Ron Artest - After 82 Games

[Purple Reign]

What do you think? How has the Ron Artest Experience been, now that we have a full 82 games to evaluate.

Kings record with Ron Artest 43-39

I would say the experience overall has been good. I am all for Artest being a part of this organization as long as he can handle the losing this season and the possible rebuilding of this franchise.

DEFENSE -Overall his defense has been at a B/B-/C+ cusp. Last year he defended very well. this year not as well as his reputation.

REBOUNDING - Rebounding has improved over 82 games

OFFENSE - offensively he has skills but they are as inconsistant as any player in the league.

LEADERSHIP - I am somewhat disappointed. Ron has the personality to put this team on his back and take it to where ever he wants to go. that has not happened. He seems to somewhat have "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going" persona.

 

[LPKingsFan]

When I first heard rumors that the Kings were going to get Ron, I was excited. This was back in the summer of 2004, when Peja first suggested a trade. The trade didn't happen, and instead it was Webber that was moved. I was not pleased.

I was happy again, despite the brawl, when the rumors popped up again last year. It was a roller coaster ride last January when he was traded, then he wasn't, then he finally was. I was optimistic that Ron would impose his will on the team and reshape it in his image. The team lacked a dominant warrior-King (to borrow from VF) and it seemed like Ron could be the guy. I really thought he could perform back to his pre-brawl, MVP-like numbers of 24.6, 6.4, 3.1.

When Ron came and the Kings went on that run, I thought maybe it could be true. But this year has definitely soured things. There were a number of factors beyond Ron's control, but in any case, no matter what your agenda is, it's clear that Ron cannot carry a team on his back.

If he's willing to stick around while we dabble in the lottery to find our legit #1 threat, I'd love to have him stay. He'd be a great mentor for the kids, and a valuable peice to have when we're (ideally) contending again 3 years or so down the road. But if he doesn't want to be part of a rebuild, then he's going to become a distraction, and you'd have to accomodate him if he wants out. He could be one of our more valuable trade pieces, if that scenario comes to a head.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

When I first heard rumors that the Kings were going to get Ron, I was excited. This was back in the summer of 2004, when Peja first suggested a trade. The trade didn't happen, and instead it was Webber that was moved. I was not pleased.

I was happy again, despite the brawl, when the rumors popped up again last year. It was a roller coaster ride last January when he was traded, then he wasn't, then he finally was. I was optimistic that Ron would impose his will on the team and reshape it in his image. The team lacked a dominant warrior-King (to borrow from VF) and it seemed like Ron could be the guy. I really thought he could perform back to his pre-brawl, MVP-like numbers of 24.6, 6.4, 3.1.

When Ron came and the Kings went on that run, I thought maybe it could be true. But this year has definitely soured things. There were a number of factors beyond Ron's control, but in any case, no matter what your agenda is, it's clear that Ron cannot carry a team on his back.

If he's willing to stick around while we dabble in the lottery to find our legit #1 threat, I'd love to have him stay. He'd be a great mentor for the kids, and a valuable peice to have when we're (ideally) contending again 3 years or so down the road. But if he doesn't want to be part of a rebuild, then he's going to become a distraction, and you'd have to accomodate him if he wants out. He could be one of our more valuable trade pieces, if that scenario comes to a head.

You keep Mr. Artest, and build WITH him, not around him. I just wish we would have pulled the trigger back when we still had C-Webb. Artest and C-Webb would have probably worked out a bit better than Artest-Bibby-Miller. But who knows...I think you keep Artest and Martin...everyone else can get lost, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Vlade4GM]

You keep Mr. Artest, and build WITH him, not around him. I just wish we would have pulled the trigger back when we still had C-Webb. Artest and C-Webb would have probably worked out a bit better than Artest-Bibby-Miller. But who knows...I think you keep Artest and Martin...everyone else can get lost, as far as I'm concerned.

he's not someone who's going to stick around in a rebuilding process. he's our best trading chip and you're suggesting we keep him just so he can opt out after next year. real smart.

 

[kennadog]

I just can't imagine Artest having the patience for a rebuilding team.

 

[Unclebuck]

As a Pacers fan and a huge Ron Artest fan. I think his play this season has been horrible. Granted I don't follow the Kings as closely as I do the Pacers, but I see enough to know that Ron just isn't right. Earlier in the season I figured his back was causing the problem, then a month ago or so he seemed to be losing it emotionally, but now I'm at a total loss` to explain it. To me it almost looks as though he's aged about 5 years - I see that much of a difference.

I don't have any answers, but from what I've seen he's a shell of his former self - no where near as good as he was as a member of the Pacers.

