Lakers downplay Ron Artest trade story
As soon as Lakers forward Ron Artest caught wind that an ESPN story quoted a source close to him that he wants the Lakers to trade him, Artest says he thought one thing.
"I just wanted to get some breakfast and go to practice," said Artest, the last player in the gym working on his shooting. "You can't worry about it."
That's the mantra the rest of the Lakers took and it consisted of all the typical ways teams downplay media reports.
Some tactics included avoiding comment because the report included an unnamed source: "I've known Marc Stein for a long time," Bryant said of the ESPN.com writer. "I'm not going to comment on an unnamed source. I'm not going to question the credibility of his story, but unnamed sources I don't comment on."
Some offered contrary evidence: "I don't get the sense Ron's not interested in being here," Lakers guard Derek Fisher said.
And some used the opportunity to defend Artest, whom the article says he feels unfairly scapegoated for the Lakers' inconsistencies: "I dont blame him," Coach Phil Jackson said of Artest, who has career lows in points per game (8.1) and minutes played (27.8) and has had inconsistent defensive performances. "He's like the new guy on the block. Sometimes that happens. I understand there's been some newspaper articles about his performances. He doesn't get picked on here."
What's more revealing regarding this situation isn't so much whether Artest wants to be traded (the report says he does and Artest's agent, David Bauman, immediately denied it,). It's that all accounts acknowledge the frustration Artest has experienced this season in dealing with a more limited role and bouts of inconsistency.
"The frustration is there among everyone on the team." Bauman said. "But Ron is a Laker, and he just wants to win. Ron is frustrated with the losing, as everybody is."
"Just because you're not comfortable doesn't mean that you're not happy," Artest said. "Obviously when I was on other teams, I got a lot of touches. But I'm playing with the greatest player in the history of the game, and I'm playing with All-Stars. I don't have a problem with looking bad on the court for the benefit of the team."
It'll prove difficult for the Lakers to trade him anyway, considering his age (31), tradable value and the three years and $21.8 million remaining on his contract after this season. For the time being, what's more important involves how Artest handles that frustration. That was actually a source of a recent conversation Ron said he had with his brother Daniel, who's well known for tweeting unfiltered thoughts regarding the NBA and timely topics, including Ron. He said he warned his brother about limiting what he tweets about him so that any grievances don't become exaggerated.
"He's mad because I'm not playing well," Artest said of his brother. "I keep telling him, I'm grown and I'm not worried about that stuff anymore."
Jackson shared that same perspective. That's a fairly significant step in his relationship with Artest considering his tendency to offer public criticism regarding his play, a pattern that led the two to have a disagreement at practice earlier in the season in which Artest told Jackson to stop criticizing him publicly to reporters and in front of the team. But Jackson expressed a much different tone after Wednesday's practice, pointing out Artest's limited role and recent defensive struggles point to a thigh injury he suffered during the Lakers' game Sunday against Boston, refusing to make much of the report, expressing confidence Artest wants to remain on the team. He even went so far to say that he enjoys picking on Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom more: "Lamar is more my whipping boy. And Pau. Those two guys. The big guys are a big part of our defensive game.”
"I think Ron enjoys being in L.A," Jackson said. "I think he likes the Lakers. I think he likes the action. I think he likes the attention we get as a basketball club. I think that feeds into who he is as a person."
Artest put that on full display in front of reporters after Wednesday's practice. He was extremely vocal when he was asked if he wants to be traded. "No. Definitely not." Artest appeared shocked when asked if he was happy. "You got to ask a better question than that. We're having a great time here. That's a horrible question." And he deftly reminded everyone how he battled similar struggles last season only to come out in heroic fashion in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. "I rose above everybody and started floating in the air when everybody was talking trash. I was floating and all you media guys were down here and I was just floating like an angel above everybody."
But how that will translate onto the court and whether the same script plays out appears uncertain. The Lakers and Artest, however, revealed after Sunday that they're ready to work together.
"I feel good every day," Artest said. "We've got a chance to win multiple championships here...trying to work towards another banner."
--Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
Ron is going anywhere, he doesn't even has a ring yet...
Posted by: Magic Phil | February 02, 2011 at 04:34 PM
where's "phred...." when you need him?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcHPNUN-U8E
Posted by: frmkt | February 02, 2011 at 04:57 PM
it truly amazes me how fast some fans have jumped ship on artest... how quickly people can forget his key contributions last playoffs and his true worth to this team defensively.. but then again it probably shouldnt come as a surprise for he is easily THE most misunderstood laker and the media is a big reason why.. biased media is having another feeding frenzy making him the scapegoat again and the fans are buying it yet again... surprise?
yes he is having a brutal year.. offensively challenged most of the time and at times emotionally detached... but lets not forget why we acquired him and why he is so vital for our success.. defense and DEFENSE only!! toughminded defensive players are a rare commodity in the league these days.. so let me make something clear: we do NOT win last year without his defense in the playoffs on durant and particularly pierce and we will most definitely need him again this year... there is NO WAY IMO lakers have what it takes physically without a tough hardnosed defender backing up kobe on the perimeter... it just aint gonna happen... take ron out and i'm afraid this entire team minus kobe will revert back to a bunch of pushovers who cant fight back.
Posted by: yellofever | February 02, 2011 at 05:01 PM
But I still worry about whether or not Pau can stay motivated and driven. His personality and demeanor are very cosmopolitan and non-confrontational and PLG is right when she says he just does not have toughness in his DNA. Physical toughness is a mental attribute that develops from being challenged and learning how to stand up to bullies whether it be on the street or basketball court. I doubt until he got to the NBA that Pau ever really had to stand up for himself.
...
I suspect that any increased aggressiveness and toughness will only last for a brief period before Pau’s core personality takes over. Pau just does not have the built in competitive drive that makes Kobe great, but then very few if any NBA players do. That drive is what makes Kobe so unique. Hopefully, Pau will be able to step out of character against those teams and players in those games that really count. That is the best that we can hope for because Pau isn’t going to hit the weights.
Posted by: LakerTom | February 02, 2011 at 04:24 PM
--------------------------
LT,
You worry about whether Pau can stay motivated and driven? The man is a World Champion and a 2time NBA champion. He has proven he can perform big in big games.
Yes Pau is a FINESSE player. Always has been and always will be. That is not going to change. His skills were good enough to help the Lakers repeat and are still good enough to help 3peat. He has to play more determined, we all agree...but he is not going to change his personality. It ain’t going to happen. So, if that is your sole business for wanting him to stay on the Lakers you might as well start back up with your trade Pau campaign.
BTW...finesse is not a dirty word. You can win a championship with a finesse player/s as long as you surround him with other more physical players. That is why the Lakers brought in Barnes. That is why they signed Artest. That is what Drew is supposed to be.
Instead of harping of Pau’s lack of toughness, why not comment on what Brian Shaw said about Drew. He basically painted Drew with the same brush as Pau, yet I don’t see you posting over and over again about Drew’s need to play tougher.
Posted by: LRob | February 02, 2011 at 05:03 PM
In case you missed it this is what BShaw said about Pau AND Drew...
----------------
This team is a lot nicer than our team was. Pau [Gasol], as skilled as he is as a basketball player and as one of the best big men in the world, he's a nice guy. That's not to knock him. He's a nice guy. So is Andrew [Bynum]. Andrew is a nice guy. On the court, you want your biggest guys to be your nastiest guys. So that's a little bit different for us too when your toughest guys on the team play the smallest positions with Fisher, Kobe and Ron [Artest], they're guards and at small forward. They're the toughest guys on the team. Usually, your enforcers are your big guys.
-----------------------
BShaw also said the Pau talent & skills can trump physical play. And that the Lakers can 3peat with Pau. I'll defer to BShaw...the next coach of the Lakers.
