Rodman was a winner, but is Artest?

anique_24 · Aug 14, 2009

Since Ron Artest signed with the Lakers, there has been a lot of media commentary comparing him with Dennis Rodman. Many journalists have commented that if Phil Jackson could handle a "locker room maelstrom" like Rodman, he'd have similar success with Artest. Was Rodman as difficult to coach as the media claims? And how do you think Artest will react to playing under Jackson? — Jake Huneycutt, Fairfax, VA

Once the game lights were turned on Rodman was relatively easy to coach. He knew his role, didn't demand the ball, played with great intelligence, and was rarely out of position at either end of the court. However, getting him to games, practices and team flights on time was frequently difficult — primarily because of his party-hearty tendencies. Sometimes, just waking him up in the morning was a problem.

Rodman was also prone to question the will to win of his teammates-of-the-moment. With the Spurs (1993-95), he felt that chief among others David Robinson wasn't prepared to go the extra mile required to win championships, and this is what ultimately shortened — by mutual consent — his stay in San Antonio. When Rodman truly respected his teammates — as he did in Detroit and Chicago — he was always a well-liked and positive presence in the locker room.

Overall, virtually all of Rodman's difficulties resulted from his inclination to fervidly pursue the satisfaction of every impulse that came over him. When he was with the Bulls, the team tried to find a way for Rodman to short-circuit his impulse to rail at any referee who made what he believed to be an unjust call. So they had him place a thick rubber band tightly around his left wrist with orders to sharply snap the band whenever he felt like yapping at a ref. The idea being that the flash of pain would derail his latest impulse. The tactic worked for a while, then to the staff's amazement Rodman took to continually snapping the rubber band even when he had no immediate beef with the refs.

What was that all about?

"It felt good," said Rodman.

In other words, Rodman's personality contained elements of childish self-indulgence, shameless exhibitionism (his wedding dress!), a touch of masochism, along with a high degree of natural intelligence.

Rodman won five NBA titles, three with Jackson and the Bulls. (Barry Gossage / CREWCHIEFCLUB.COM)

Artest is another story altogether. He's more of a bully than was Rodman and always insists on being the center of attention — as when he announced that one of his priorities with the Rockets would be to teach Yao Ming what America was really all about. Which is also the basic reason why Artest wants an inordinate number of touches on offense, takes so many ill-advised shots, and tries to intimidate the players he's guarding with often spurious boasts.

Artest, then, is much more of an egomaniac than Rodman.

A member of the coaching staff on one of the teams Artest played for also says that there are only two guys who could possibly control Ron-Ron — Pat Riley and Phil Jackson.

"Forget about Artest taking orders from a coach who never played in the league," says this particular source. "Not even Gregg Popovich could possibly get him to behave. And forget about Artest respecting a coach who had played in the NBA but who hadn't won a championship as a player. That's why Rick Adelman couldn't really connect with Artest. So I think that Phil has the best chance of any other active coach to keep Artest relatively sane."

Moreover, after playing for four teams during his nine-year NBA career without advancing into a championship series, Artest is by all reports intent on winning a ring. And it's certainly reasonable to believe that even Ron-Ron understands that Kobe Bryant is necessarily the Lakers' most dominant player and personality.

But being rational has never been a part of Artest's game plan.

Will he, then, buy into the ball-sharing, shot-sacrificing attitude that characterizes the triangle offense? He can if Jackson makes one critical adjustment: Posting up Artest as much as possible. That's because Artest is a monster in the low post, where he can score points by the dozen, draw fouls, make alert passes, and bask in the spotlight. In fact, Artest is unquestionably the most unstoppable low-post force on his new team. Better in the pivot than Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and even Kobe.

Still, Artest has often routinely exhibited such bizarre behavior as to leave onlookers speechless. Smashing expensive TV cameras. Diving into the stands to assault a fan.

If you have a question or comment for Charley Rosen, submit it below and Charley may just respond.
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And so on and on.

Here's the latest example:

Last spring, the Rockets were preparing to face the Lakers in the seventh and deciding game of the Western Conference semifinals. The most critical game of Houston's season.

Traditionally, players are required to show up in the locker room 90 minutes before game time or else face a fine, a suspension, or both. Since the Rockets were away from home, bus transportation was provided from the hotel to the Staples Arena.

The first bus was timed to arrive at Staples two hours before tip-off. Expected on board were the rookies, who always had to come early to get taped; any veterans who wanted to get some extra shooting practice; the public relations staff; as well as the assistant coach who was responsible for transcribing the scouting report on the grease board mounted in the locker room.

The next departure from the hotel was designed to get the rest of the players and the rest of the coaching staff to the arena before the 90-minute cutoff. Since the coaching staff always commences their pre-game scouting report 45 minutes before the game begins, the players on this bus would have 45 minutes to dress, get taped, and do some extra shooting on their own.

The third bus contained team officials, guests, wives, girlfriends and assorted hangers-on, and would arrive at Staples 30 minutes before tip-off. Time to grab something to eat in the media room and get comfortably settled in their assigned seats.

Artest missed the first bus, and missed the second bus. He did board the third bus, but was dressed only in his underwear!!!

There's only one thing left to say: Good luck, Phil. You'll need it.
Click to expand...

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9934370/Rodman-was-a-winner,-but-is-Artest?

Rosen's at it again.

elcap15 · Aug 17, 2009

every team Artest has been on was better with him than without.

anique_24 · Aug 17, 2009

I hate that article. lol

ace · Aug 17, 2009

In his underwear? I LOL every time I read that. Good luck with Artest.

elcap15 · Aug 18, 2009

ace said: ↑

In his underwear? I LOL every time I read that. Good luck with Artest.
Click to expand...

Between bus rides in his skivies and walking in on Kobe showering, Artest is being mentioned in some compromising stories.

anique_24 · Aug 18, 2009

I bet he's just projecting a tough guy image when in fact, he is really gay.

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Rodman was a winner, but is Artest?

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Rodman was a winner, but is Artest?

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