Comments on: Artest worth the headache? http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/ HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:01:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ron http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-164 Ron Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:28:57 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-164 Regardless of his attitude, Ron Artest is a great talent to have on a championship-contending team. He posseses one of the important yet quickly dissapearing skills in the game: the ability to defend. Analyst always say, Defense wins championships. The Lakers found that out when they saw the Championship hopes slip away as Boston's styfling defense drowned them. Not even with a player like Kobe Bryant. Now Houston, already a solid defensive team (probably the second the defensive team in the Western Conference behing San Antonio), hopes Ron Artest's versatility on defense will hold up when they face the West's Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki. But defense isn't the only thing Artest will bring to the Rockets. He would give the Rockets a strong sense of toughness. Yao Ming is an MVP- caliber player but he is no intimidator. He's been posterized a ton of times and no one will ever forget that shot blocked by 5'9" Nate Robinson. Artest will give them the no-nonsense Dennis Rodman/ Rasheed Wallace kind of swagger that teams might need at times. He also brings an element of scoring that at times was lacking when Yao and McGrady were out. He would take pressure off of guys like Alston, Scola and Battier. Another person who would be a little more lax with Artest around is the coach, Rick Adelman. RIck Adelman is a MIke D'Antoni-type coach who likes to score fast and in bunches, and has been critisized for not making the best decisions on defense. Ron Artest would make that workload significantly lighter. Not to mention that Artest and Adelman enjoyed a brief stint together in Sacramento and in the short time grew quiet fond of each other. But although the odds of restoring this francise back to glory days of 1994 and 1995 when they won back-to-back Championships are looking more and more realistic, there are still some changes that can be made. One hypothetical trade I had been thinking about is trading Tracy McGrady to Dallas in exchange for Josh Howard and Jason Terry (add a rookie and/or a draft pick or two to make the numbers work). Now I have nothing against Tracy McGrady, he's a great player who's accomplished a lot in the league. But this deal would do wonders for both the Mavericks and the Rockets. Jason Kidd excels when he has a freak athlete to lob oops to. T-Mac is perfect for his. Dirk Nowitzki would also benefit because he wouldn't be double and tripple-team as much with an offensive force like T-Mac on the wing. Houston would receive even more depth (especially after the arrivals of Artest and Brent Barry). Terry is a very versatile player who can play both guard positions and Josh is an underrated all-around player whose mouth got him in a little late last year and a change of scenery could help him forget about it and move on. Most importantly though, this makes Yao Ming THE man in Houston. Not that T-Mac was keeping Yao fom blossoming, but this just eliminates the question of who is the team leader. Dallas' projected lineup would include Kidd and T-Mac at the guars with George, Dirk and Diop on the frontcourt. Stackhouse would continue to produce as the 6th man, along with Bass, Dampier and young Antoine Wright. Houston's starting five would be Terry at the 1, Howard at 2, Battier playing the 3, Adelman has said he wants to use Artest a the 4 spot and Yao Ming anchoring the middle. Their bench would include nice, deep group with Alston, Scola, Barry, a healthy and motivated Steve Francis, Luther Head and Mutumbo. That would certainly make things a lot more interesting. Regardless of his attitude, Ron Artest is a great talent to have on a championship-contending team. He posseses one of the important yet quickly dissapearing skills in the game: the ability to defend. Analyst always say, Defense wins championships. The Lakers found that out when they saw the Championship hopes slip away as Boston’s styfling defense drowned them. Not even with a player like Kobe Bryant. Now Houston, already a solid defensive team (probably the second the defensive team in the Western Conference behing San Antonio), hopes Ron Artest’s versatility on defense will hold up when they face the West’s Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki. But defense isn’t the only thing Artest will bring to the Rockets. He would give the Rockets a strong sense of toughness. Yao Ming is an MVP- caliber player but he is no intimidator. He’s been posterized a ton of times and no one will ever forget that shot blocked by 5′9″ Nate Robinson. Artest will give them the no-nonsense Dennis Rodman/ Rasheed Wallace kind of swagger that teams might need at times. He also brings an element of scoring that at times was lacking when Yao and McGrady were out. He would take pressure off of guys like Alston, Scola and Battier. Another person who would be a little more lax with Artest around is the coach, Rick Adelman. RIck Adelman is a MIke D’Antoni-type coach who likes to score fast and in bunches, and has been critisized for not making the best decisions on defense. Ron Artest would make that workload significantly lighter. Not to mention that Artest and Adelman enjoyed a brief stint together in Sacramento and in the short time grew quiet fond of each other. But although the odds of restoring this francise back to glory days of 1994 and 1995 when they won back-to-back Championships are looking more and more realistic, there are still some changes that can be made. One hypothetical trade I had been thinking about is trading Tracy McGrady to Dallas in exchange for Josh Howard and Jason Terry (add a rookie and/or a draft pick or two to make the numbers work). Now I have nothing against Tracy McGrady, he’s a great player who’s accomplished a lot in the league. But this deal would do wonders for both the Mavericks and the Rockets. Jason Kidd excels when he has a freak athlete to lob oops to. T-Mac is perfect for his. Dirk Nowitzki would also benefit because he wouldn’t be double and tripple-team as much with an offensive force like T-Mac on the wing. Houston would receive even more depth (especially after the arrivals of Artest and Brent Barry). Terry is a very versatile player who can play both guard positions and Josh is an underrated all-around player whose mouth got him in a little late last year and a change of scenery could help him forget about it and move on. Most importantly though, this makes Yao Ming THE man in Houston. Not that T-Mac was keeping Yao fom blossoming, but this just eliminates the question of who is the team leader. Dallas’ projected lineup would include Kidd and T-Mac at the guars with George, Dirk and Diop on the frontcourt. Stackhouse would continue to produce as the 6th man, along with Bass, Dampier and young Antoine Wright. Houston’s starting five would be Terry at the 1, Howard at 2, Battier playing the 3, Adelman has said he wants to use Artest a the 4 spot and Yao Ming anchoring the middle. Their bench would include nice, deep group with Alston, Scola, Barry, a healthy and motivated Steve Francis, Luther Head and Mutumbo. That would certainly make things a lot more interesting.