Posted by: LRob | February 02, 2011 at 05:07 PM
Yellofever, completely agree. Ron Artest needs to play no less than 30 mintues a game. I think his dimished minutes this year at the beginning of the year is what really caused him to struggle. You need more than 25mintues a game to get in the flow, and Ron is not getting the minutes. But than again who am I to critize the zenmaster. Ron Ron is the only beast the lakers have that can single handly change rythem of game with his physical play.
Posted by: Gino | February 02, 2011 at 05:12 PM
fever - I agree 100%. Thank you!
Posted by: LRob | February 02, 2011 at 05:12 PM
Yellofever, completely agree. Ron Artest needs to play no less than 30 mintues a game. I think his dimished minutes this year at the beginning of the year is what really caused him to struggle. You need more than 25mintues a game to get in the flow, and Ron is not getting the minutes. But than again who am I to critize the zenmaster. Ron Ron is the only beast the lakers have that can single handly change rythem of game with his physical play.
Posted by: Gino | February 02, 2011 at 05:12 PM
get rid of Bynum and bring griffin from the clipers thas the man tha we need some one who played with heart every game.
Posted by: elmer constanza | February 02, 2011 at 05:16 PM
To quote Cole Porter (who doesn't get much play here) the Lakers are fighting vainly that old ennui. I'd like to agree that Thursday night is a "must win" but it's not, and the team knows it. San Antonio is a very good, well coached team with a lot to prove. The Lakers are a very good, well coached team with nothing to prove. My money is on the Spurs.
Every team the Lakers play is up for them, and they are packing their defenses in to control Gasol and Bynum, doubling Kobe, and challenging Fisher, Artest, Blake and Brown to score from the perimiter. When a couple of those guys get it going, as Brown did earlier and Artest does now and then, the Lakers win. When they don't, the other team is out-hustling the Lakers.
At some point the Lakers will realize it is time to play as hard as the other guys, but if they played at playoff intensity for 82 games like their opponents do, they would burn out.
So for now, it's that old ennui, and it ain't pretty. But it ain't fatal either - yet.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | February 02, 2011 at 05:21 PM
When the Lakers signed Artest I was against the deal because of his age and the length of the contract. I have to admit, though, that I didn't expect the issue to come up in year two. With his contract, age, inconsistent play and "history" it would be a miracle if he could be traded for anybody that could step in and play.
And he shouldn't be. He will be important come playoff time.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | February 02, 2011 at 05:22 PM
Lakers don't toughen up we'll be porkchops for Boston.Mentality, the hunger, the show no mercy spirit is not there. Big teams smell the weakness and feed off of it !
Posted by: george | February 02, 2011 at 05:28 PM
Lakers don't toughen up we'll be porkchops for Boston.Mentality, the hunger, the show no mercy spirit is not there. Big teams smell the weakness and feed off of it !
Posted by: george | February 02, 2011 at 05:28 PM
BShaw also said the Pau talent & skills can trump physical play. And that the Lakers can 3peat with Pau. I'll defer to BShaw...the next coach of the Lakers.
Posted by: LRob | February 02, 2011 at 05:07 PM
Wow! Great Posts LRob. Wow!
Posted by: JohnnyV | February 02, 2011 at 05:36 PM
Unnamed sources....
Exactly...
Daniel Artest, Daniel Artest's close friend, the Janitor, come on...
Marc Stein...pulls this 'unnamed sources' crap all the time. Chris Broussard, all those guys.
Thank God I don't get ESPN. Don't watch it, don't like it.
Posted by: sean | February 02, 2011 at 05:40 PM
Ship Bynum Now!
Posted by: Ship Bynum | February 02, 2011 at 05:42 PM
why is luke walton still on the team? get rid of that trash, and Farmar > Blake
Posted by: Realist | February 02, 2011 at 05:47 PM
Please don't ship me
The Playboy mansion would be to far away
Posted by: I got an owie | February 02, 2011 at 05:48 PM
yellofever
For what it's worth, I'm with you 100%, too.
