KingKong
Starter
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5279204
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 5 hours ago
What remains is a careful inspection of what each team has gained and lost.
Indiana
The Pacers lose a migraine headache.
In Peja Stojakovic, the Pacers gain a streaky shooter who will serve several purposes: If Stojakovic can make adequate entry passes into Jermaine O'Neal (once O'Neal returns from his groin injury), opponents' double-teams will have to come from elsewhere. This means that the two-timers will necessarily have to travel longer distances than the few strides separating the passer from the receiver, thereby giving O'Neal an extra beat in which to work his mojo. The corollary to this is that any time O'Neal makes a pass back out to the perimeter, the defense will have to scramble with exquisite speed and coordination in order to recover.
At 6-foot-9, Stojakovic also has the size and the fall-back jumper to be effective against most small forwards. He likewise has the potential to bail out the often sluggish Pacer offense. In addition, Peja's ability to make swift and timely off-the-ball cuts will enable O'Neal to spend more time at the high post and will put some more pizzazz in Indiana's stodgy, predictable offense.
Not to be undervalued is Stojakovic's presence in the locker room. Substituting his soft-spoken, albeit sometimes poutish, manner for Ron Artest's frenetic selfishness will go a long way to creating a more harmonious atmosphere.
On the flip side, Peja's marshmallow defense is the antithesis of the rugged point-stopping game plan that Rick Carlisle preaches so intensely. Stojakovic's overall softness will dramatically change the character of the team and put more pressure on everyone else to play tougher than ever and to execute their defensive rotations with improved efficiency — all the while patting their new savior on the back every time his man misses a shot.
Speaking of which, thus far in his otherwise notable career, Peja has shown a marked propensity for missing shots in clutch situations — especially in the playoffs.
So, the Pacers are much softer on "D," more explosive on offense and much happier campers all around. Until Stojakovic starts shooting blanks when his sharp-shooting is most desperately needed. All in all, Peja in a Pacers uniform is much better than Artest on the bench in civilian clothes. This move is simply addition by addition.
Sacramento
The Kings lose a chronic choker and malcontent.
Of course, the abiding question for Sacramento is this: Which Artest will show up? The fierce competitor who can shut down most wing scorers, or the trouble-making, out-of-control loony?
If the good Artest takes the court, then the semi-soft Kings will get the shot of he-man toughness that they've lacked for so many seasons. Doug Christie, at his peak, was a crafty, hustling defensive King, but Artest can be a hard-nosed, bone-on-bone defensive ace. If such is the case, Artest's intensity will be contagious, and the Kings' meow will turn into a roar. Perhaps they can even make enough noise to rouse themselves into the playoffs.
The good Artest can score as well as defend. He's a rapidly improving 3-ball stroker. He can post with enough aggression to intimidate lesser mortals. And he drives to the rack like a fullback headed for the goal line. However, even the good Artest will turn bad in a hurry if he fails to get enough touches — an entirely subjective number that he, and he alone, will name.
And here's another "however" — the league's referees will keep even the good Artest on a short leash. Should he react to any calls that go against him with anything but smiles and a happy face, he's liable to be hit with a T. Any foul he commits in which he doesn't touch the ball is liable to be labeled flagrant. All this because, despite any disclaimers to the contrary, the NBA's corps of blind mice simply detest Artest, good or bad.
Should the bad Artest step on to the floorboards at the ARCO Arena, the brothers Maloof are advised to batten down the hatches, put guards around the TV cameras and enclose the court inside a wire-mesh cage as in days of old.
Indeed, the bad Artest could easily be so disagreeable, and even so dangerous, as to topple the entire franchise and send the Maloofs scurrying to greener pastures. Las Vegas anyone?
Hmmm. Could the brothers "M" be so devious as to have arranged the trade for just this event?
In any event, Artest's sheer competitiveness will insure his good behavior at least for the short term. After all, the guy does love to play, something that he hasn't done much of in the past 14 months. At the same time, he is stubborn and impulsive.
There are plenty of ifs and buts on both sides of this equation. Yet one eternal marketplace truth will haunt the destiny of the Kings and the Pacers: Caveat emptor, or more plainly ... buyer beware!
