us to beat? They wont! That's why I have them in the finals!
It's interesting, the people most prone to trying to speak for everyone are generally people that I find the least suited to do so. I would have been interested in adding Artest as a solid defender and as a shoring up of the small forward rotation. But I certainly wouldn't have been saying what you ascribe to "everyone." Miller was always ahead of Artest on my wish list for the team. "Artest" is a pretty strange way to typo "Yao Ming."
If you're so sure, why don't you plop down a bunch of cash in Vegas and put your big mouth where your big money is? Nobody knows who is going to be in the finals next year; that's why they play the regular season.
Minstrel, how's that working out for ya? Being Clever! Clever and wrong, is still wrong! You can wrap it in any little song and dance ya want to; Artest is a major blow to us beating the Lakers this year and he's a hell of alot bigger pickup than Miller for a team needing toughness. That was the only knock on the Lakers team and they addressed it!
Um who was picked to win the NBA last year? Lakers! Did they win? Yes! Did they get worse in the offseason? No! Got better! Why is this a shock SHOOTER?
Oh. Good? I agree that "clever and wrong is still wrong." Wrong and anything is still wrong. Do you have analysis to show that I'm wrong beyond your say-so? I can't say I agree. Very few people believe Artest is still at his best, defensively. He's certainly a bigger name than Ariza, but Ariza is a very good defensive player who's entering his defensive prime and Artest is a very good defender who's exiting his (defensive prime, which is different from overall prime). The defensive difference between them is going to be very small if it exists at all. In addition, Ariza is a more efficient scorer. Artest is better at getting shots up, but he shoots them less efficiently. For a team with such good scoring options as Kobe, Gasol and Odom, a less-efficient shot creator is not a better fit than a more-efficient complementary player. Every shot that Artest creates beyond what Ariza would have is a shot he's taking away from Kobe/Gasol/Odom. And he'll use those shot attempts less efficiently. So, I see very little to suggest that the Lakers upgraded in swapping out Ariza for Artest. Artest is more famous, but that doesn't mean he's better or a superior fit.
I'm recalling arguing with Yardape over Chris Paul vs JJack prior to their draft. It was his stand that everyone who followed ACC hoops knew that Paul was Jack's bitch or some such nonsense, and that their pro careers would further reveal this. I disagreed. emphatically stating an opinion doesn't make it a fact... it may help to make a lasting impression though STOMP
...I agree 100% and started sharing these same thoughts with all of my Laker fan neighbors immeadiately after their pseudo-celebration at center court!!!
Stomp, in college JJ took his team further than Chris Paul ever did. That's a fact! Paul was physically manhandled by Jack for those who saw those games. Saying different is just wrong. Jack is and has not been the focus of his team since being a pro. Paul is expected to do everything except pass out drinks for the Hornets, of course their stats will be different now! If Jack was expected to do it all... I bet his #'s would be way up.... they weren't that bad last year and as a character guy goes Jack is a guy that anyone would want on their team. As far as the Artest debate goes... we'll see just how good the Lakers are with him... I feel Minstrel and others will frolick around their ignorance of sports yet again, but hey... that's what makes this board so much fun right?
