goingyard

Here’s the 2008-2009 stats comparison:
Ron Artest: PPG 17.1, RPG 5.2 ,APG 3.3
Trevor Ariza: PPG 8.9, RPG 4.3, APG 1.8

Let me be the first to say that those stats don’t mean a damn thing. What does matter is this: will Ron Artest play nice in the triangle and what does this mean for Lamar Odom?

Ron Artest is not neccessarily known for his passing. Yes he can score and play defense as if his life depended on it. But how will he fit into the triangle? Will he be willing to pass as much as shoot?

One of the reasons for the success of the Lakers the past couple of years is that everyone on that team is willing to make the person playing next to him look better. They were all willing to pass. The only player on the court who would take charge at points in the game and say give me the ball would be Kobe. At times that’s what the Lakers needed. What we don’t need is two players doing that.

Now for the good news. I don’t think any of that will happen. Here’s why. The Lakers have a commander in Phil Jackson that has dealt with this before and wont let it get in the way of championships. They have an elder statesmen in Derek Fisher that will put people in their place without them knowing they are being put in their place. And they have a leader in Kobe who has a drive to win championships and wants to succeed. Not to mention he will put you in your place and let you know that he is putting you in your place.

One more reason it won’t happen. Ron Artest knows his role. He’s third fiddle (as he was in Houston) and he’s ok with that. Otherwise he wouldn’t have come.

That last thing that I’m wondering about is Lamar Odom. How will he feel about having his minutes cut even more. With Bynum, Gasol, Artest, Kobe, and Derek starting will he be ok with having his minutes cut even more. Artest will garner more minutes than Ariza/Walton did last year.

I hope Lamar will be ok with that. In fact he is one of the few players in the NBA who I think would be OK with that.

Only time will tell what will happen. Until that time passes (barring injuries) I can’t wait for the Lakers to meet the Celtics in the finals next year…

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