 

[John Galt]

I think he is a terrific ballplayer and hope he stays. But I will shed a tear for nobody if the Kings have to make a dramatic move toward the lottery or in a completely different direction.

There is nothing I would want from Ron that he hasn't delivered in my opinion - I love the guy.

 

[BMiller52]

As a Pacers fan and a huge Ron Artest fan. I think his play this season has been horrible. Granted I don't follow the Kings as closely as I do the Pacers, but I see enough to know that Ron just isn't right. Earlier in the season I figured his back was causing the problem, then a month ago or so he seemed to be losing it emotionally, but now I'm at a total loss` to explain it. To me it almost looks as though he's aged about 5 years - I see that much of a difference.

I don't have any answers, but from what I've seen he's a shell of his former self - no where near as good as he was as a member of the Pacers.

It's a combination of injuries and our bad defense in the paint. There are times when he backs way off of his man because he knows that he's going to drive and we have no help by the basket. So then guys get open for jumpshots. He's still scored a lot this month and he's good at getting steals but our lack of D in the paint hurts his defense IMO.

 

[nbrans]

So Ron goes so goes the entire team. He is absolutely the leader of the team, and last season he came in and played smothering defense, which rose the overall defensive effort of the entire team. This season he's increasingly treating defense like an afterthought and getting beat by everyone under the sun, including such notable offensive studs as Dahntay Jones and Desmond Mason. And on offense he's the co-president, along with Mike Bibby, of the jack-a-shot offense, which has now even trickled down to Kevin Martin. He's been playing great offensively (well, he's been making his shots at least), and it just goes to show what kind of talent he has, but talent alone has to be harnessed for good, and that only sporadically happens with Ron.

Ron could probably still be all-world defensively if he wanted to, but for some reason he doesn't want to right now. So what you're left with is a sporadically effective scorer who kills your offense and doesn't make anyone better.

Ron's talent is so incredibly tantalizing, and his offense has been so good lately that it's been making me do the "if only" game. "If only" we had a coach who could utilize Ron, "if only" he could play both offense and defense, "if only..." "if only..."

Indiana played the "if only" game for a very long time and it didn't get them anywhere, and as much as I hate to say it, I think we need to go in a different direction, because anyone who waits on Ron to get it is going to be left with nothing but dust in the wind.

 

[Padrino]

So Ron goes so goes the entire team. He is absolutely the leader of the team, and last season he came in and played smothering defense, which rose the overall defensive effort of the entire team. This season he's increasingly treating defense like an afterthought and getting beat by everyone under the sun, including such notable offensive studs as Dahntay Jones and Desmond Mason. And on offense he's the co-president, along with Mike Bibby, of the jack-a-shot offense, which has now even trickled down to Kevin Martin. He's been playing great offensively (well, he's been making his shots at least), and it just goes to show what kind of talent he has, but talent alone has to be harnessed for good, and that only sporadically happens with Ron.

Ron could probably still be all-world defensively if he wanted to, but for some reason he doesn't want to right now. So what you're left with is a sporadically effective scorer who kills your offense and doesn't make anyone better.

Ron's talent is so incredibly tantalizing, and his offense has been so good lately that it's been making me do the "if only" game. "If only" we had a coach who could utilize Ron, "if only" he could play both offense and defense, "if only..." "if only..."

Indiana played the "if only" game for a very long time and it didn't get them anywhere, and as much as I hate to say it, I think we need to go in a different direction, because anyone who waits on Ron to get it is going to be left with nothing but dust in the wind.

i agree with the majority of this. the only thing i'd point out is that the "trickle down effect" of ron's defense is probably being overstated. its very hard to get such non-defensive players to play consistent defense for half a season, much less an entire season. ron's energy on defense--when he decides he really wants to bring it--is always a welcome sight, but one guy can't carry a team defensively the way one guy can carry a team offensively. ron's said on a couple of occasions this season that he can't do it alone on defense. i honestly think he's been just as frustrated as any of us with the kings' defensive efforts.

that doesn't mean that i agree with him slacking off on his defense and jacking shots instead, but if i were to be so bold as to try and get inside that ridiculous head of his, i'd say that he's tired of trying so damn hard on the defensive end just to see opponents pick apart the rest of the team once he's no longer playing "on the ball." if the guy ron's covering passes it, chances are that person is going to have a good opportunity to score...and that happens a lot against the kings. opponents score tons of points against them. yes, ron can be a leader by setting the defensive tone, but that's about all he can do. he can't make his teammates play defense. shoot...the coaching staff can't even seem to get them to play defense.

 

[Oscar]

4 games above .500 since Artest has been a king? Hmmm, not a lot to build on. If the Maloofs were building around Artest, then I'd say it's a bust. If they plan to add pieces for the future, then Artest better buy into their plans or it will also be a bust.