Regarding the discussion of the Black Swan, let us not forget how he ratcheted it up for Dwight Howard in the 2009 Finals and against the tough guys from Beantown in the 2010 Finals. He outplayed Garnett in all but maybe one game and I don't care whether people think KG was playing on one leg. Pau Gasol is a graceful, finesse, high IQ 7 footer who has an inner toughness that will manifest itself at the right time. He has been through 3 NBA Finals, a Euro Championship and all the way to the Gold Medal game in the 2008 Olympics. In other words, he's a champion in every sense of the word and understands what it takes to be a champion.
Which brings me to this. The Lakers learned what it took to become a champion from their experience in the 2008 playoffs. Then they successfully climbed that mountain. The next year, there was a target on their back and much like the 1988 Lakers, the road to repeat was very difficult. Now the target on their back is much bigger and the elite teams understand how much harder they must play and how much better they must be to overthrow the two time defending champs. Meanwhile, the Lakers are NOT ready for that challenge right now. As Stephen A. Smith said and as another blogger astutely reminded us, they are "flossing" right now.
Which leads me to this. I don't believe that tomorrow night's game is a "must win" by any stretch of the imagination. Hell, I want them to win more than usual because I'm attending the game. I would raise the level of this game to "important to compete." The "must win" games from last season were, IMO, Games 1 & 5 vs. the Thunder and Games 6 and 7 vs. the Chowds. That's it. I even think they would have beaten Phoenix if they lost Game 5 at Staples Center. But as far as the regular season is concerned, no game rose to that level last season and I dare say the same thing for this season. It just feels a lot different now, but it didn't feel great going into the playoffs in 2010 either. The opposing teams are better and more focused now and the Lakers' championship mountain is much steeper to climb. But there's a champion somewhere underneath this soft surface that is aching to bust out. Just not yet.
Posted by: KobeMVP888 | February 02, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Every game is a must win from now ON!
They are playing like Cr@pola and need to right this ship NOW,
That Practice Regular Season BVllshit doesn't fly with Kobe
and or
the 'Real Laker Fans'
BandWagon!!!
Laker Forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Mr. Laker | February 02, 2011 at 05:53 PM
Laker Tom, why have you given up on Pau so quickly and easily? What is your agenda?
Posted by: scottie pimpin | February 02, 2011 at 05:58 PM
Wake up Mitch. Don't revert to cupcake.
Fisher is the problem.
No perimeter defense.
For all those who say Fisher isn't the problem -- wouldn't
it be great to have a Lakers PG who could defend -- and observe the difference.
As it stands, no PG line-up changes in 3 1/2 years , Fisher gets regularly smoked and then does "veteran" interviews.
Kobe has to play Rando, Westbrook, etc. because Fisher can't.
Posted by: Todd | February 02, 2011 at 06:00 PM
frmkt,
Classic Roberta & Donny....Where is the Love. I've been wondering the same thing. I guess to paraphrase what Donny sang it would go something like this..
You told me that you stick by my side
And you would never say goodbye
But if you really didn't mean it
Why did you have to lie
Posted by: LRob | February 02, 2011 at 06:09 PM
Lakertom,
Other people have toughness like Perkins, others have skills and talent like Pau Gasol. I think I will take Pau Gasol over Perkins anyday.
Gasol is sometimes soft and looses his game, but for the most part his skills and little toughness is enough to go to 3 STRAIGHT NBA FINALS.
Gasol's recent bad games is not all about toughness, it is more about team chemistry. Pau seems to taking it easy and not playing liek he did the first 8 games (REMEBER !!! GASOL was MVP TALK OF THE NBA), ONE will wonder what happened? Not him to blame ALL for it, the fault also goes to WHO DESTROYED HIS DESIRE early in the season, THEAM CHEMISTRY with KOBE I think is the real issue, that killed Gasol's performance.
This is also what nobdy wants to talk about it. FOR obvious reasons...
Posted by: Staples 24 | February 02, 2011 at 06:15 PM
To quote Cole Porter (who doesn't get much play here) the Lakers are fighting vainly that old ennui. I'd like to agree that Thursday night is a "must win" but it's not, and the team knows it. San Antonio is a very good, well coached team with a lot to prove. The Lakers are a very good, well coached team with nothing to prove. My money is on the Spurs.
