Ron Artest To Sign With Lakers

[Hedonist]

kobe = poor man's jordan

I wouldn't go that far. I still place Michael Jordan above everyone else to date but to say Kobe's a poor man's Jordan isn't giving him enough credit. He's established himself as one of the greats in his own right.

I disagree. I think it's giving him too much credit.

Yes he is a star and one of the best of the decade and all that but "poor man's Jordan" is still too big a compliment imo.
Kobe will probably have many successors. We all know who is next on the list to be compared to the GoaT (so often that we'll get sick of it). I wouldn't go so far as to call that one as far-fetched as with Kobe but I am sure he'll have a pretty hard time living up to that - mediahype - as well.

On-topic:
Funny how Artest and Ariza just seem to swap teams. I guess Lakers will be allright in the short term but I'd prefer Ariza before Artest for his youth. Besides, he was pretty important in the playoffs. 'never change a winning team' .

[Modifly]

I disagree. I think it's giving him too much credit.

Yes he is a star and one of the best of the decade and all that but "poor man's Jordan" is still too big a compliment imo

Kobe Bryant is given too much credit? He's arguably one of the best of all time, his accomplishment are almost like those of Jordan's. The guy's got 4 rings, has been named to the All NBA first team and All Defensive first team like Jordan has, has been named to the All Star team like Jordan, and has a lot of moves that are very similar to those of Jordan but that's a different story. "poor man's Jordan" is not too big of a compliment for him, but it is not the right way to compliment him. I dont think Kobe should be complemented by comparing him to arguably the "greatest basketball player of all time" and saying how much of that person he is. The worst thing is, I'm saying all this despite all the hate I have for Kobe.

Like I've said earlier, Kobe is Kobe and Jordan is Jordan. Both of them ought to be given credits for what they've done. They're great in their own way so dont compare them together, especially saying that "Kobe is this much of Jordan". Besides, who cares anyway? LeBron is chasing behind both Kobe and Jordan erasing all their records anyway.

'never change a winning team'

So you're telling me that the Celtics did not repeat because they didn't sign James Posey back?


On the right note, I think Ariza fits the Lakers more than Artest. He only take shots if he's open, he only drives when there's a lane. Unlike Artest, who takes a lot of questionable shots, forces a lot of drives, all that to average 17 points a game. Ariza doesn't disturb the offensive flow but Artest might. Still, it's far too early to say Artest will do that in LA, if he wants to win he'll have to adjust his game to fit in which is likely to happen.

[Hedonist]

'never change a winning team'

So you're telling me that the Celtics did not repeat because they didn't sign James Posey back?

No. The smilie was there for a reason. I think the Lakers should of course try to upgrade their roster like any team should, but imo they should have tried to keep the starting 5 (+ Odom) together. Maybe they did and it didn't work out, I don't know.

Btw, as you probably well know, the Celtics kept their core together but the biggest piece of that core was kind of missing in the postseason.

Kobe Bryant is given too much credit?

Not in general, but by most people who like to compare him to Jordan yes.

He's arguably one of the best of all time,

I wouldn't go so far but I'm not arguing that he is good.

his accomplishment are almost like those of Jordan's. The guy's got 4 rings, has been named to the All NBA first team and All Defensive first team like Jordan has, has been named to the All Star team like Jordan,

Sure. But I don't just count awards and titles. Jordan was much more dominant, much more of an icon.
Bryant may have won MVP once or twice, but in Jordan's time they awarded it to Karl Malone once because they got bored giving it to Jordan every year and maybe felt sorry for Malone that he never won anything. Jordan still had the better numbers and Bulls had a better record (unlike a year later when Jordan was MVP again). That's how dominant he was.

Like I've said earlier, Kobe is Kobe and Jordan is Jordan. Both of them ought to be given credits for what they've done. They're great in their own way so dont compare them together,

Exactly my point.

Compare Kobe to CP3, AI, Carmelo, T-Mac and LeBron all you like, but just not to Jordan.

Besides, who cares anyway? LeBron is chasing behind both Kobe and Jordan erasing all their records anyway.

Maybe.

