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Spurs notebook: Artest: I'm NBA's best defender
Web Posted: 04/06/2006 12:04 AM CDT
Mike Monroe, Express-News Staff Writer
Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest, the NBA's 2003-04 defensive player of the year, likes the intense defense Spurs forward Bruce Bowen plays but doesn't believe Bowen should win the award this season.
"They should just give it to me," Artest said. "Guys are having 40 (point games), and they play against me and don't get nothing. I'm playing some good D."
After asserting his right to the award in a locker-room interview before the game, Artest spoke briefly to Bowen before tipoff and told him they should share the award.
Artest, who was placed on the inactive list by the Indiana Pacers after he demanded a trade in mid-December, has played in only 50 games this season, 33 since being traded to the Kings. If he plays the rest of the Kings' schedule, he would have missed 26 of 82 games after what amounted to a paid suspension by the Pacers. He does not think the missed games should be a factor to voters.
"It shouldn't be," he said, "especially if we do well and get to where we need to go (and make the playoffs). I've been doing the same things, and I don't have Jermaine (O'Neal) behind me this year."
Artest believes he should have been defensive player of the year more than once.
"I feel like Ben Wallace stole it," Artest said of the Detroit Pistons' center who has won the award three times in the past four seasons. "Well, he didn't steal it, but I feel like I gave him three defensive player of the years. I gave him one that year I got in trouble ... that year I was suspended."
Artest said he often doesn't get a chance to see other players play, other than in highlights. Those, of course, rarely show great defensive plays.
"Has Bruce been playing good defense?" Artest said. "I haven't really checked him out. Of course, he's a good defender, but I don't really know who's stopping this year."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA040606.5C.BKNspurs.notebook.96bf12e.html
Web Posted: 04/06/2006 12:04 AM CDT
Mike Monroe, Express-News Staff Writer
Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest, the NBA's 2003-04 defensive player of the year, likes the intense defense Spurs forward Bruce Bowen plays but doesn't believe Bowen should win the award this season.
"They should just give it to me," Artest said. "Guys are having 40 (point games), and they play against me and don't get nothing. I'm playing some good D."
After asserting his right to the award in a locker-room interview before the game, Artest spoke briefly to Bowen before tipoff and told him they should share the award.
Artest, who was placed on the inactive list by the Indiana Pacers after he demanded a trade in mid-December, has played in only 50 games this season, 33 since being traded to the Kings. If he plays the rest of the Kings' schedule, he would have missed 26 of 82 games after what amounted to a paid suspension by the Pacers. He does not think the missed games should be a factor to voters.
"It shouldn't be," he said, "especially if we do well and get to where we need to go (and make the playoffs). I've been doing the same things, and I don't have Jermaine (O'Neal) behind me this year."
Artest believes he should have been defensive player of the year more than once.
"I feel like Ben Wallace stole it," Artest said of the Detroit Pistons' center who has won the award three times in the past four seasons. "Well, he didn't steal it, but I feel like I gave him three defensive player of the years. I gave him one that year I got in trouble ... that year I was suspended."
Artest said he often doesn't get a chance to see other players play, other than in highlights. Those, of course, rarely show great defensive plays.
"Has Bruce been playing good defense?" Artest said. "I haven't really checked him out. Of course, he's a good defender, but I don't really know who's stopping this year."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA040606.5C.BKNspurs.notebook.96bf12e.html
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