http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14221433p-15047148c.html
51 for Kobe: Don't count on it, Artest says
The Lakers guard scored in bunches in the first meeting this season, but the Kings were a different team then.
By Joe Davidson
In a sport all about numbers, five to consider and crunch tonight at Staples Center:
• 8: Kobe Bryant's jersey number, fast becoming a global hot seller again.
• 51: The points Bryant dropped against his old rivals in the first Kings-Lakers meeting of the season last month.
• 1: Bryant's rank in the NBA this season in scoring.
• 93: Ron Artest's jersey number, fast becoming the most revered in Sacramento.
• 1: The general consensus around the league as to Artest's rating as a defender.
Bryant took apart the Kings for those 51 on Jan. 19 at Arco Arena, even though the Kings prevailed 118-109 in overtime behind Mike Bibby's 40 and Kenny Thomas' triple double. Artest was still in limbo then, on the inactive list with the Indiana Pacers. He will have his fair shot to stall Bryant, who has torched all comers this season in an MVP-like campaign.
It'll be a matchup of 6-foot-7 pillars, with Bryant more explosive and agile, and Artest wider and stronger with cat-quick hands and an uncanny ability to move right along with anyone despite his bulk.
And Artest can hardly wait. He's still nursing a tender hip pointer, though it improved over the All-Star break. Still, no excuses, he said.
"I think it's going to be a good matchup. It'll be a good test for me because we haven't faced anyone like him since I've been here."
And the plan of attack?
"I'll do the same thing against him as I have against all the other guys I played who averaged a lot of points," Artest said. "I'll bring his scoring average down. I'll play my game. Most guys who average 20 or more, they don't get that against me."
There may be times Artest checks Lamar Odom as well.
"Obviously, Kobe is going to be taking all the shots, I might just stay on Kobe," Artest said.
Said Kings coach Rick Adelman: "(Kobe) had 51 on us the last time, so you know he'll be ready. You can be the best defender in the world, but he'll still score on you. But one thing about Ron, I know he'll make Kobe work. That's what he does."
Kings center Brad Miller cracked that one Kings player will be relieved not to have to chase Bryant around the floor in a fit of frustrated exhaustion. "I know Kevin Martin's probably glad he doesn't have to play Kobe the whole time," Miller said. "I'm sure Kobe might get 30 or 35 against us because he does that to everyone, but Ron won't let him have easy shots. He'll have to earn it."
51 for Kobe: Don't count on it, Artest says
The Lakers guard scored in bunches in the first meeting this season, but the Kings were a different team then.
By Joe Davidson
In a sport all about numbers, five to consider and crunch tonight at Staples Center:
• 8: Kobe Bryant's jersey number, fast becoming a global hot seller again.
• 51: The points Bryant dropped against his old rivals in the first Kings-Lakers meeting of the season last month.
• 1: Bryant's rank in the NBA this season in scoring.
• 93: Ron Artest's jersey number, fast becoming the most revered in Sacramento.
• 1: The general consensus around the league as to Artest's rating as a defender.
Bryant took apart the Kings for those 51 on Jan. 19 at Arco Arena, even though the Kings prevailed 118-109 in overtime behind Mike Bibby's 40 and Kenny Thomas' triple double. Artest was still in limbo then, on the inactive list with the Indiana Pacers. He will have his fair shot to stall Bryant, who has torched all comers this season in an MVP-like campaign.
It'll be a matchup of 6-foot-7 pillars, with Bryant more explosive and agile, and Artest wider and stronger with cat-quick hands and an uncanny ability to move right along with anyone despite his bulk.
And Artest can hardly wait. He's still nursing a tender hip pointer, though it improved over the All-Star break. Still, no excuses, he said.
"I think it's going to be a good matchup. It'll be a good test for me because we haven't faced anyone like him since I've been here."
And the plan of attack?
"I'll do the same thing against him as I have against all the other guys I played who averaged a lot of points," Artest said. "I'll bring his scoring average down. I'll play my game. Most guys who average 20 or more, they don't get that against me."
There may be times Artest checks Lamar Odom as well.
"Obviously, Kobe is going to be taking all the shots, I might just stay on Kobe," Artest said.
Said Kings coach Rick Adelman: "(Kobe) had 51 on us the last time, so you know he'll be ready. You can be the best defender in the world, but he'll still score on you. But one thing about Ron, I know he'll make Kobe work. That's what he does."
Kings center Brad Miller cracked that one Kings player will be relieved not to have to chase Bryant around the floor in a fit of frustrated exhaustion. "I know Kevin Martin's probably glad he doesn't have to play Kobe the whole time," Miller said. "I'm sure Kobe might get 30 or 35 against us because he does that to everyone, but Ron won't let him have easy shots. He'll have to earn it."
.... Luckily I read on and realized what it meant.
