<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ron Artest has played in an All-Star Game and been named Defensive Player of the Year. This year, it's possible he will be eligible for another honor: Sixth Man of the Year. Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is considering bringing Artest off the bench this season. The move would balance the scoring between the first and second units, and make Artest more of an offensive focal point.</div>http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../510080444/1088
This is so stupid. Carlisle should get fired for this. Artest averages 20 and he can shutdown the other teams best scorer. There's no reason to even compare him with Ginobili. Artest will be mad if he's benched considering he waited a whole year for this season. Stephen Jackson and Fred Jones are good bench players who can give a spark to a team but you dont Bench Artest. Its like the AI situation.
Wow if he does that then it's a stupid move. The guy averaged 24 pts until he got suspended and putting him on the bench wouldn't be smart. I think he should be starter and after he plays as a starter for while,then it should be decided wether to have him come off the bench or not.
I don't believe this for a second, and I think Rick Carlisle is playing games with media. By making this statement the media can focus on the idea of Artest coming off the bench, instead of constantly reminding everyone about the brawl and his rap album.
before you second guess Carlisle... Two things: 1. Carlisle's record indicates he MIGHT know a thing or two about coaching. He also probably knows Ron better than anyone on this board so he might have a clue as to what makes him tick and what gets him fired up. 2. He said he would TRY it. He didn't say he's committed to having Ron not start one single game already.
He shouldnt be trying to bench an allstar, DPOY player who has been waiting a whole season for this. Miami wouldnt try to experience with Shaq and Wade on the bench. Artest is their best player next to O'Neal. Past times i havent second guessed Carlisle since he has done such a great job but this is ludacris. I think im starting to believe what ShapeCity said, maybe its a way to get the media of artest's back about the brawl and his rapping career. It can be a possibility. I want to see what Artest says about this. Like i said it might be an AI answer. "Since when have u heard of a mvp, allstar, etc on the bench".
theyre giving a whole lot of credit to granger.makes me think this guy must really be that good.to say that he may displace a DPOY and perenial allstar.woa he must be good. about the bench thing i dont think itll happen either but i think that carlisle has something planed first the moving him to pf now this..... hes definately planing something.
I agree with Phun, Carlisle is an excellent coach, he is allowed to experiment if he wants to. Or to get Granger some experience against starting quality players once he recovers from his knee injury. Carlisle will have Artest starting by playoffs if Artest off the bench isn't more benefitial.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GotSkillz92:</div><div class="quote_post">This is so stupid. Carlisle should get fired for this. Artest averages 20 and he can shutdown the other teams best scorer. There's no reason to even compare him with Ginobili. Artest will be mad if he's benched considering he waited a whole year for this season. Stephen Jackson and Fred Jones are good bench players who can give a spark to a team but you dont Bench Artest. Its like the AI situation.</div> Stephen Jackson will start at the 2 and the Ron Artest thing will not happen. Fred Jones is like Josh Smith has no game except his amazing dunks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">Stephen Jackson will start at the 2 and the Ron Artest thing will not happen. Fred Jones is like Josh Smith has no game except his amazing dunks.</div> I dont know about the Josh Smith situation because I havent caught many hawks games but Fred Jones is a good player. He really stepped up his game when they needed it after the brawl. He was one of the key components that made the pacers a playoff team. He picked up the load when times were hard for the Pacers. Jones is a young talent with lots of potential.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">Stephen Jackson will start at the 2 and the Ron Artest thing will not happen. Fred Jones is like Josh Smith has no game except his amazing dunks.</div> Since when do players like Smith that can play defense and rebound have no game?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">Stephen Jackson will start at the 2 and the Ron Artest thing will not happen. Fred Jones is like Josh Smith has no game except his amazing dunks.</div> Didn't watch too many games last year huh? As quoted from Fred Jone's Career Highlights on NBA.com <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In 14 starts in 2004-05, averaged 16.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.4 apg. </div>
yeah those stats are live but this year they will not be close they just have too many options people like granger and saunas will take time away from him.disapointing really would have loved to see him play alot more, with another summer under his belt.he could easily be fighting for the starting sg spot.
Artest could be the 12th man on the roster and he'd still get his 35 minutes a game regardless. Even if he comes off the bench, he'll still play big minutes and will be on the floor at every crucial stage in a game. It's just about finding the right mix, and Carlisle may want to experiment with a Jackson/Jones combination or even Danny Granger starting. People associate Artest coming off the bench with his minutes being cut, and that isn't necessarily the case.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">People associate Artest coming off the bench with his minutes being cut, and that isn't necessarily the case.</div> True, but it isn't necessarily not the case either. Starting is a respect thing, and I don't see Arty being happy in that role. It is hard to play 48 minutes when you are coming off the bench. I see it as a bold and smart move, bring one of the best players in the L off the bench to be fresh and chew up second units of force matchups to extend thier starters. It's kind of like the old Celtics team in the 80's. No rest for the other team. Artest won't like it, but until he can keep his head screwed down tighter for a while, he will accept it. I think he knows now that he is lucky to be playing at all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GotSkillz92:</div><div class="quote_post">He shouldnt be trying to bench an allstar, DPOY player who has been waiting a whole season for this. Miami wouldnt try to experience with Shaq and Wade on the bench. Artest is their best player next to O'Neal. Past times i havent second guessed Carlisle since he has done such a great job but this is ludacris. I think im starting to believe what ShapeCity said, maybe its a way to get the media of artest's back about the brawl and his rapping career. It can be a possibility. I want to see what Artest says about this. Like i said it might be an AI answer. "Since when have u heard of a mvp, allstar, etc on the bench".</div> Correct me if I'm wrong, since I'm not really into the old school basketball, but didn't Kevin McHale play the 6th man role in Boston when he was younger? And wasn't he allstar material then. If I recall correctly, he only began to start after a few years.
I really don't see why he'd play off the bench. His defense prevents the other team's offensive from getting off to a good start, and his offense is just as solid. I could envision a Jones/Jackson lineup, as the team could run and get some quick points to get an early lead, but I think that Artest starting would be more effective.
