Kings @ Jazz Game Thread

[DocHolliday]

As others have mentioned, Artest's actions should be setting off VERY LOUD alarms to everyone concerned. He's becoming more theatrical on the court, he's arguing with Theus, and his decision to make it personal between himself and the Jazz fans tonight was a clear factor in the loss.

Martin with 32 points, 7 boards, 4 assists and only one turnover? That's impressive - but what's going to be talked about is Artest's antics and ejection from the game. And I don't want to see that. It's about our TEAM, not our nutcase small forward. I wish Ron Artest all the luck in the world...with whatever team Petrie can blackmail into taking him.

In no way am I condoning Artest's actions, nor do I disagree that it's a shame thay Martin's performance will be overshadowed, but let's point out that Artest is not just being theatrical with the crowd with no perovocation. He's getting boo'd, and he's toying back with the fans.

This is something all players that have been boo'd or elicit a certain reaction that is specifically for that player does. Players gesture to the crowd when they are specifically being boo'd etc., especially on the road, and especially after they make a shot while they were booing them. Artest because of his reputation just gets boo'd more often then most players do on the road and that's why I think we see the frequency that's happening. That's just my opinion.

 

[treewoman]

I totally agree w/VF... how they play and interact as a team is critical to me, as a fan. Win or lose i tend to judge the team and the players individually on how they played. I love a win, don't get me wrong but especially in this time of flux how they play is more important to me.

 

[BuenoBeno]

In no way am I condoning Artest's actions, nor do I disagree that it's a shame thay Martin's performance will be overshadowed, but let's point out that Artest is not just being theatrical with the crowd with no perovocation. He's getting boo'd, and he's toying back with the fans.

This is something all players that have been boo'd or elicit a certain reaction that is specifically for that player does. Players gesture to the crowd when they are specifically being boo'd etc., especially on the road, and especially after they make a shot while they were booing them. Artest because of his reputation just gets boo'd more often then most players do on the road and that's why I think we see the frequency that's happening. That's just my opinion.

Yes but Artest seemed to care more about the fans then what he should have been doing on the floor, playing basketball. I noticed a few times when he should have been going on defense he was too busy pounding his chest to the crowd. That is not what any NBA player should be doing.

 

[treewoman]

Good point Doc! I would much rather see Ron blowing kisses and acting like a clown than letting it eat at him. I think with Ron's personality to not respond in some manner would eat at him and eat at him and then at some point he'd really explode!

 

[VF21]

In no way am I condoning Artest's actions, nor do I disagree that it's a shame thay Martin's performance will be overshadowed, but let's point out that Artest is not just being theatrical with the crowd with no perovocation. He's getting boo'd, and he's toying back with the fans.

This is something all players that have been boo'd or elicit a certain reaction that is specifically for that player does. Players gesture to the crowd when they are specifically being boo'd etc., especially on the road, and especially after they make a shot while they were booing them. Artest because of his reputation just gets boo'd more often then most players do on the road and that's why I think we see the frequency that's happening. That's just my opinion.

The problem is that he's not just another player who's gesturing to the crowds, etc. He's RON ARTEST. And he always will be RON ARTEST. (Capitalized because that seems to be how his name is spoken, especially by those making negative comments... The only addition is the "f******" in between Ron and Artest at times...)

He will always have the reputation and he'll always be a distraction. And recently his actions are becoming more pronounced. His verbal tirade aimed at Reggie the other night was an indication of escalating dissatisfaction, IMHO. He's restless and I think, as someone else has mentioned, he's realizing the King are not a playoff caliber team. And he's making it more and more obvious he wants to win a championship. That means leaving Sacramento...

It's not just the booing from the fans of other teams that I'm talking about. In fact, all things considered, that's about the least of our worries.

The ticking IS getting louder and I do not want our Kings to end up like the Pacers.

 

[BMiller52]

And again you forgot the bottom line - it shows that the Kings lost. There is no column in the standings for not quitting.

WOW really!??! That's amazing.

 

[kennadog]

He's restless and I think, as someone else has mentioned, he's realizing the King are not a playoff caliber team.

I did. I think his embarrassing, long argument with Theus in Detroit, while a game was going on, was horrible. When he starts getting into it with the crowd, Ron is no longer looks 100% focused on playing basketball to me. And that's bad.

This is building over a few games now. I don't think Ron is calming himself down, I think he's working himself up...to an explosion. If it really happens while he's on my Kings.....I can't even imagine, because I don't want to.

 

[VF21]

With any other player it would be tempting to try and explain it away. With Ron Artest, however, you have to remember that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

 

[BMiller52]

With any other player it would be tempting to try and explain it away. With Ron Artest, however, you have to remember that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Yeah, for a while he semed like he was alright but the signs are there now. He's getting increasingly frustrated, emotional, etc. and I think we all know what that means.

