Artest Says "Kobe Will Get Shut Down"

Purple Reign

Purple Reign

Starter
#1
#1
I do not know if this has been posted. But hopefully #8 did not read this ;)

Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Bryant, Artest collide

By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register
EL SEGUNDO – For all his fire on the court, Kobe Bryant usually leaves it there. Even the frustration of defeat is usually let go and replaced by Bryant's optimism shortly after the final horn.
Not so Sunday, when the Lakers suffered the sort of loss to Seattle that stuck with Bryant tighter than even Ron Artest will tonight in Sacramento.
"I was upset at myself for missing those shots," Bryant said Monday of his 8-for-29 shooting game. "It's really frustrating. I had a tough time sleeping."
Even though the Lakers' faulty defense, especially in transition, was the major problem Sunday, Bryant expected to rally for a victory on the strength of his offense. But he had 10 second-half points, missing 10 of 13 shots. Coach Phil Jackson called it the most frustrated he has seen Bryant this season.
"I can't miss open shots," Bryant said. "It's not acceptable."
So Bryant will narrow his eyes for focus tonight when the Lakers face a Sacramento team having won 12 consecutive games at Arco Arena and sitting one-half game behind the Lakers in the standings: "I'm really looking forward to this challenge," Bryant said.
But Artest will bring his top game, too. He was so unhappy with his play in the Lakers' Feb.23 victory - Artest's first matchup as a King against Bryant - that Artest told The Sacramento Bee that he stayed at the team's workout facility until 1 a.m. after the Kings got home that night from the game at Staples Center.
Artest was dissatisfied with his level of conditioning when measured against Bryant's and vowed to be primed for this matchup.
"He's going to get shut down," Artest said.
 
Kingsgurl

Kingsgurl

Starter
#4
#4
I wish they wouldn't say anything. Let your play on the court speak for itself.

(I know reporters more or less lead you into this crap, but still)
 
R

Rowdyone

Bench
#5
#5
So this quote has been out there since Feb 23 and it's just now hitting the news? Can't believe this, let alone Artest stirring the pot unnecessarily. This smacks of LA provocation. Are they afraid of something that they must try to motivate their superstar?
 
DocHolliday

DocHolliday

Starter
#6
#6
I like the attitude and enthusiasm of Artest. You have to have that mind set, no matter how good the opposing player is. You have to believe you are better, and have the ability to shut anyone down on any given night. But, Bryant is a fierce competitor as Artest is. Bryant is also an extremely talented fierce competitor as Artest is, but on a different level.

Personally I don't think it's very smart for Artest to come out and say things like this. He should just say it will be a tough match up, one that I'm looking forward to. It's been noted that Bryant uses these types of statements to motivate himself, and make it a personal vendetta. Bryant is the last person you want gunning for you on the court. He will purposefully make you look foolish every chance he gets. Same attitude Webber has. He LOVED IT when the crowd booed him. He used it to motivate himself and thrive from it.
 
LMM

LMM

Starter
#7
#7
I know Artest kinda implied that Kobe won't go off on him after the Kings lost to the Lakers, but lately, he's been saying the right things.

I listened to his audio on the sacbee website and he said it was about the team. It's not about him and Kobe. It's how the team plays him (or something like that). I really think he said what he should've said but I couldn't go back and check cause my computer is not letting me play it again.

The media is all over the Kobe vs Artest matchup, though, and they've been putting the line "I will shut him down" out there.
 
HndsmCelt

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#8
#8
It's jsut part of Ron... he likes to talk. I am sure he will do his best to back it up, and we shall see in a few hours how he does.
 
piksi

piksi

Hall of Famer
#10
#10
Doesn't really matter. Kobe will be kobe regard;ess what Ron said. Yes and Ron will be Ron. Kings have to play hard, play smart and it will be ok. I have no doubts whatsoever in who will win this game. Let me give a hint. It won't be them
 
N.U.F.A.N.

N.U.F.A.N.

Bench
#11
#11
If the Sonics beat Kobe to where he cant even sleep at night.. I hope we can accomplish our mission and send him crying his butt to sleep one more time.
 
