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--> NOTE: I've been posting for years as "Tom7" on this site, and as "Basketballogy" on other sites, including my own website (Basketballogy.com).
When Foxsports revamped their site, there appeared to be an option to change your user name. Thinking I'd start posting under the same name everywhere now, I changed my user name on this site, but instead of getting a name change on this site, I got a split personality.
Sometimes when I come to this site it recognizes me as Tom7, and other times as Basketballogy, and so far I have not found away to control this, since I didn't actually create another account and the same email address is used for both identities.
That means my "friends" and blogs for one identity aren't available on the other, so until I can get this straightened out, I've got to do both -- especially since I could potentially come on and never get back to one or the other of these identities again. :-(
My apologies for the confusion.
---
During the 2009 NBA Playoffs...
Trevor Ariza shot 50% from the floor. Ron Artest shot 39%.
Trevor Ariza shot 48% from the arc. Ron Artest shot 28%.
Trevor Ariza was 2nd in the playoffs in steals (behind Kobe Bryant), 3rd in 3 point field goals, and 5th in effective field goal shooting. Ron Artest doesn't appear on the playoff leader board at all.
Trevor Ariza made clutch defensive stops again and again for the Lakers. Ron Artest, a supposed lock down defender, made boneheaded decisions that resulted in technical fouls and ejections.
Trevor Ariza knows the intricacies of the triangle offense and is productive in it. Ron Artest doesn't, and frankly doesn't have a reputation for being the brightest bulb in the ceiling.
Trevor Ariza is young and getting better. Ron Artest is declining.
Ron Artest is a stronger BRAND name than Trevor Ariza, but Trevor is the better player -- especially for the Lakers.
What is Artest going to give the Lakers that Ariza couldn't? Defense? No, Ariza is perhaps the Lakers best defender. Shooting? Uh, no. Toughness? Sorry, Ariza has that too.
Some people are accusing Ariza of "getting greedy." Interestingly, Trevor Ariza turned down more money to play with the Toronto Raptors. Was Ariza greedy, or were the Lakers cheap?
Perhaps Trevor opted for Houston instead of Toronto in order to get more games against the Lakers so he can make them pay for not paying to keep him.
The Lakers may still win a championship with Artest instead of Ariza, but they didn't make themselves better with this move.
Think about it: when the Lakers lost to the Celtics, the chorus sang, "Wait until Andrew Bynum gets better!"
But this year, Bynum was a complete non-factor for the Lakers. The Lakers biggest improvement came at the 3 spot (small forward) when Trevor Ariza healed and began playing well on both ends of the court.
The Rockets should improve with Trevor Ariza. Remember, the Rockets, without Tracy McGrady and then without Yao Ming gave the Lakers the hardest time in the 2009 playoffs. With Ariza, they get a better shooter than Artest, and a very good defender still.
The Lakers lost a selfless team player who won't pout if he doesn't get shots, who is a great defender (especially in the clutch), for the person who ruined Houston's offense in the playoffs more than any other Rocket. Artest over dribbled the ball constantly, especially late in the game, then hucked up poor shots against the shot clock and Lakers defense (often Trevor Ariza).
It is possible that acquiring Artest will take shots from Gasol.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Artest is necessarily a BAD acquisition, I'm saying it wasn't as good as if they could have found a way to keep Ariza.
And the evidence points to the possibilty that the Lakers could have easily kept Ariza. Ariza turned down more money from the Toronto Raptors and signed with Houston for about the same money he was offered by the Lakers.
Why was the Lakers' offer unattractive and the Rockets' acceptable?
"It was never about the money," said Ariza, "It was about respect."
By all appearances, the Lakers weren't lowballing Ariza, but playing hardball: "Take our offer, or we'll just go get Artest."
Tom, I found your reply to my original comments. What a pain it is to figure all this out. It seems you didn't just change your name, you created a new one to go along with your old one. When I clicked on your basketballology avatar, it went to your original post. When I click your Tom avatar, it goes here. Very confusing.
Bolt_Backer_21Anyway, I too enjoy a good debate on topics like this and you are right that no matter how well we debate, the other will always counter. That is what it great about forums like this. That is why I add "time will tell" to most of my arguments. Until they play, are arguments are just educated guesses.
As for your points on Ariza/Artest, I did notice one contradiction. You talked about Odom playing well in the post season, at least partially due to this being a contract year, and that you can't always trust what a player does in a contract year. Well, it was a contract year for Ariza too.
01:46 PM EST