Ron Artes; Key To A Dynasty?

In the 08 Finals Lakers look destined to be NBA champions. Then one thing lead to another and it wasn't meant to be. Basically the team crumbled and couldn't get by the Celtics defence. This Season things changed. Bynum came back and they went through the season convincingly owning the Western Conference. And when Finals came they won, convincingly like the Celtics did the previous year, Bynum being back made a huge factor in this. Now this off-season Lakers signed Ron artest as a FA and Ariza was also shipped to Houston. Lakers only benefit from this, although Ariza is very consistent he doesn't have nearly the defensive presence of Artest. But Ariza did provide some momentum of the bench and is an athletic beast. But quite obviously Lakers win. Having Artest on their team only improves them to become (On Paper) the best team in the league. Lakers defence got criticized allot during the season and Artest will help that allot. Also brining the same amount of talent Ariza brought, and more. Rockets get a young talented athletic player. But loose much more.

Now how will Artest fit in?. Artest being traded over the year multiple times, he would be used to having to adjust to a new team. Artest is a Shooting Guard/ Small Forward. But with Kobe at SG, he won’t be starting. So he looks to be taking Odom's starting spot, that’s if Odom resigns. And this move seems like a message the Lamar Odom won’t be resigning with the Lakers. Now how will Artest help make the Lakers win? And not just win, win convincingly. He is great on D, he is athletic, and he can shoot the 3, Drive and is a great overall player. He is much more consistent then Odom. Has a better offensive game, Odom is a player who can play the point and the forward position; a point forward. But Artest is clearly a better player who would help them allot more in going for a championship.

Artest is a versatile, athletic, a more the good defensive player and a great second/third option. Odom could help his team win a championship. But i believe Artest can help his team become a dynasty. Like MJ had Pippen. Kobe will have Artest. Like MJ had Rodman. Kobe has Pau & Bynum. I do believe it will take Artest at least a year to fit in and be able to win championships. I don’t think it is Lakers year, but it will come soon.

Whats stopping Suns from Signing Barnes?

barnes-suns-22

Last off-season Phoenix Suns signed free agent Matt Barnes with a veterans minimum of 1.2 million over one year. This was a clear steal, a very underrated small forward with a lot of talent and veteran experience. Barnes added depth into the Small Forwards position and provided a deadly rotation of Barnes & Hill. Barnes being a huge factor of the explosive start by the Suns and showing some of that 3 point shooting that people generally look by.

Barnes also was a huge help in keeping some depth on the bench when Bell and Diaw were traded. But Barnes is a stubborn type of player, who often got into fights and some of which resulted in suspension. Barnes is worth more then 1.2 mill and if you can sign him for an amount as low as that it can only benefit the Suns. Barnes would fit just as well in the Run N’ Gun as he did in Porters system. He also has alot more defensive capabilities then other guards and forwards on the Suns team. The Warriors system was similar and he was just as decent of a bench player in that system. Barnes also just came of a career year and is signed a veterans minimum at only 28.

This off-season Barnes has thrown under the radar with all the talk about Amare and Shaq trades and the talk about rebuilding ect. Has overshadowed the fact that Matt Barnes is a free agent and a pretty decent player who can provide a momentum spark of the bench. So Kerr what is stopping you from signing Barnes for a veterans minimum .

What's Next For The Suns

Four years ago, Phoenix Suns were one of the most deadly teams in the NBA. With their Run N’ Gun, fast paced style not only made them one of the most exciting teams in the league. But also made them one of the most deadly teams in the league. What Happened? Steve Kerr happened; his consistent bad decisions turned what was a contending team, into what it is now. On the verge of starting over. The suns Big 3 of Amare, Nash and Marion turned into Nash, Amare and Shaq. Shaq? On one of the fastest paced teams in the league? Luckily for Kerr it worked… Sort of. Kerr fired Mike D’Antoni and hired Terry Porter, in order for Suns to become a more Defensive oriented team.

Steve Kerr and Terry Porter

Shaq was killing them at the start of the 08 - 09 season. Amare was Amare and things were going great. Kerr, who originally was trying to make the Suns into a more Defensive team, went the opposite direction. He traded Raja Bell and Boris Diaw for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley. How is this move going to help Suns defensive troubles? I don’t know. But it did help spark some offensive fire power and Jason Richardson would fit great in the Run N’ Gun which eventually did happen. When Kerr made the obvious decision to fire Porter and let the Phoenix Suns assistant coach lead the team, it was probably the smartest thing Suns management did all year. They had a number of 140+ games and the Run N’ Gun is back.

This unfortunately didn’t last and having Grant Hill at PF didn’t help either. The suns had multiple bad games. This ultimately knocked them out of playoff contention and left Suns fans with yet another disappointing year. The bright side about all this is that it is in the past. And we have to look to the future.