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 5 hours ago
What remains is a careful inspection of what each team has gained and lost.
Indiana
The Pacers lose a migraine headache.
In Peja Stojakovic, the Pacers gain a streaky shooter who will serve several purposes: If Stojakovic can make adequate entry passes into Jermaine O'Neal (once O'Neal returns from his groin injury), opponents' double-teams will have to come from elsewhere. This means that the two-timers will necessarily have to travel longer distances than the few strides separating the passer from the receiver, thereby giving O'Neal an extra beat in which to work his mojo. The corollary to this is that any time O'Neal makes a pass back out to the perimeter, the defense will have to scramble with exquisite speed and coordination in order to recover.
At 6-foot-9, Stojakovic also has the size and the fall-back jumper to be effective against most small forwards. He likewise has the potential to bail out the often sluggish Pacer offense. In addition, Peja's ability to make swift and timely off-the-ball cuts will enable O'Neal to spend more time at the high post and will put some more pizzazz in Indiana's stodgy, predictable offense.
Not to be undervalued is Stojakovic's presence in the locker room. Substituting his soft-spoken, albeit sometimes poutish, manner for Ron Artest's frenetic selfishness will go a long way to creating a more harmonious atmosphere.
On the flip side, Peja's marshmallow defense is the antithesis of the rugged point-stopping game plan that Rick Carlisle preaches so intensely. Stojakovic's overall softness will dramatically change the character of the team and put more pressure on everyone else to play tougher than ever and to execute their defensive rotations with improved efficiency — all the while patting their new savior on the back every time his man misses a shot.
Speaking of which, thus far in his otherwise notable career, Peja has shown a marked propensity for missing shots in clutch situations — especially in the playoffs.
So, the Pacers are much softer on "D," more explosive on offense and much happier campers all around. Until Stojakovic starts shooting blanks when his sharp-shooting is most desperately needed. All in all, Peja in a Pacers uniform is much better than Artest on the bench in civilian clothes. This move is simply addition by addition.
Sacramento
The Kings lose a chronic choker and malcontent.
Of course, the abiding question for Sacramento is this: Which Artest will show up? The fierce competitor who can shut down most wing scorers, or the trouble-making, out-of-control loony?
If the good Artest takes the court, then the semi-soft Kings will get the shot of he-man toughness that they've lacked for so many seasons. Doug Christie, at his peak, was a crafty, hustling defensive King, but Artest can be a hard-nosed, bone-on-bone defensive ace. If such is the case, Artest's intensity will be contagious, and the Kings' meow will turn into a roar. Perhaps they can even make enough noise to rouse themselves into the playoffs.
The good Artest can score as well as defend. He's a rapidly improving 3-ball stroker. He can post with enough aggression to intimidate lesser mortals. And he drives to the rack like a fullback headed for the goal line. However, even the good Artest will turn bad in a hurry if he fails to get enough touches — an entirely subjective number that he, and he alone, will name.
And here's another "however" — the league's referees will keep even the good Artest on a short leash. Should he react to any calls that go against him with anything but smiles and a happy face, he's liable to be hit with a T. Any foul he commits in which he doesn't touch the ball is liable to be labeled flagrant. All this because, despite any disclaimers to the contrary, the NBA's corps of blind mice simply detest Artest, good or bad.
Should the bad Artest step on to the floorboards at the ARCO Arena, the brothers Maloof are advised to batten down the hatches, put guards around the TV cameras and enclose the court inside a wire-mesh cage as in days of old.
Indeed, the bad Artest could easily be so disagreeable, and even so dangerous, as to topple the entire franchise and send the Maloofs scurrying to greener pastures. Las Vegas anyone?
Hmmm. Could the brothers "M" be so devious as to have arranged the trade for just this event?
In any event, Artest's sheer competitiveness will insure his good behavior at least for the short term. After all, the guy does love to play, something that he hasn't done much of in the past 14 months. At the same time, he is stubborn and impulsive.
There are plenty of ifs and buts on both sides of this equation. Yet one eternal marketplace truth will haunt the destiny of the Kings and the Pacers: Caveat emptor, or more plainly ... buyer beware!
