I do not think that it is unique that Artest has been involved in off-the-court trouble. What I do think is unique is that many Kings Fans, in my opinion, want to defend Artest beyond what I consider to be in good reason, because of his talent. It's not uncommon for players to **** up; what is uncommon is for fans to keep giving guys like that an unlimited number of chances. I'll bet you don't hear anybody talking about how Jamaal Tinsley isn't really that bad. I expect owners and GM's to keep giving players like that unlimited chances, because they're looking at dollar signs, or whatever, but I guess I hold myself to a higher standard.
He has with me.
My opinion is that Artest is a me-first player that impedes the Kings' team concept. I think that he kills the offense and that, in some ways, the team wins almost in spite of him. I think that he's a detriment, and I want him gone. Although, to be fair, I want Bibby, Thomas and Abdur-Rahim gone, too. As a matter of fact, his recent resurgence notwithstanding, I'll go on record as saying I still want Miller gone, too.
With you, it appears that when someone gets on your **** list, he cannot get off no matter if he is a model citizen and an All Pro. That's an observation built over many years and not just with Artest.
After reading all your answers, I have concluded that I can ignore your opinions because they are almost never positive. It is as if the "positive prop" bone is missing form your anatomy or more likely, from your soul. Therefore your opinions are useless (harsh judgment on my part as privately I have sought your advice) because there is a certain incredible one sidedness to them.
Any basketball player can be criticized because no one is perfect. In like fashion
for me all basketball players also have a positive aspect to their game. You seem incapable of seeing the positives.
Therefore your opinions are of no use to me because they are not balanced. You go out of your way to find the negatives and ignore obvious positives. Last game he had 28 points on 50% shooting with 3 out of 5 three pointers. I assume he played good defense.
As to people defending Ron, if you are putting me in that basket, I can only say that I think he is our best player. I have welcomed some compulsive person with time on their hands to review Bricklayers's grades this year and last year and I will bet the player with the highest grade average is Ron. This is rating him at the job he is paid to do.
On the other hand, my solution to solving the log jam at the 2/3 position is to trade Ron, not because he brings back the best player but because he is the riskiest to keep. I don't want to trade him because he "looks crazy" or "looks unbalanced" or that some mythical clock is ticking. Although that clock was ticking for awhile, it has stopped although the positive change is not worthy of mention. Artest only brings out negative comments from fans.
I also think Ron is intelligent and there is something likable about a guy who sets goals higher than those that are achievable and then gives 100% to achieve those goals. His willingness to teach the young players after practice is laudable.
As to his play recently, it's been good. I didn't see the last game where his appearance seemed to cause one person to say he "looks crazy" or something like that. As a psychiatrist, I have never heard of such observations of a player being part of any set of symptoms to judge a players mental state. If Ron farts while walking past the Maloofs it will be seen as an attack on the Maloofs or at the least, a high sign of disrespect and perhaps worth a few inches of writing in the Bee.
Where will we stand if he plays out his full contract with us; another year and a half? What if he does nothing wrong except occasionally go on a one on one spurt. And what if Theus breaks him of that? Let's give Theus more than 30 games to bring Ron into the fold. I think it will be like catching lightening in a bottle and maybe even the most skittish of fans will have to see that Ron Artest is a major contributor to any success this team has.
Fire away.
ps: I remember getting slammed by a mod for hijacking a thread. Why are we discussing Miller?