]]> By: EsDot http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-144 EsDot Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:50:35 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-144 All of this is blown out of proportion. He behaved in Sacremento and he should in Houston. You people act like Ron Artest is the only "bad boy" in the league. Houston played great towards the end of the season. Even when Yao went down. Add Artest to that mix and you now have the favorite in the West. Houston vs LA Lakers in the Conf. Finals. All of this is blown out of proportion. He behaved in Sacremento and he should in Houston. You people act like Ron Artest is the only “bad boy” in the league.

Houston played great towards the end of the season. Even when Yao went down. Add Artest to that mix and you now have the favorite in the West.

Houston vs LA Lakers in the Conf. Finals.

]]> By: circlecitychaos http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-143 circlecitychaos Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:59:39 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-143 Houston, you have a problem! Take it from a pacer fan, no doubt ron-ron is good, but he will single-handedly end your season somehow, someway. Do something stupid during the season? Do someting stupid in the playoffs? I guarantee he will do something regretable and the team and fans will be hurt. Good luck Houston. Houston, you have a problem!
Take it from a pacer fan, no doubt ron-ron is good, but he will single-handedly end your season somehow, someway. Do something stupid during the season? Do someting stupid in the playoffs? I guarantee he will do something regretable and the team and fans will be hurt.
Good luck Houston.

]]> By: yelito http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-134 yelito Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:22:31 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-134 Artest should be the next one signing with an European team. Artest should be the next one signing with an European team.

]]> By: Headache » Artest worth the headache? http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-132 Headache » Artest worth the headache? Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:54:32 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-132 [...] Artest worth the headache?No, really, I think this Ron Artest trade has turned the West completely around. Well, until the season starts, anyway. After that, everybody in Houston will be on their own, as everyone always has been everywhere Ronnie has been. … [...] [...] Artest worth the headache?No, really, I think this Ron Artest trade has turned the West completely around. Well, until the season starts, anyway. After that, everybody in Houston will be on their own, as everyone always has been everywhere Ronnie has been. … [...]

]]> By: jeremy http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-131 jeremy Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:36:20 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-131 Everyone seems to be forgetting that defense wasn't the Rockets problem. The were perhaps one of the top 5 defensive teams in the NBA last season and adding Artest makes them even better, but he doesn't solve their main issues. The problems they have are team speed, consistant perimeter shooting and playmaking from the pg position. These are problems that Ron Artest just does not solve. The Rockets are a slow team that just can't keep up with the majority of athletic, quick teams in the West. Houston was one really good player away from being a legit contender, Artest is definitely a good player, just not the right one for Houston. Everyone seems to be forgetting that defense wasn’t the Rockets problem. The were perhaps one of the top 5 defensive teams in the NBA last season and adding Artest makes them even better, but he doesn’t solve their main issues. The problems they have are team speed, consistant perimeter shooting and playmaking from the pg position. These are problems that Ron Artest just does not solve.

The Rockets are a slow team that just can’t keep up with the majority of athletic, quick teams in the West. Houston was one really good player away from being a legit contender, Artest is definitely a good player, just not the right one for Houston.

]]> By: AMac http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-129 AMac Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:49:37 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-129 iM- Your son and daughter are martial arts champions? Then you should probably know that size and muscle doesn't always define a fighter, and Ron-Ron might be able to easily handle a larger opponent such as Ben Wallace. Perhaps you should just go back to letting your "martial arts champion" children fight your battles. iM-

Your son and daughter are martial arts champions? Then you should probably know that size and muscle doesn’t always define a fighter, and Ron-Ron might be able to easily handle a larger opponent such as Ben Wallace. Perhaps you should just go back to letting your “martial arts champion” children fight your battles.

]]> By: rocketsfan89 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-126 rocketsfan89 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:22:00 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-126 stop comparing this new McGrady-Artest-Yao era to the Clyde-Barkley-Olajuwon team. They played in the Summit/Compaq center. They had Rudy-T. They had pinstripe jerseys. Who cares about what happened the Rockets 10+ years ago you HATERS! NON-BELIEVERS! stop comparing this new McGrady-Artest-Yao era to the Clyde-Barkley-Olajuwon team. They played in the Summit/Compaq center. They had Rudy-T. They had pinstripe jerseys. Who cares about what happened the Rockets 10+ years ago you HATERS! NON-BELIEVERS!

]]> By: kingsblade http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-124 kingsblade Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:36:50 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-124 "This much is obvious to any well trained martial artist." What an odd thing to say. “This much is obvious to any well trained martial artist.”

What an odd thing to say.

]]> By: TheNegation http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/2008/07/31/worth-the-headache/#comment-123 TheNegation Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:31:45 +0000 http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/heisler/?p=6#comment-123 The West even got wilder too w/ Ron Artest , already himself a defensive behemoth, goin; to a team already loaded w/ a defensive stopper[Shane Battier].If Ron could just "chill" and go w/the flow of an NBA game, he wouldn't be called for those silly technicals. Man he could be a f**kin' liability to the Rockets if he doesn't watch it! The West even got wilder too w/ Ron Artest , already himself a defensive behemoth, goin; to a team already loaded w/ a defensive stopper[Shane Battier].If Ron could just “chill” and go w/the flow of an NBA game, he wouldn’t be called for those silly technicals. Man he could be a f**kin’ liability to the Rockets if he doesn’t watch it!

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