fish7718 Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 NEW YORK -- Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers has been suspended one game without pay for swinging his arm and striking the face of the Dallas Mavericks' J.J. Barea, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. Artest's contact has also been classified by the NBA as a Flagrant Foul Two. The incident occurred with 24.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks' 93-81 victory over the Lakers at Staples Center on May 4. Artest will serve his suspension tomorrow when the Lakers visit the Mavericks at American Airlines Center for Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. NBA.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkr Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 I don't really feel like Artest matches up well in this series. Odom starting at the 3 would be interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jammin Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Good. NBA needs to be consistent with these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted May 5, 2011 Owner Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Don't care. If we were playing the Thunder, I'd be a bit more concerned, but Artest isn't really defending anyone important (anyone that Matt Barnes can't handle), and he's ineffective on the offensive end. Start Drew, Gasol and Odom. Stick two down low, have Odom slashing to the rim, don't give Steve Blake a single minute on the court, and go for broke. I'm sure Barnes will start, though, or Kobe will be at the three, Brown starting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish7718 Posted May 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 (edited) I disagree, I think this could be critical, where Artest isn't guarding anyone critical, the Lakers are going to have trouble matching up on Marion now...obviously it'd be much more critical though had it been vs the Thunder, but I don't think this a minor loss by any means Edited May 5, 2011 by Pinkie Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Make It Naaaashty Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 If Caron Butler wasn't injured then this would be an issue but he is. I think this benefits the Lakers just because they can put Barnes into the line up who can knock down his open threes which Artest can't do. Defensively there is isnt much to worry about with Marion either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish7718 Posted May 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 If Caron Butler wasn't injured then this would be an issue but he is. I think this benefits the Lakers just because they can put Barnes into the line up who can knock down his open threes which Artest can't do. Defensively there is isnt much to worry about with Marion either.Artest 3 point % this year - 35Barnes 3 point % this year - 30 Artest has been a better shooter every single year they've been in the NBA together, except 06-07 barnes had artest by a point, so what makes you say that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Make It Naaaashty Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 Artest 3 point % this year - 35Barnes 3 point % this year - 30 Artest has been a better shooter every single year they've been in the NBA together, except 06-07 barnes had artest by a point, so what makes you say that? Based on the games Ive watched, Barnes doesn't nearly get the wide open shots Artest does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted May 6, 2011 Owner Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 If Luke Walton doesn't shoot the ball, he'll be more effective on the offensive end than Ron. Sad to say, but it's true. He will help facilitate, take the load off of Bryant a little, much like he did vs. Detroit in the one game we actually won in the 2004 Finals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkr Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 Good idea. Free Luke!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 Odom better be starting, I dont like the idea of Barnes starting at all. You put your best team on the floor and play them 48 minutes if you have to, especially being down 0-2 and playing on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 Brown To Start In Place Of Artest Shannon Brown started this season fast and might get a golden opportunity to salvage the end with a starting opportunity. The Lakers are for now listing Brown as the starting shooting guard, with Kobe Bryant moving to small forward, in their tentative starting lineup for the critical Game 3 Friday night in Dallas. Usual starting small forward Ron Artest, who played every game this season, is on one-game NBA suspension. Phil Jackson can change it up at any time before the game starts, with Matt Barnes, Luke Walton or even Lamar Odom as other options. But if the Lakers go with Brown, they would be hoping he can take advantage of scoring opportunities provided by playing with the starters. Brown is also at least healthy, whereas Barnes is still regaining his feel after missing the end of the regular season with knee soreness. Barnes has not been sharp — fouling ahead of defending and rushing shots near the basket. Brown has been inconsistent in his decision-making but shooting OK. If Brown starts, Bryant would likely defend Shawn Marion after defending Jason Kidd to start Game 2. But Bryant would have an easier time attacking the basket from a wing position at small forward — and he has very rarely gotten inside in the first two games vs. Dallas. Getting Bryant some scoring near the rim is something the Lakers need and was listed as one of the keys to Game 3 in my column about Bryant finally joining his teammates on the practice court Thursday to prep for the big game. Bryant often operates on the wing in the triangle offense, especially when Odom is in the game and playing guard, without any official position switch. Odom has almost never played alongside Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol because Jackson doesn’t like how it slows down the Lakers’ defense. But Odom theoretically could defend Marion and like Brown play guard on offense. Said Odom: “I haven’t played small forward in a couple years … but I’ll adjust and try to impact the game.” Orange County Hate this decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkr Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 I think Brown is a good choice if he has the same opportunities for open shots that Artest gets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Regime Posted May 6, 2011 Report Share Posted May 6, 2011 (edited) ^I've read conflicting reports that say Lamar is going to start. It's going to be a game time decision at this point, I wouldn't invest much into all these updates. Edited May 6, 2011 by Confidence248 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.