 

[Cal-Kings]

This game was the last straw with Artest for me. It encapsulated all that is wrong with him. Acting like an a-hole to the fans when he had absolutely nothing to brag about in this game. All that did was work up the crowd and work up the already hard fouls by the Jazz. And it gave the refs an excuse to give him the technicals (which for any normal player wouldn't even have been noticed.)

The refs stink and there's no way Harpring acting like a thug shouldn't have also been T-d up.

The simple truth is, this team is just better when Artest isn't playing.

I'm so ticked at him, I just want him gone.

 

[GoGoGadget]

The only addition is the "f******" in between Ron and Artest at times...

Really?

Not for me.




I usually put the "f******" before Ron and Artest.

Or, occasionally I'll shorten it and place it after Ron and Artest: Ron Artest... F***!

 

[VF21]

You're probably right. I think at this point there are any number of Kings fans who are putting multiple forms of the asterisked adjective before, in between and after his name.

 

[BuenoBeno]

one thing I loved about that game though was when the players did their pre- game huddle and left a space for Mikki who wasn't there yet I love those kings

 

[ParniValjak]

Yeah, for a while he semed like he was alright but the signs are there now. He's getting increasingly frustrated, emotional, etc. and I think we all know what that means.

I was against getting Ron Artest in the first place and I am against keeping him now. He has a history of being OK in the first couple or so seasons in his new team and then he erupts.

Leopard doesn't change its spots

Get rid off him ASAP but unfortunatly, I doubt even Zeke is dumb enough to take him on. He has next to no trade value these days.

 

[Slohoop]

I hate Bibby! TRADE HIM and put Beno back in starting line up.

 

[Heuge]

I learned nothing from this game.
Jazz are way better.
Ron is nuts

 

[venom_7]

So I just got finished watching the replay. My observations...

There is no room for what Artest did on the Kings. Absolutely no room for those antics. Maybe once or twice, and you say ' oh thats just ron' but he was doing it all game.

the refs were absolutely horrid tonight. absolutely terrible. I mean, probably the worst of the season outside the first Denver game. Everytime the Kings drove inside they were 'blocked' or they 'turned it over' in the refs eyes, and maybe thats too much credit to give even saying they have eyes. The technicals called were very one-sided. The Kings were fouled a lot more than it was called which was basically giving the Jazz free ticket to play a physical, ugly game. I really cant say anything else about it. If you saw the game, you know what I mean.

Matt Harpring is now my least favorite player in the league. Just being thuggish in general, he set a 'screen' on Kevin on which all he really did was knock the crap out of him. Kevin took offense to that, but suffice to say I like Harpring in that matchup. Even so, the man was just knocking people around tonight and got away very cleanly for his trouble. I mean Mikki Moore style thugs are ok, but not the Harprings and the Fortsons of the league. Its no fun to watch.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Okay, I'm going to sound like a complete idiot to most of you for saying this, but: Ron Artest is NOT what's wrong with this team, and never has been. Matt Harpring is a prick, and always has been...and the fact that he had a handful of Ron Artest everytime down the floor on both offense and defense...wow, if I was Ron, I'd get pissed off too if the refs were ingoring that. And as far as Ron's recent antics/mannerisms...eh, it is what it is. I dont hear the same 'ticking' with Ron, as some people like to say. This is NOT the same ole' Indiana Ron Artest that charged into the seats in Detroit. I dont see that happening while he's with the Kings, or any other team for that matter. Ron Artest is the product of his own environment, both good and bad...and Sacramento has been the best thing that's happened to him in his career, and I think he knows it, too. Before the last 3 games, everyone was on the 'this team is better with Ron' bandwagon...well, let me tell you something THAT hasnt changed one bit. Mike Bibby needs to go, not Ron Artest. Mike HAS to get his shots..and when he's shooting 5-16 every game, tell me that isnt frustrating as all hell as a teammate night in and night out. Sure Mike had a couple good games since he came back, but I see HIM falling back into the Mike Bibby of the last couple years...the 40% from the field Mike Bibby, and that's killing us! Ron Artest, when the rest of the team is playing like an actual team, is incredibly valuable to this team...moreso than Mike Bibby. Not sure what we'd get in a trade for either guys, but my thing is that we need to trade Bibby first...see what we get...then see what we have to work with. It's not like we can do a whole hell of alot until 2010 anyway, because of us exceding the salary cap.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

If Harpring played for Sacramento, he'd be the favorite player of half the people on here... Nearly every good team has a guy like him.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

If Harpring played for Sacramento, he'd be the favorite player of half the people on here... Nearly every good team has a guy like him.

