<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Trouble is starting to swirl around the Indiana Pacers, and Ron Artest is right in the middle of it. The Pacers started the season 14-2, but Saturday night's loss to New Jersey dropped them to 7-8 in their last 15 games. That prompted coach Rick Carlisle to criticize Artest and the team, saying customers "got gypped" by the performance. Artest was benched the entire second half against the Nets after an uninspired first half and a halftime argument with Carlisle. Carlisle cited Artest for "conduct detrimental to winning." It was the first sign of dissent from Artest this season after he was suspended for 12 games and fined $155,000 last year. Artest has been frustrated with Carlisle's structured offense, which calls for set plays on most trips down the floor. Carlisle was ejected in the third quarter for arguing with the officials and delivered a stern message to Artest and the team after the game. "We've got some guys here who just don't get it," Carlisle said. "If nothing else, if we don't win a game, it's my job more than anything to make sure that they get it. And they're going to." Otherwise, he said, players will stay on the bench.</div> Full Story
I saw the game.. Artest was invisible the first half, but he wasn?t the only one. Clearly, Carlisle was looking for a confrontation at halftime, and Artest was the one to bite. Overall, it?s hard to win games when you shoot .364 FG and turnover the ball 17 times.
Carlisle probably wanted to use Artest as an example for the rest of the team. As their new coach, he probably feels they aren't adapting well to his methods. All I know for sure is that he is an excellent coach, and he took the Pistons from missing the playoffs to the Conference finals. If the Pacers learn his system and are willing to play for Rick Carlisle, they will succeed.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting magicfrankie:</div><div class="quote_post">I saw the game.. Artest was invisible the first half, but he wasn?t the only one. Clearly, Carlisle was looking for a confrontation at halftime, and Artest was the one to bite. </div>I feel the same way. Artest put it this way: "He [Carlisle] thought something was wrong with me," Artest said. "There's nothing wrong with me. I took three bad shots. Everybody's not going to be perfect all the time. I don't see a problem." He didn't even get a chance to prove Carlisle wrong and obviously this wasn't a good day for Rick as he got tossed in the third quarter. I understand that he benches Artest for the first half if he wants to make a statement. But the whole game?
The Pacers' set play is not working as well as before. Actually I prefer Isiah Thomas' uptempo offense better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting franchise3:</div><div class="quote_post">The Pacers' set play is not working as well as before. Actually I prefer Isiah Thomas' uptempo offense better.</div> That's why Isiah would do well to coach in the West. Teams in the East really need to focus more on defense. Well...we all know Bird didn't think he could work with Thomas, so the Pacers will have to adapt to Carlisle's game.
The Pacers are starting to see the problems that they received when they hired Carlisle. The Pistons had the same problems, and it is offense. Carlisle doesn't run fast breaks, he runs every play and he tries to slow down the game. The players have no real offensive freedom as they have to run set players all the time. The Pistons dealt with it, now the Pacers will have fun with his coaching. (Not that I think Carlisle is a bad coach, he just needs to open up on offense, and if things don't change I wish the Pistons could have him back)
One thing Pacers players need to learn about Rick is he takes nothing from nobody.Unless you play the way he wants you will be sitting on the bench or the trading block.He likes to run things in a set offense..Artest likes to get out and run...Thats not the way Carisle likes to do things.
Since Carlisle and Bird want to remake the Hoosiers movie, I would gladly give them Keith Van Horn for Artest. Keith would be a nice fit for them.