At some point the Lakers will realize it is time to play as hard as the other guys, but if they played at playoff intensity for 82 games like their opponents do, they would burn out.
So for now, it's that old ennui, and it ain't pretty. But it ain't fatal either - yet.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | February 02, 2011 at 05:21 PM
-----------------------
TD,
I think the Lakers will take care of the basketball and not give up all the easy transition points they gave up in SA. I'm feeling a Laker victory.
Here's the Cole Porter classic you referenced.
Frank Sinatra - I Get A Kick Out Of You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRi7gKTNpEY&feature=related
FYI...I wanted to go with Dinah Washington's version or the original by Ethel, but both versions on You Tube left off the first stanza....from whence you quoted. Of course, can never go wrong with Sinatra.
Posted by: LRob | February 02, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Cecil, Pau Gasol hater!
Where were you when Gasol made the Lakers an elite team. What was the Lakers before Gasol came aboard?
Kobe embraced Gasol when GAsol made the Lakers relevant again as long as GAsol is FAR SECOND banana. But when Gasol is GETTING MVP STATUS and NO>! option on OFFENSE and becoming a very close A2 stautus to Kobe's A1, KOBE HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT it. That is when all the problems start.... Kobe starts yelling at Gasol... bullying him and not giving him the ball inside. Yep!
Posted by: Staples 24 | February 02, 2011 at 06:22 PM
Don't ever BLAME the Mamba for
Gasolft playing like a PVSSY!!!!!!
Posted by: Mr. Laker | February 02, 2011 at 06:25 PM
I am very disappointed with Lakertom's Gasol comment.
In the words of Mark Jackson, WHAT"S WRONG WITH YOU, I know you. YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT!
Posted by: Staples 24 | February 02, 2011 at 06:26 PM
We go through the same thing every year (the last two years in particular). I can recall last January and we were struggling. Remember the issues we had with people saying that Kobe was shooting too much? Kobe sits out a few games and the team goes on a tear.
Pau and Bynum were playing together and they looked so clunky at that time! Ron Ron looked lost alot of the time and his feet were bothering him. We all cut him a break because he was so new with the Triangle. But we worried ALOT about it.
All of us freaking out because we wanted a REAL Point Guard and Fisher looked like such a weak option.
I remember Lamar just smiling when the team was struggling last year and saying that they are just confident and not to worry.
I also remember Corner J laughing at all the mid season frustration and telling us "Guys, in the playoffs all this will change and it will be alright."
After the finals last year I found that all the frustration I had all year long and all the concerns I had all year long were unjustified. The team is human and they won't/can't play at extreme levels indefinately. They have GOT to simply figure out "How Much" they need to "Bring it" during the season and hope they feather things correctly so that they can put on the afterburners in the playoffs. Magic johnson called it the second season.
I believe in my heart that we have a great team. It is painful right now because our guys looks so vulnerable and ineffective. But I really believe that they know what they are doing. I'm not being Polyanna here either. I really believe that they will turn things up later and redeem themselves.
Be honest with yourselves here. Who didn't feel at the beginning of the season that we didn't have one of the best teams in YEARS. These guys are confident and I really think their only competition is the Celtics. When/if it comes the time to play them in the finals, The Lakers will show up and give them everything they can handle and make a name for themselves. AGAIN.
Posted by: JohnnyV | February 02, 2011 at 06:28 PM
Gee
Kobe the Destroyer of team chemistry
Kobe the Saboteur
Kobe the Ball Hog
KoME
Guess What? Kobe ain't changing and neither are opinions like these.
All I know is, if you take Kobe off this team, and have Gasol #1 with the great Shannon Brown at SG, you have the Memphis Grizzlies.
Exactly how many playoff games has Pau Gasol won without Kobe?
