I think we all know...

[Ghost Pepper]

The thing that is funny is had the Blazers landed Artest everyone on this board myself included would be saying we now have our lock down defender we always needed. He goes to our hated enemy Lakers and his skills have diminished! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Do ya have to get a prescription for that color of ROSE????


Artest took the Rockets on his shoulders without Tmac and put them in the playoffs, imagine what he'll be able to do with the best player in the game Kobe, and the best coach in the league Phil?

I call it like I see it! The Lakers got the best acquisition of the summer hands down!

How will the Lakers this year be any easier for us to beat? They wont! That's why I have them in the finals!

 

[Minstrel]

The thing that is funny is had the Blazers landed Artest everyone on this board myself included would be saying we now have our lock down defender we always needed.

It's interesting, the people most prone to trying to speak for everyone are generally people that I find the least suited to do so.

I would have been interested in adding Artest as a solid defender and as a shoring up of the small forward rotation. But I certainly wouldn't have been saying what you ascribe to "everyone." Miller was always ahead of Artest on my wish list for the team.

Artest took the Rockets on his shoulders without Tmac and put them in the playoffs

"Artest" is a pretty strange way to typo "Yao Ming."

 

[Shooter]

I'm excited for the finals next year cause we already know who it's going to be...


Lakers / Celtics and what a finals this will be....

If you're so sure, why don't you plop down a bunch of cash in Vegas and put your big mouth where your big money is? Nobody knows who is going to be in the finals next year; that's why they play the regular season.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Minstrel, how's that working out for ya? Being Clever! Clever and wrong, is still wrong! You can wrap it in any little song and dance ya want to; Artest is a major blow to us beating the Lakers this year and he's a hell of alot bigger pickup than Miller for a team needing toughness. That was the only knock on the Lakers team and they addressed it!

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Um who was picked to win the NBA last year? Lakers! Did they win? Yes! Did they get worse in the offseason? No! Got better! Why is this a shock SHOOTER?

 

[Minstrel]

Minstrel, how's that working out for ya? Being Clever!

Oh. Good?

Clever and wrong, is still wrong!

I agree that "clever and wrong is still wrong." Wrong and anything is still wrong. Do you have analysis to show that I'm wrong beyond your say-so?

You can wrap it in any little song and dance ya want to; Artest is a major blow to us beating the Lakers this year

I can't say I agree. Very few people believe Artest is still at his best, defensively. He's certainly a bigger name than Ariza, but Ariza is a very good defensive player who's entering his defensive prime and Artest is a very good defender who's exiting his (defensive prime, which is different from overall prime). The defensive difference between them is going to be very small if it exists at all.

In addition, Ariza is a more efficient scorer. Artest is better at getting shots up, but he shoots them less efficiently. For a team with such good scoring options as Kobe, Gasol and Odom, a less-efficient shot creator is not a better fit than a more-efficient complementary player. Every shot that Artest creates beyond what Ariza would have is a shot he's taking away from Kobe/Gasol/Odom. And he'll use those shot attempts less efficiently.

So, I see very little to suggest that the Lakers upgraded in swapping out Ariza for Artest. Artest is more famous, but that doesn't mean he's better or a superior fit.

 

[STOMP]

I'm recalling arguing with Yardape over Chris Paul vs JJack prior to their draft. It was his stand that everyone who followed ACC hoops knew that Paul was Jack's bitch or some such nonsense, and that their pro careers would further reveal this. I disagreed.

emphatically stating an opinion doesn't make it a fact... it may help to make a lasting impression though

STOMP

 

[Haakzilla]

the lakers? that is the weakest nba champion i have seen in a long time.

...I agree 100% and started sharing these same thoughts with all of my Laker fan neighbors immeadiately after their pseudo-celebration at center court!!!

 

[PapaG]

Um..... Artest bodied Roy right out of the playoffs! Did ya miss that ODENISGOD?

Artest was pretty bad in the playoffs.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Stomp, in college JJ took his team further than Chris Paul ever did. That's a fact! Paul was physically manhandled by Jack for those who saw those games. Saying different is just wrong.

Jack is and has not been the focus of his team since being a pro. Paul is expected to do everything except pass out drinks for the Hornets, of course their stats will be different now!

If Jack was expected to do it all... I bet his #'s would be way up.... they weren't that bad last year and as a character guy goes Jack is a guy that anyone would want on their team.


As far as the Artest debate goes... we'll see just how good the Lakers are with him... I feel Minstrel and others will frolick around their ignorance of sports yet again, but hey... that's what makes this board so much fun right?

 

[Minstrel]

Jack is and has not been the focus of his team since being a pro. Paul is expected to do everything except pass out drinks for the Hornets, of course their stats will be different now!

...

I feel Minstrel and others will frolick around their ignorance of sports yet again

You got me, pardner.

but hey... that's what makes this board so much fun right?

