NBA - Sports Rumors

Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:13 am EDT

Artest: Lakers need to be 'hoodalized'?

By Joe Zedalis

During a recent interview on ESPN, newly signed Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest(notes) said the team needed to be "hoodalized.''

There is a difference of opinion whether signing the veteran, physical forward to a deal was a good thing or a bad thing. The deal has been both ripped and praised in the Los Angeles Times for example.

However, the Times did note that Artest, like him or not, will fill a void for the Lakers, who were viewed as "soft'' during different junctures of the regular season and playoffs.

The Times wrote: A little more than a month ago Denver physically pound them (the Lakers) to tie the Western Conference finals at two games each. They obviously toughened up enough to win those next two games, as well as the Finals, but this move was done with an eye toward the Eastern Conference. Now they have someone to slow down LeBron James(notes). And Paul Pierce(notes). (And also Carmelo Anthony(notes) . . . can't totally ignore the West.)

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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354 Comments

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  1. Tanya You Go Girl
    1. Posted by Tanya You Go Girl Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:28 am EDT

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    Artest, you got to love hate him.
  2. -
    2. Posted by - Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:30 am EDT

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    :)
  3. WILLY
    3. Posted by WILLY Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:30 am EDT

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    Artest is a good all around player which may contain almost all star players in the league and a big help to kobe with his shooting skills and ability.......go lakers you can take the championship this coming season
  4. S
    4. Posted by S Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:31 am EDT

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    This move definitely gives the lakers some much needed toughness. I think it is a great move for the team and if Artest plays the way he did for the rockets, the lakers barring any injuries and the re-signing of Odom will be a lock to repeat as champions. Can we say Kobe the first to five...
  5. Tanya You Go Girl
    5. Posted by Tanya You Go Girl Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:32 am EDT

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    I disagree that this was done looking towards the east. The best three teams this year when all was said and done were the Lakers, Magic and then the Nuggets, the Cav's would be 4th.
  6. Bigg Cheech
    6. Posted by Bigg Cheech Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:34 am EDT

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    Yea Boiii..AnD Lets not play I LOve LA at the GAmes Now..LEtts Change Its To The Boyz N The Hood...Cuz The Boyz In Staples R Alwayz Hard Cum Talking Your Trash And We'll STeel Your Ball...Arttesstie To The Weesstiee..Mutha F@@KA West Up...
  7. Jeo C
    7. Posted by Jeo C Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:38 am EDT

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    First ! lakers need odom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
  8. Jeo C
    8. Posted by Jeo C Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:38 am EDT

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    kidding, 8th lol
  9. 43yd
    9. Posted by 43yd Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:41 am EDT

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    So what about Odom is he gonna return?
  10. 43yd
    10. Posted by 43yd Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:45 am EDT

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    The Lakers were able to shut teams down during last years playoffs. Artest adds a lot more to what already is a lockdown defensive team. The interviews will be funny & interesting. I agree with Wjanowrski he is the new Rodman he just needs a few rings & his reputation will be sealed. I hated him in the playoffs for being a spotlight hog, now it's clear that he just wants to play in LA.
  11. Chide
    11. Posted by Chide Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:59 am EDT

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    Artest is better then T. Ariza, though i will miss Ariza i will welcome Ron Ron to LA LA...cant wait for the season to start, its going to be awesome
  12. Chide
    12. Posted by Chide Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:59 am EDT

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    sign Odom now, that is the key...we need LO
  13. Cotton Piquer
    13. Posted by Cotton Piquer Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:03 am EDT

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    Ron Artest shot 40% last season, and yet he led the Rockets in FGA. Now Gasol has two SELFISH BALLHOGS
    to carry. Artest & Kobe it's all about ME!
    Gasol to Lakers= NBA champs ( would have won two in a row if Kobe-me hadn't shot 34.5% in the 4/four losses to the Celtics)
    Shaq to Suns= Suns go from contenders to pretenders.
    Kidd to Mavs= Mavs go from contenders to pretenders.
    My predictions for 2009-2010:
    Shaq to Cavs = Cavs go from contenders to pretenders
    Carter to Magic= Magic go from contenders to pretenders.
    Artest to Lakers= Lakers go from champions to pretenders.
    Mavs dump Kidd, Terry, Howard, Dampier, Stackhouse & George= go from pretenders to champions. It does not matter who the Mavs get ( they already got Gortat) to replace the losers, as long as they have Dirk Nowitzki.
  14. j'ar
    14. Posted by j'ar Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:03 am EDT

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    agree with 43yd- artest is the new rodman, kobe is likely (if not) to be the next jordan, and odom is the next pippen. yes they need odom and they need them bad!!
  15. marcello s
    15. Posted by marcello s Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:14 am EDT