ZERO
Posted by: Clap On Clap Off - The Clapper | February 02, 2011 at 06:35 PM
we dont need 2 trade ron ron cause hes gona be usefull come playioff time Marc stein is a fucking liar thats why i haye fucking espn there a bunch of fucking Laker haters fuck espn this team when healthy will win da3 peat
Posted by: Alan | February 02, 2011 at 06:41 PM
we dont need 2 trade ron ron cause hes gona be usefull come playioff time Marc stein is a fucking liar thats why i haye fucking espn there a bunch of fucking Laker haters fuck espn this team when healthy will win da3 peat
Posted by: Alan | February 02, 2011 at 06:41 PM
Alan, Alan, Alan
please insert other colorful metaphors if you will.
Posted by: Clap On Clap Off - The Clapper | February 02, 2011 at 06:46 PM
JohnnyV
Compliments on a well thought out, well reasoned post. I really enjoyed it!
Posted by: KobeMVP888 | February 02, 2011 at 07:06 PM
@All Freedom of Speech Rancorous Stonewallers,
STop silencing Us Fans Who Speak The Truth!!!
STOP Blocking and or Erasing My Posts or anyone elses who happens to say anything bad about a a Laker player or one of Medina's but/buddy posters!!!!
Medina, what is this you becoming a
Fascist Oppressive Tyranical Nazi!!!
LET US SPEAK/STOP the SILENCE!!!
LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!LET US SPEAK/FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!
LET US SPEAK/STOP the SILENCE!!!
LET US SPEAK/STOP the SILENCE!!!
LET US SPEAK/STOP the SILENCE!!!
LET US SPEAK/STOP the SILENCE!!!
Posted by: Mr. Laker | February 02, 2011 at 07:14 PM
Thanks 888. This is the difficult part of the season. The team is fatigued, the bloggers are freaked out and the media LOVES playing up the Laker vulnerabilities. I mean, isn't it a better story for the media and the disgruntled fans to talk about what isn't working?
Yes, it's true that we aren't bulletproof. But that's the FUN in it too. Most people aren't like Kobe and his demonic drive (I'm not!). It makes sense that the team is ... pacing itself for a strong finish. My ONLY worry is that they will get it right and feather things correctly. Now THAT'S a challenge!
That being said, all the worries are valid. What's also valid is that we had MORE vulnerabilities last year. I really believe that things will be fine. These guys truly are studs and they'll figure it out. But that's BORING! LOL.
Posted by: JohnnyV | February 02, 2011 at 07:28 PM
PSHHH!! Artest wont trade. Its all the rumors that are annoying! If ur gonna start talking $#!t you need to get it right instead of telling rumors.
Posted by: Christina | February 02, 2011 at 08:26 PM
Interesting set of events of late.
Kupchak possibly prompted by an inquiring mind, was asked if the Lakers would consider a trade given the state of disbelief running wild in Lakerville.
Kupchak dances around the question, says something about trade deadlines. Phil possibly prompted by the same inquiring mind, dances around the same tune. Next thing we know the Laker trade talk is all over mediaville.
Who would the Lakers trade? Yep, Artest, is the most obvious target.
So, what happens? Stein beats every single inquiring mind in LAville to the "inside source," and leaks the Artest trade rumor. Was it the same "inside source" who leaked the previous meltdown between Artest and Jackson?
Kobe talks to Vecsey and tells him his knee is bone to bone. What? You mean to tell us that there wasn't a single inquiring mind in LAville who knew this.
So, what gives? Why are all these local Lakers "insiders" missing out on the big stories? Why are they getting punked by the national rumor mongers?
Or, could this be another ploy, another mind game from the mindbender guru to get Artest motivated?
Why did Artest say that he has to take a back seat to "the greatest player in the history of the game"? Greatest player in history? What?
And all Kobe said was that he's the conductor who "keeps the train moving."
Is it the "media reports," as Jackson claims? Is it the inside Laker leaker?
Should we all be waiting till June to find out?
Or as Bryant said, "they'll say nothing."
Really?
Meanwhile, bloggers, smack talkers, and Artest haters on talk radio explode with trades: Gasol for Melo, Bynum for Melo, Bynum for Love, Artest for a bag of chips, etc, etc. Ridiculous for sure.