Absolutely!

 

[oldmangrouch]

No general has ever won a battle.....and no team has ever won a game....by underestimating the opposition.

 

[Minstrel]

No general has ever won a battle.....and no team has ever won a game....by underestimating the opposition.

We're not fighting any battles or playing any of the games. We're nothing but observers. We're simply trying to best analyze what we see.

 

[oldmangrouch]

We're not fighting any battles or playing any of the games. We're nothing but observers. We're simply trying to best analyze what we see.

Say what!

Goshdarnit......I will have to re-evaluate my entire existence!

 

[Minstrel]

Say what!

Sorry, old soul. Put down your sword...the war's over.

 

[RedHotRollin]

our Blazers will not be playing for the championship next year, but what a great year it will be!!!

That said, I'm excited for the finals next year cause we already know who it's going to be...


Lakers / Celtics and what a finals this will be....

Talk about a fist fight in the making.......


Attitude central...... This could be a flashback to the 80's wars....


Think about this, Kobe now has a lethal pitbull in Artest to attack anything in their way, combine that with Odom, Gasol, and the slow development of Bynum and this could be fun...


On the Celtics side you've got big head ego monster KG with his new crazy wild dog sidekick Rasheed and arguably the best three point shooters in Allen and Pierce. Throw in Big Baby and Rondo and this team is stacked.


The missing link to this of course is the massive egos that are set to collide when these teams meet on center court. Can you imagine Artest knocking the crap out of Pierce or Allen. Imagine the way Sheed will be able to extend the defense of LA and make KG be able to destroy the paint? How much lock down defense can Kobe and Artest put on Pierce and Allen and how many fights do you see happening here? This is a powder keg....


If we have to endure a season without our Blazers in the finals... than entertain me..... This could be a very good year for hoops!

I think if we one add more player. A banger, rebounder, hard nose defender. A Ronny Turiaf type. I think we are closer than you might think. I think that kind of player puts us neck and neck with the Spurs and Lakers. In the end, experience could hurt us. But who knows. That is why we play the game.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Hey if the Bazers make the finals I'm elated, if they win it's the greatest, but I'm also a realist! We didn't get a backup PF that can bang, we are still very, very young and Oden is still a year off. This will be a great year to see us go deeper into the playoffs and really see our young hub come together. That said, we are not tough enough yet to beat the Lakers, Celtics, Spurs or Cavs in a long series. We will be in a two years but we only made the playoffs last year.

The Celtics are built for this year only!!!! After that it's fools gold that these guys at their ages can endure another long season. I hope they make it because no other team in the league will get the star treatment the Lakers will thus making the series that much more competitive. What I'm saying is the refs wont decide the series! If both teams are healthy that would be a fun series to watch!

Outlaw & Bayless for Turiaf or ANY OTHER decent banger!

This just needs to happen!


If not Outlaw, then Webster and Bayless.


If Patty Mills returns, we can move Bayless. And Webster will only take minutes away from Batum and/or Rudy. So move Webs - just as soon as the league sees he's healthy.

 

[Natebishop3]

Stomp, in college JJ took his team further than Chris Paul ever did. That's a fact! Paul was physically manhandled by Jack for those who saw those games. Saying different is just wrong.

Jack is and has not been the focus of his team since being a pro. Paul is expected to do everything except pass out drinks for the Hornets, of course their stats will be different now!

If Jack was expected to do it all... I bet his #'s would be way up.... they weren't that bad last year and as a character guy goes Jack is a guy that anyone would want on their team.


As far as the Artest debate goes... we'll see just how good the Lakers are with him... I feel Minstrel and others will frolick around their ignorance of sports yet again, but hey... that's what makes this board so much fun right?

That must be it. Jack hasn't been given the chance to show what he can do! He is clearly better than Chris Paul and he just needs an opportunity to show it.

 

[STOMP]

Stomp, in college JJ took his team further than Chris Paul ever did. That's a fact! Paul was physically manhandled by Jack for those who saw those games. Saying different is just wrong.

Jack is and has not been the focus of his team since being a pro. Paul is expected to do everything except pass out drinks for the Hornets, of course their stats will be different now!

If Jack was expected to do it all... I bet his #'s would be way up.... they weren't that bad last year and as a character guy goes Jack is a guy that anyone would want on their team.


As far as the Artest debate goes... we'll see just how good the Lakers are with him... I feel Minstrel and others will frolick around their ignorance of sports yet again, but hey... that's what makes this board so much fun right?

It's you and Jerrett's mom against the world. I find your posts some of the best fun to be had on the board.

STOMP

 

[Tyler_Hansbrough]

I have a great attitude, we are still a year or two away from being in the finals. Everyone who knows hoops would agree with this!

I beg to differ.