[Andrew]

I see where you're coming from and from the looks of things we're pretty much on the same page; as I said I place Michael Jordan above everyone else who has played in the NBA at this point in time. But to me, to say someone or something is a "poor man's (whomever/whatever)" strikes me as somewhat of a pejorative term, at best a backhanded compliment. To that end, I wouldn't describe Kobe as a poor man's Jordan, but I personally would not describe him as being better than Jordan either.

[WickedNite]

i prefer ariza rather than artest, nonetheless artest is not bad for a replacement.

[shadowgrin]

There can only be one "poor man's Jordan" and that is Ron Harper. Bitches.

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

You're officially in my blacklist now, OG.

Why bro modi

[AMenace]

OG, check under his avatar.

[vinceair]

Artest may be fatal to the Lakers. Why? If Lakers will reach to the conf. finals/finals, Artest may do fatal foul (technical of course) late in the important game

Laker fans must hope that Jackson will do some anger management with him.

[Modifly]

Why does everyone keep talking about Artest's temper and technical fouls? I mean damn it, he's been so quiet lately, even Perkins is worse than Artest right now.

[shadowgrin]

I lol at Modifly's sig.

[Stress Fracture]

Why does everyone keep talking about Artest's temper and technical fouls? I mean damn it, he's been so quiet lately, even Perkins is worse than Artest right now.

He's right. Artest has really changed his attitude when he arrived in Houston. Perk has more technical fouls than Artest. Am I right with that?

I lol at Modifly's sig.

You want him to change his sig?

[Modifly]

I lol at Modifly's sig.

I even lol at my own sig, what a pity.

You want him to change his sig?

He lol at my sig because it's irony, right now the Rockets doesn't have Artest, Yao AND Wafer. What a difference a season makes. We went from the so called "Big 3" to nothing. Right now Brooks is the star of the team.

[Stress Fracture]

The "Big 3" was just wasted. It's really bad for us Rockets fans to lose Artest. Then we'll lose Wafer?! Holy shit!

[shadowgrin]

Battier might even be gone to Portland if the rumor pushes through.

[Stress Fracture]

What? No way!

[Modifly]

Not Battier please. We cant afford to lose a nice guy like him.

According to that rumour, which player from Portland will be traded for Battier? Fernandez?

Then we'll lose Wafer?! Holy shit!

According to his Twitter page he wont be coming back to Houston. Some of the things he said were:

I would really like to stay with Rockets. But need a good offer $$$'s.

trust me man, i want to comeback

Then things went eerie.

Man why the Rockets pick two shooting guards? If they dont want me I'll go somewhere else

thanks for the support -- I wanted to come back but the Rockets don't want me. I will come back strong somewhere. maybe the clipers.

I hate Morey for not signing Wafer.

[Stress Fracture]

Mediocrity has started in Houston.

"Houston, we really have a problem."

[Valor]

Artest may be fatal to the Lakers. Why? If Lakers will reach to the conf. finals/finals, Artest may do fatal foul (technical of course) late in the important game

Laker fans must hope that Jackson will do some anger management with him.

Phil has dealt with worse....(Rodman?) Artest is no big deal compared to the Worm

[shadowgrin]

Phil has dealt with worse....(Kobe?) Artest is no big deal compared to the Mamba

Fixed.

[Modifly]

That is perfect right there.

[Angelo]

Nobody beats Rodman and Barkley when it comes to attitude problems

[Valor]

Nobody beats Rodman and Barkley when it comes to attitude problems

couldn't put it better myself, and i am a huge Rodman fan

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

OG, check under his avatar.

Haha okay I see it sorry bro modi

[Andrew]

There can only be one "poor man's Jordan" and that is Ron Harper. Bitches.

Case closed.

I don't know that you could completely rule out Artest self-destructing or having some kind of "personal issues" that get in the way of success in Los Angeles, though he seems to have put a lot of that behind him. However, as I said before if anything goes wrong with the Lakers this season I think it will be more a case of "too many cooks". The Lakers had put together a roster that obviously worked, a combination of stars and capable supporting role players that produced a championship. We could now be looking at a case of too much talent and ill-fitted lineups that look great on paper but don't work as well together out on the court.