Reportedly Nash asked for Shaq to get traded. So Kerr being the genius that he is traded Shaq which would have been a decent move if he didn’t get Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic in return. Trading an All-star for two bench players was a terrible move. But rumor has it that Suns might shop Big Ben for Tyson Chandler. And Pavlovic would fit great in the Phoenix Suns Run N’ Gun style this year under Alvin Gentry’s Run N’ Gun with a defensive spritzer added. When you look over the Suns roster you would imagine it to be back. Now with J Rich in the scenario he could be just as good in the system as Matrix. I believe Nash will get power over the team and the Suns will be a better team next year with some exception being.

1. Amare stays healthy
2. No more mid season trades
3. Gentry stays as head coach
4. Run N’ Gun returns

Phoenix also needs to look at trying to secure a valid center. Robin Lopez is simply not good enough for the starting spot and likely still has at least another 2 years before we even consider it as an option. Phoenix also needs to decide not to rebuild. With Shaq out of the picture we can turn up the tempo to the way things used to be.

Patty Mills; Hit Or Miss?.

Patrick Mills is an Indigenous Australian basketball player from Canberra. He grew up in Canberra and attended the AIS (Australian Institute Of Sport). Which then lead him to St Mary's College. Which he played two seasons there and then decided to enter the NBA draft. After his Rookie season he played for Australian National Team the Boomers. Which he stunned Basketball fans and stars including Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant when he lead the Bogut lead Boomers in scoring which made a name for himself. And untimely his draft stock rose. Predicted to be a Top 25 Round 1 pick. Patrick Mills ended up falling to pick No. 55 which he was saved from falling out of the Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. For a predicted first round pick to fall all the way to No. 55. Is quite amazing and disappointing.

Don't get me wrong, as a proud Aussie i am great full to even see him in the draft. But i am also questioning if he can be success full or if his pick was where it was meant to be. If you look in depth with Patrick Mills. You see his game resembles a poor mans Tony Parker. But i believe a better comparison would be to Jordan Farmer. He is one of the Quickest players with a deadly first step, who rather drives then taking a Jumpshot. Who can also play the Shooting Guard well. And is a great offball player. His defence can improve but if you watch him play you will notice how he contesting every pass ect. Mill's main flaw in his game is his Jumpshot and critics say he is far from a pure Point Guard and needs to learn how to pass better and take less shots. But he comes from the Gaels, a team that isnn't a dominant team that needs a scorer. And Patrick Mills takes what he gets. He was best described when a commentator mentioned this " Patrick Mills is like a Punt returner, he's going to fumble but he will also come up with some big plays".

The kid has alot to learn, but so does nearly every rookie. If he gets minutes i firmly believe he will be an efficient scorer and a definant steal in the draft. As for hit in miss. Hit if he gets minutes, miss if he does not. Simple as that.

Can Shaq "Win A Ring, For The King"

Can Shaq "Win A Ring For The King"As you may know, Shaquille O' Neal has recently been traded to the Cleveland Caviliers in exchange for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic allthough the Suns dont recieve any real "Star Power" in this trade the still get some great role players, Sasha would fit in the Run N' Gun system great, while Ben Wallce can be traded for Tyson Chandler (As Rumoured). But this article isn't about the Suns. It is about weather Shaq can take the Lebron lead Caviliers to the NBA finals but this time win.Over the years, since Lebron was drafted you have seen the Caviliers drastically improve their supporting cast to help Lebron. The supporting cast is packed with shooters, which is basically the same deal with Magic and many other teams. The previous offseason you saw the Cavs trade for Mo Williams, which is no doubt in my mind a steal. Mo's game improved, mainly because Lebron takes off the pressure for his supporting cast. But Mo turned into an Allstar player. The supporting cast was great this year. Starters were championship team like. And calling the bench players good shooters is an understatement. But you have to wonder if the easy schedule was the main reason for their success. Thats when plalyoffs come around. And the Cavs were doing great, sure a couple of shakey games but it was great Cavs basketball. This was all until the Eastern Conference Finals. When lebrons drastically improved supporting cast. Completely shutting down. Mo Williams should of been their to help Lebron. Instead the Magic would focus on Lebron's Supporting Cast. And basically allow him to get 40/50 point games. Which was great for his stats, but the team was losing. Eventually they lost.You have to wonder if Shaq was playing for this years team. Shaq was having and incredible year. And when Amare' went down, things got better for him. Everyone knows Shaq is a playoff player. And how he has effected Superathletes to be even more successfull Eg. Kobe, Wade.You have to wonder if Shaq can have the same impact with Lebron. Or if his age has caught up with him, not allowing him to be the Second man, Mentor or Big Brother. I honestly believe Shaq still has the skills and mindset to take the Caviliers to the Finals again. But they wont get knocked off by the Lakers or the Spurs. They wont, this time they will win.

Shaq will "Win a ring, for the King".

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