Does Artest Make Rockets Better Than Jazz?
‘Ron Artest: Now Rocket Fueled’ (Associated Press)
My brother is usually the one to deliver breaking sports news to my attention. Thus, I learned of Houston’s recent acquisition of Ron Artest in a text message that read, “Rockets got Artest for Bobby Jackson. Little bit scary.” The move does scare me a little, potentially a lot.
For two straight years, the Jazz and Rockets have found themselves engaged in hand-to-hand combat in the playoffs. With quarter neither asked nor given, the Jazz put their foe on the canvas in the late rounds of both series. But with only a break or two going the other way, Houston could certainly have sent the Jazz home either year. Consider how hard the Jazz had to fight last spring to finish off a Houston squad riddled with injuries. With a healthy roster, plus the added punch of Ron Artest, Houston might have the strength to knock the Jazz out.
In the ultra competitive Western Conference, the Jazz can ill afford to lose their slight edge over a team like Houston. Does Artest give the Rockets enough to surpass the Jazz? The answer depends largely on how well Artest melds with the current cast of characters in Houston. On paper, he makes the Rockets better at both ends of the floor. The explosive New York City native reminds one a little of Dennis Rodman but with superior offensive skills.
Unfortunately, Artest’s now legendary volatility has overshadowed his talent. Basketball fans will always remember Artest for charging into the stands and inciting the Malice in the Palace in November, 2004. When I lived in New York, I had a friend who had attended the same high school as Artest. My friend told me that a young Ron once got so mad at the coach that he ripped the door off the locker room with his bare hands. I don’t know if the story is true, but sometimes I look at Artest and conclude that it has to be.
Artest might decide that Houston represents his last good shot at winning a championship. If so, he will set aside his ego—along with the other demonic voices inside his head—and potentially put Houston over the top. Alternatively, the time bomb planted in Artest’s noggin could detonate during the season, blowing apart Tracy McGrady’s goal of finally advancing past the first round.
The Artest trade represents a huge gamble for Houston. That seems to be the trend, though, considering the foolish moves that Phoenix and Dallas made last year to acquire Shaq and Jason Kidd. Will the Jazz stand pat and assume they can still beat Houston if the two rivals cross paths again? Or does Kevin O’Conner have something up his sleeve to match Houston’s risky move?
7 Comments to “Does Artest Make Rockets Better Than Jazz?”
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The Rockets do seem to have helped themselves by adding Ron Artest. But this is based on his basketball statistics only. Basketball is a team sport and team chemistry also predicts success. Will Artest be a toxic influence that acutally degrades this team’s success? Time will tell.
I think he’ll be more trouble than he’s worth. Look at sacramento. Even though he “behaved” he still caused trouble. He thinks he’s the man and having Tracy and Yoa ahead of him. Will get to him. You said it best, when you talked about the deamons in his head. Its as if he cant control it. That is one guy I never want to meet in a dark alley!
It improves the Rockets, but I think they are still neck and neck, depending mostly on injuries.
Kevin will probably dazzle us all with a trade before training camp or the trade deadline.
Watch out for Portland and the Hornets, both of which might end up ahead of both teams.
Jazzaholic
No. Absolutely not. Artest is the new Dennis Rodman. Well he has been for a couple seasons now. Like the first post says, “he’s toxic.” He will not get along with McGrady and you will see them exchanging words back and forth all season long. In Sacramento, Artest was the go to guy along with Kevin Martin, but when you put his attitude along with Scova, McGrady, Battier, and Ming, he’s going to piss his teammates off.
The only way I can see him doing better, is if the veterans can change his attitude and make him a better player all around. If you have Brent Berry, Battier, and Mutumbo, (if he comes back) really work on Artest’s attitude, then he could hurt the Jazz. But someone has to lose playing time. They have to fit Artest in somewhere and give him his playing time or you have a bull in a China closet. So either not sign Mutumbo, or sit the up and coming talented Hayes and Landry, or trade Scola, (which would be dumb because he did amazing for them all season long) and you also have Ming back too. So someone will be riding the bench a lot more now.
Rockets had awesome chemistry last season, even though I don’t like them at all….they flowed as a team. With Ming back, it’s going to be a completely different season. So why even add Artest? Why add a troubled player that wants the ball, all the time, to a talented team that has so much chemistry!?!
Stupid. But hey, if he’s poisen, and he disrupts their play……then it’s good for the Jazz. So forget everything I wrote…..bring on the bull!!!!!!
I have to agree with Jeffrey . I can’t beleive that they traded off Bobby Jackson for him . I know that Artest has talent , but I thought that Bobby Jackson was the one that kept the Rockets alive in our last playoff series . They have alot of good talent , why go and get someone that has a bad reputation ?
I wont complain either , because it just might help us out too . I am just excited to see what will unfold for this year for the Jazz.
Go Jazz !!!!!
who will be their backup point guard now? Aaron Brooks? hahaha
silly rockets, artest is the “diggs”
brent barry can play the point
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