http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/47410.html
Defensively, he's a masterpiece
Ron Artest never lets his guard down as Kings' stopper
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Story appeared in PROJECTS section, Page KINGS TIPOFF2
Ron Artest defends. That's what he does.
Sure, he handles the ball on some sets. And he pops the occasional three-pointer. And he's got the outta-my-way post-up move when he muscles inside. But really, ask the man himself, and he'll tell you what defines him.
Defense.
The Kings forward explains that the art of defense -- of great defense, that is -- is a combination of things. Desire, skill, instinct. And more desire. Artest said too many players in the NBA prefer not to defend. They're too focused on offense, he said. Or they don't want to get tired, as defending can weaken a man. But Artest defends so he can weaken his man.
And how well? He's a 6-foot-7, 240-pound block of physical marvel. He can move his feet well enough not to get burned baseline. He can slide over to draw a charge in the lane. He can play man-up defense so tight that he can see his foe founder, and he positions himself close enough to pounce. He also looks the part of stopper.
Or, as Kings director of player personnel Jerry Reynolds likes to say, "Half the league is afraid of him, and the other half ought to be."
Coach Eric Musselman had seen Artest from afar before assuming the Kings job this season. It wasn't until he observed him every day, by the hour, that the coach grew to really appreciate the man's skills and tenacity.
"He's a freak, a physical freak," Musselman said. "He's bionic. His combination of strength and speed is off the charts. What he does amazes me."
Sometimes what Artest does even amazes "Ron-Ron" himself.
"Sometimes I do surprise myself with my defense," he admitted. "I'm heavier than most power forwards, and I play small forward. I'm quicker than most guys and stronger, and I try to use it to my advantage."
The art of defense -- his defense -- is what, exactly?
"It's like a science, an art," Artest explained. "It's an instinct, like boxing. You have to know when to throw a jab, when to throw a hook. In basketball, same thing. Same way. Knowing when to make the steal, when to slide over, when to slap at the ball."
Artest said he learned to defend -- had to defend -- when he grew up playing pickup ball in New York. He said playground phenoms are superb dribblers, and to ever get the ball in a me-against-everyone game on the streets, you had to swipe it.
And one other thing.
"You have to take defense personally, because you don't want to get embarrassed," Artest said. "Because out there, guys will embarrass you. You don't want that. And you definitely don't want that in the NBA, because guys want to embarrass you out there with a dunk."
Artest still hones his defense on the summer pickup circuit in New York. Foolish? He won't deny that, given his responsibility to stay healthy, but he reminds that he's not there to do the embarrassing.
"That's how I train, on the streets," Artest said. "But I don't dunk on people out there. I play defense. You can always work on that."
Artest said the art of defense also comes in the form of motivation, a valued ingredient. He seeks to defend the top scorers in every game, even if just for a moment or two. Kobe Bryant, Le-Bron James, Ray Allen. Line 'em up.
Still, Artest said he's disappointed that more of his league peers don't have his work ethic.
"It definitely does insult me that some guys don't work harder on their game," he said. "Some guys just don't work. So I look for guys to push me, with what they do, how good they are. Kobe pushes me. LeBron pushes me. But most of the veteran guys out there don't push me. You're always looking for that something to push you."
He pushes himself the most.
"I have challenged myself to be the best defensive stopper, and I've done that," he said. "Now I'm challenging myself to get us to a championship."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
Defensively, he's a masterpiece
Ron Artest never lets his guard down as Kings' stopper
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Story appeared in PROJECTS section, Page KINGS TIPOFF2
Ron Artest defends. That's what he does.
Sure, he handles the ball on some sets. And he pops the occasional three-pointer. And he's got the outta-my-way post-up move when he muscles inside. But really, ask the man himself, and he'll tell you what defines him.
Defense.
The Kings forward explains that the art of defense -- of great defense, that is -- is a combination of things. Desire, skill, instinct. And more desire. Artest said too many players in the NBA prefer not to defend. They're too focused on offense, he said. Or they don't want to get tired, as defending can weaken a man. But Artest defends so he can weaken his man.
And how well? He's a 6-foot-7, 240-pound block of physical marvel. He can move his feet well enough not to get burned baseline. He can slide over to draw a charge in the lane. He can play man-up defense so tight that he can see his foe founder, and he positions himself close enough to pounce. He also looks the part of stopper.
Or, as Kings director of player personnel Jerry Reynolds likes to say, "Half the league is afraid of him, and the other half ought to be."
Coach Eric Musselman had seen Artest from afar before assuming the Kings job this season. It wasn't until he observed him every day, by the hour, that the coach grew to really appreciate the man's skills and tenacity.
"He's a freak, a physical freak," Musselman said. "He's bionic. His combination of strength and speed is off the charts. What he does amazes me."
Sometimes what Artest does even amazes "Ron-Ron" himself.
"Sometimes I do surprise myself with my defense," he admitted. "I'm heavier than most power forwards, and I play small forward. I'm quicker than most guys and stronger, and I try to use it to my advantage."
The art of defense -- his defense -- is what, exactly?
"It's like a science, an art," Artest explained. "It's an instinct, like boxing. You have to know when to throw a jab, when to throw a hook. In basketball, same thing. Same way. Knowing when to make the steal, when to slide over, when to slap at the ball."
Artest said he learned to defend -- had to defend -- when he grew up playing pickup ball in New York. He said playground phenoms are superb dribblers, and to ever get the ball in a me-against-everyone game on the streets, you had to swipe it.
And one other thing.
"You have to take defense personally, because you don't want to get embarrassed," Artest said. "Because out there, guys will embarrass you. You don't want that. And you definitely don't want that in the NBA, because guys want to embarrass you out there with a dunk."
Artest still hones his defense on the summer pickup circuit in New York. Foolish? He won't deny that, given his responsibility to stay healthy, but he reminds that he's not there to do the embarrassing.
"That's how I train, on the streets," Artest said. "But I don't dunk on people out there. I play defense. You can always work on that."
Artest said the art of defense also comes in the form of motivation, a valued ingredient. He seeks to defend the top scorers in every game, even if just for a moment or two. Kobe Bryant, Le-Bron James, Ray Allen. Line 'em up.
Still, Artest said he's disappointed that more of his league peers don't have his work ethic.
"It definitely does insult me that some guys don't work harder on their game," he said. "Some guys just don't work. So I look for guys to push me, with what they do, how good they are. Kobe pushes me. LeBron pushes me. But most of the veteran guys out there don't push me. You're always looking for that something to push you."
He pushes himself the most.
"I have challenged myself to be the best defensive stopper, and I've done that," he said. "Now I'm challenging myself to get us to a championship."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
