1279217
<p>ok i know we lost ariza and we are right on the edge of the salary cap but seriously who can stop the lakers? the best coach in history, the best basketball player in the world, and an ultimate experienced supporting cast. what else is there to say? honestly artest isnt a downgrade.</p>
<p>PPG:16.1 RPG:5.1 APG:3.2 FG pct:42.2 Steals PG:2.1(03-04 Defensive Player of The Year)</p>
<p>How are these stats a downgrade? if artest were to join any other team or if he were to stay with the rockets he would be the second best player if not the #1. this pick up is by far the best this offseason. and with artest's experience it more than not improves the lakers chances. i look for the lakers to win at least 65 games this season if not more and a back to back title. It makes sense on paper, because Artest allows the Lakers to play against small lineups with a grouping of Fisher-Bryant-Artest-Odom-Gasol, even though that group isn’t actually “small,” thanks to the length of Gasol and Odom plus Artest’s brute strength. That crew could well counter, for example, a small Boston lineup of Rajon Rondo – Ray Allen – Paul Pierce – Garnett – Rasheed Wallace. On the other hand, Jackson could go big with a defensively intimidating squad of (also newly-signed) Shannon Brown, plus Artest-Bryant-Gasol-Bynum that dwarfs a potential Cleveland lineup even with Shaquille O’Neal’s inclusion (Mo Williams – Delonte West – LeBron James – Anderson Varejao – O’Neal). Obviously, versatility was a key in L.A.’s 2008-09 title run with Trevor Ariza in place of Artest, so there’s no re-inventing of the wheel here … But in part because of his bigger body, Artest does give the Lakers some potentially powerful new looks. So everyone that says the lakers downgraded because of the loss of ariza look at the stats the only difference is age. ariza had his chance to stay on the best team in basketball and his immaturity forced his to join a team that is totally falling apart with mcgrady very questionable and yao....... who knows whats gonna happen to yao. So next season when kobe is holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy and ariza is at home wating on tv he's gonna realize the mistake he made with his selfish acts just for a little more money.GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!2009 NBA Champions!</p>
true
2009-07-09T18:37:34Z
88842
22
Lakers 2010!
2009-07-29T10:09:44Z