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    laker fans don't we love the haters, especially the kobe haters like that clown kelly dwyer. He almost had a heart attack when he found out that artest is a laker now. Our favorite fans are the lakers and we thank them for their support, and we need them badly to motivate kobe, ron ron, paul, lamar, d-fish, andrew and the rest of the crew. Keep the hating coming our way baby. Go lakers!
  16. marcello s
    16. Posted by marcello s Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:18 am EDT

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    Odom is not greedy ariza. He wants to remain a laker by saying before the end of the season that he wasw willing to take a pay cut to remain with the team. That's a true definition of a team player, and with artest on board, he's going to be even tougher
  17. Stone Wall
    17. Posted by Stone Wall Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:23 am EDT

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    You can say what ever you want, but bottom line Artest is one of if not the BEST defensive player in the NBA, I am telling you if the Celtics want any chance of winning a title they have to sign Raseed Wallace.
  18. Ladiesman217
    18. Posted by Ladiesman217 Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:57 am EDT

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    hey biased-fan, the lakers lose to the celtics during the 2008 finals because the celtics are too much for the lakers..... the big 3 are hungry and desperate.... its not about kobe's 34.5% shooting.... how the hell did you get those stats... you're such a nerd... the celtics played with more heart.... and by the way why do you keep on repeating those BS stats??? stats are not important... for example lebron score, assist and rebounds more than kobe..... does stats made lebron a champ.... of course not.... stop being repetitive about those pointless stats... MORON!!!!!!!!
  19. Bryan Paul b
    19. Posted by Bryan Paul b Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:07 am EDT

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    to all lakers haters... the lakers are unstoppable now with artest maybe lakers beat the record of bulls with 72 10.. and how about this iverson is willing to pay cut and he want to win a ring he maybe go for the lakers.... go A.I go to lakers and win your 1st ring...
    pg iverson - fisher, farmar
    sg bryant - brown , yue
    sf artest - walton
    pf gasol - odom
    c bynum - powell mbenga
    look like a all - star line up GO LAKERS..... 2010 champs.
  20. നҿ§§
    20. Posted by നҿ§§ Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:13 am EDT

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    This is an excellent move for the lakers front office to once again get a steelin Artest and once before Gasol. L.A. now takes alot of defensive pressure off bryant...and Artest can play 4 positions...the re-signing of L.O. will be key but I think they get it done...Shannon brown would be a plus also if L.A. can get him back...Lakers are not only an offensive force...but also very strong on the defensive end... And we have the TENMASTER back on the sidelines...I see them if minimal injuries winning 70 games this year.... HI-HATERZ &GOOOOO Lakers!!!!!!
  21. razorj20
    21. Posted by razorj20 Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:20 am EDT

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    Try Cleveland bro! This is the lineup to be reckoned with!
    PG Williams- Gibson
    SG West- Parker
    SF James- Hickson
    PF Marion- Varajao, Jackson
    C O'Neal- Ilgauskas
  22. sportsnut888
    22. Posted by sportsnut888 Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:35 am EDT

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    Ron-Ron will guard the other team's best offensive player, and Kobe will not be as worn out form having the top defensive assignment. With Bynum and Farmar having another year of experience, plus adding Artest to Kobe and Pau, in a word, WOW!
    If BOS does ultimately land Rasheed, and with CLE getting Shaq, it's going to be a VERY interesting NBA season, a true battle of the titans.
  23. Kaleb S
    23. Posted by Kaleb S Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:36 am EDT

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    Tell me what you think?1 kobe 2 artest 3 odom 4 gasol 5 bynum
    who in the league could match up with that?
    Bring in fisher, sit bynum, move kobe to 2, artest to 3, odom to 4 and gasol to 5
    We have so many options with artest purely because of his aggresiveness and defense...it takes some of the workload from Kobe and allows him to be more aggresive offensively and preserves him for the next few years
  24. biggheadboy2003
    24. Posted by biggheadboy2003 Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:40 am EDT

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    Unbiased-fan you are a dumbass....you make no sense!!!! clown!!!
  25. Ladiesman217
    25. Posted by Ladiesman217 Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:49 am EDT

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    hey razorj20, you are just a typical hater.... deal with it moron.... let me tell you a story... once upon a time in a land far far away... LMAO... enough with those BS... seriously, do you remember when the bulls landed dennis rodman to chicago.... the people are starting to criticize the bulls for bringing an undisciplined player and a bad guy to the bulls... and starting to think that the bulls will fall apart... we all know that rodman is a pain in the ass for other coaches..... but look what happen to him..... phil jackson turned rodman from a pretender to a champion..... and rodman is worse than ron... ron just need to control his temper.... he said in an interview that he will do everything what the coaches says.... he is just desperate to win a title.... he is hungry.... he is tired of losing.... and he has the whole summer to adjust and learn the lakers style, rotation and playbook... for sure phil can tame ron and turn him into a champion... to all haters out there you will witness the lakers physicality this coming 2010.... LETS GO LAKERS!!!!!

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