SDKing

SDKing

Bench
#12
#12
These articles are written for people who don't follow the teams as closely as the rest of us. For most of the people here, this is old hat, but I think it's mainly to stir up the pseudo laker fans
 
Elektrik

Elektrik

Bench
#13
#13
DocHolliday said:
Personally I don't think it's very smart for Artest to come out and say things like this. He should just say it will be a tough match up, one that I'm looking forward to. It's been noted that Bryant uses these types of statements to motivate himself, and make it a personal vendetta. Bryant is the last person you want gunning for you on the court. He will purposefully make you look foolish every chance he gets. Same attitude Webber has. He LOVED IT when the crowd booed him. He used it to motivate himself and thrive from it.
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I think that this is something we as Kings fans are just going to have to get used to and accept from Ron. After reading alot of posts from the Pacers boards I sensed that Ron would say lots of things without really considering all the ramifications. Of course, if he can back it up(and so far he has) then....keep talking. I love it!
 
NBAGURU

NBAGURU

G-League
#16
#16
So far...so good. Ron has kept Kobe from scoring double-digits in the first half. I would call that a "shut-down" for a player like Kobe...
 
Mr. S£im Citrus

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#18
#18
Well, he might not have been shut down, but it took him twenty-eight shots to score thirty points, so that's close enough to "shut down" for me.
 
Purple Reign

Purple Reign

Starter
#20
#20
Mr. S£im Citrus said:
Well, he might not have been shut down, but it took him twenty-eight shots to score thirty points, so that's close enough to "shut down" for me.
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And 6 of those 30 were two 3 pointers late when the game was virtually over. So I kind of look at it as 24 points on 26 shots.
 
HndsmCelt

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#21
#21
Mr. S£im Citrus said:
Well, he might not have been shut down, but it took him twenty-eight shots to score thirty points, so that's close enough to "shut down" for me.
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Thats really better than shut down... the more the Kobster shot the ball the worse things got... perfect!
 
Kev.in

Kev.in

Starter
#22
#22
The numbers don't tell the whole story. He blocked Kobe's first jumpshot of the night, forced him into some ugly misses off the dribble and even an airball in the 4th. Kobe alternated between that sour face he gives refs when he's not getting his way to the anxious smile that he puts on when he's trying to act like he's got it under control and just needs to "turn it on" and everything will be cool.

Kobe got some stats, he always does, but he was never really comfortable doing it.
 
Warhawk

Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#23
#23
Kev.in nailed it. Kobe was off-balance enough to prevent him from going off, but hit just enough to keep shooting. If you can hold Kobe to 24 points before garbage time, chances are you'll win.
 
S

sanvara

Prospect
#28
#28
Ron did about as good a job as you can do on Kobe but he hasn't come anywhere close to shutting him down. Ron made the same predictions before the last game. Kobe's numbers since Ron started talking about shutting him down:

33 Pts
8.5 Assists
6.5 Rebounds
47%FG

Seasons stats:

35 pts
5.4 assists
4.6 rebounds
44%

Kobe has played better against Ron than he has against the rest of the league. It might be best if Ron just plays basketball and doesn't tease the crocodile before crossing the river. If he doesn't challenge Kobe, maybe Kobe will not play as well. Kobe is obviously a player who thrives on challenges. Best thing to do is be quiet and do the job without drawing attention to yourself.
 
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kingkung

kingkung

Bench
#29
#29
sanvara said:
Ron did about as good a job as you can do on Kobe but he hasn't come anywhere close to shutting him down. Ron made the same predictions before the last game. Kobe's numbers since Ron started talking about shutting him down:

33 Pts
8.5 Assists
6.5 Rebounds
47%FG

Seasons stats:

35 pts
5.4 assists
4.6 rebounds
44%

Kobe has played better against Ron than he has against the rest of the league. It might be best if Ron just plays basketball and doesn't tease the crocodile before crossing the river. If he doesn't challenge Kobe, maybe Kobe will not play as well. Kobe is obviously a player who thrives on challenges. Best thing to do is be quiet and do the job without drawing attention to yourself.
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It's kind of interesting that you're traversing opposing teams' boards after they WIN... it's usually done BEFORE the game, or after the opposing team loses. Kind of masochistic, IMHO. But, you're civil enough, so it's cool with me.
 
S

sanvara

Prospect
#30
#30
kingkung said:
It's kind of interesting that you're traversing opposing teams' boards after they WIN... it's usually done BEFORE the game, or after the opposing team loses. Kind of masochistic, IMHO. But, you're civil enough, so it's cool with me.
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I just like to correct false misconceptions. :) It's funny how people say "well he held him 2/8 for this one stretch" and they ignore the rest of the game.
 
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