Posted by: zopi | February 02, 2011 at 08:28 PM
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE trade Andrew Bynum, how much longer do we have to wait to see this "so-called" Baby Shaq develop into the player hes supposed to be? Hes sorry and not worth $16 mil a year. We need talented, YOUNG players, that can one day be the face of the franchise, i love the Lakers but yes, they are becoming of age almost all over 30. Lets goooo
Posted by: valley818 | February 02, 2011 at 08:39 PM
I'm beginning to think that many of us may have permenantly lost our minds.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 02, 2011 at 11:40 PM
After watching his interview...Ron's head is on straight...relatively speaking of course...and especially given all the media pressure/BS these dudes are under...I genuinely respect his candor...and I still believe that there are many great things to come for Laker fans...because this is a Hollywood story after all...but then again, what do I know...I'm only a doctor...
Posted by: Laker Neuropathologist | February 03, 2011 at 12:16 AM
I agree Fisher is biggest problem. He can't guard opposing point guards and is not a vaible scoring threat even though he plays with a very very good team. Look how well Rondo plays when Kobe slacks off him opening passing lanes. That is a flawed defensive scheme when you let the opposing point guard constantly have open passing lanes. I've never seen that scheme before in the NBA. You need a point guard that can prevent opposing point guards from continually beating him. Until that is achieved L.A. will not beat san antonia or Boston. Fisher is defensively not quick enough to guard almost every other point guard in this league even bench players. What other team would he play for? He can't push ball for easy scores and has low shooting percentage. I would start Blake before him as he's more of a natural point guard then Brown and trade for another athletic point guard before playoffs. Signing him was a big mistake. Kupchak had opportunity to further upgrade point by not resigning but did not make best decision. Fisher can't prevent Tony Parker from breaking down LA's defense? Did you see his consecutive flops on offense and defense in the Houston game? He got two fouls called on opposing players. The team is more fun to watch with Blake or Brown on floor. Only chance of repeat is if Gasol, Odom and Bynum outplay opposing big men in playoffs as this is LA's biggest strength and team advantage.
Posted by: mark | February 03, 2011 at 01:02 AM
IMO, BSPN no longer practices and is in the business of manufacturing perception. I was disgusted by the Artest piece on sports center. The first part quoted Ron Ron's denial of his wish to be traded, and the next question asked from the show host to Mark Stein was something like, "Why does Ron Artest want to be traded?" They treat hearsay as they were facts.
Posted by: boynamedsue | February 03, 2011 at 04:45 AM
sorry forgot a word...
IMO, BSPN no longer practices JOURNALISM and is in the business of manufacturing perception. I was disgusted by the Artest piece on sports center. The first part quoted Ron Ron's denial of his wish to be traded, and the very next question asked from the show host to Mark Stein was something like, "Why does Ron Artest want to be traded?" They treat hearsay as they were facts.
Posted by: boynamedsue | February 03, 2011 at 04:47 AM
I find it funny that the Lakers can win 7 games in a row and no one talks about it (the pundits), but if they lose 3 in a row, they get written off as too old or something. I think they will beat the Spurs tonight and watch how the pundits will be silent.
Posted by: Bummi | February 03, 2011 at 08:31 AM
Die Hart Laker Fan.
I have to admit i'm worried about my Lakers. Mostly because Kobe hasn't been magical in his ability to sustain attacks down the stretch of games. I agree that fisher has to go but I don't think kobe is ready to let this happen.
Posted by: Cedrick | February 03, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Thank you Mr. Artest for being open about having 'issues'. It takes a real man to show such Buddha-like honesty. It is high time that American's get over the stigma associated with mental illness, especially since it's estimated that everyone is touched in some way by it... Only egotistical jerks pretend that they are perfect, and Mr. Artest has shown great leadership on this subject. The Lakers have a real treasure in Artest, and D. Fisher, both who show that vulnerability makes you a better person -- and is an indication of true strength.
Posted by: Rich | February 17, 2011 at 11:56 AM