I dont know about that...Matt Harpring is probably tied with Robert Horry for the Dirtiest Player in the NBA award. I sure as hell wouldnt want that guy on this team, I dont respect that type of player. Robert Horry gets called clutch, but at the end of the night is still a dirty azz player, this is the same guy that shoved Steve Nash into the scorer's table last year and got away with it...how the hell, I dont know...and Matt Harpring is the same way, he plays dirty and the refs seem to turn their heads and dont care. Double standards abound...because Ron Artest sneezes and they'd call him for a technical. I would be cursing Matt Harpring if he was on the Kings, and you can take THAT to the bank!

 

[Big Cuz 15]

If Harpring played for Sacramento, he'd be the favorite player of half the people on here... Nearly every good team has a guy like him.

yep. part of it is the way sloan coaches his team. he expects that type of play out of all his players

 

[fnordius]

Nearly every good team has a guy like him.

Lotta really poor teams, too... Danny Fortson never got any franchise a ring.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Lotta really poor teams, too... Danny Fortson never got any franchise a ring.

This is about as bass-ackwards as the whole "draft doesn't work" paradigm. Players like Harpring do the dirty work: set hard picks, box out, dive for loose balls, dish out hard fouls, protect their star players... That's a GOOD thing. Frankly, I applaud a player who has an "I'll elbow somebody in the head before I'll give up a layup" attitude... I'll also call bull**** on the "dirty player" accusations. Just because you put the lumber on somebody doesn't make you dirty. When you pull down a player's shorts to slow him down (coughartestcough), THAT'S dirty.

I tell you what: I'll bet that Phoenix wishes that THEY had a Matt Harpring when Horry checked Nash into the cheap seats.

 

[jdbraver]

Being physical and getting fired up when your losing is part of the game. If my team was losing and getting bumped around you would bet Id play with a chip on my shoulder. I bet you all loved bill lambier. Is there a double standard because this is Artest?

 

[GoGoGadget]

If Harpring played for Sacramento, he'd be the favorite player of half the people on here... Nearly every good team has a guy like him.

I agree.





Also... this argument is giving me Najera flashbacks.

 

[GoGoGadget]

Being physical and getting fired up when your losing is part of the game. If my team was losing and getting bumped around you would bet Id play with a chip on my shoulder. I bet you all loved bill lambier. Is there a double standard because this is Artest?

Firstly, Artest's past actions have somewhat justified that double standard. Throwing punches in the audience and getting suspended for a year means you play by different rules when you come back, and that's just the way it is.

Secondly, while I admit to not being able to watch last night's game, I've noticed in the past that Ron's version of getting fired up is very seldom about inspiring his team to win the game. It's a very selfish me-against-the-crowd attitude, which really does nothing but distract.

 

[VF21]

...This is NOT the same ole' Indiana Ron Artest that charged into the seats in Detroit.

Unfortunately it's EXACTLY the same ol' Ron Artest. Maybe you just don't recognize him with the different uniform.

The game against Detroit was very similar to our game last night against the Jazz. Artest was battling all evening with Ben Wallace and interacting with the crowd. The only difference is that the final straw - the idiot throwing the beer cup - didn't occur or we might easily have seen a repeat of "the brawl." The smirk on Artest's face during the game was the same as was some of the posturing.

 

[VF21]

... Ron's version of getting fired up is very seldom about inspiring his team to win the game. It's a very selfish me-against-the-crowd attitude, which really does nothing but distract.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!!

 

[Kingster]

He's restless and I think, as someone else has mentioned, he's realizing the King are not a playoff caliber team. And he's making it more and more obvious he wants to win a championship. That means leaving Sacramento...

It's not just the booing from the fans of other teams that I'm talking about. In fact, all things considered, that's about the least of our worries.

The ticking IS getting louder and I do not want our Kings to end up like the Pacers.

Yeah, "restless" is an understatement. It started in Detroit with the back-handed punch toward Maxiell. The Kings org has got to be very concerned. Petrie's "wait and see approach" toward Artest may have some very bad consequences...

 

[jdbraver]

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!!

I disagree completely, the reason the kings stink is that we have no low inside game. You can't blame all the ills on Artest. I rememer a nutty player that played for the Piston, Bulls, and Spurs that played against the crowd ten times worse than Artest. Yet, he has a few rings to show for it. The reason the Kings won't make the playoffs isn't Artest it's the lack of inside game. You have to bang and muscle to play inside. Atleast, although Artest is undersized at the 4 he puts up a fight. We have NOBODY else to do that. If we get rid of Artest who will we get. It's not like picking up a decent big is that easy. Some posters seem to believe that we can just pick them of waivers.