Who is the best team in the NBA?

[NAHSTE]

You serious dude? Ron Artest is a flat out improvement over Trevor Ariza, without question. Having Artest to hold it down on the defensive end is going to help Kobe Bryant out so much, because hes not going to have to work nearly as hard on D anymore. Aslong as Ron stays to a team approach and doesnt chuck 3's (which he will still be allowed to do as much as Ariza did, so he should be satisfied) Artest is most definitely going to provide more for your team than Ariza.. I dont even think its very close.

PS: Ron Artest's numbers last season: 17.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 40% FG, 78% FT, 35% 3PT

Ariza: 8.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 46% FG, 71% FT, 31% 3PT

Ariza averaged about 10 minutes less.. but I dont really see how Ariza was "better" than Ron Artest by any means. And he definitely aint a better defender, we both know that.

/end high rant.

He is more athletic, on the upswing of his career and better from 3. I think he's a better fit for the Lakers and I also think you're overrating Artest's perimeter D right now. He is still a tough defender but to think he'll be able to give Kobe a break is giving Ron Ron too much credit. He isn't the shut down guy he once was because he isn't as quick.

/end work rant

[Kuzzy Powers]

Ron Artest is a top 3 defender in the NBA..

And how is a guy shooting a lesser percentage a better 3-point shooter? Especially considering Artest took double the amount of 3's that Ariza did. Trevor Ariza couldnt hit the side of a barn before last year.. he spent the summer in the gym shooting 3's and has turned into a half decent shooter.. but 31% from 3 really aint hot by any means.

[SuperNova854]

CLIPPERS, and at nyg4lyfe91, if Ron wanted to be the best player on the team...he wouldn't have signed a MLE contract when he could have gotten more money to be the "star" player he supposedly wants to be.

[SuperNova854]

Sheed hasn't really changed over the past 5 seasons. Same stats, same amount of techs.

[SuperNova854]

Hes close enough

[Kuzzy Powers]

Artest was a top 3 defender. I wouldn't consider him a top 3 defender anymore. His perimeter defense is being highly overrated based off of his reputation.

Same thing is being done with Rasheed in Boston though. He is being judged on his reputation from five years ago.

Name 3 better defenders.

At worst Ron Artest is a top 5 defender..

[NAHSTE]

Name 3 better defenders.

At worst Ron Artest is a top 5 defender..

Dwayne Wade, Shane Battier, Chris Paul, LeBron, Kobe

[Kuzzy Powers]

Dwayne Wade, Shane Battier, Chris Paul, LeBron, Kobe

Just because Chris Paul gets steals doesnt mean hes a top defender. I actually find that pretty laughable that you'd say Chris Paul is a better defender than Ron Artest. If anything, Chris Paul is way more overrated defensively than Artest is.

Shane Battier.. ehh.. maybe, harder worker, less natural talent. LeBron, Kobe, Wade, maybe but its close regardless.

Ron is an elite defender. He will continue to be one throughout his career. How hard he makes opposing offensive players work is unparalleled.

[BUCK3YE5]

Even LeBron has admitted that Artest is a tough defender.

[BUCK3YE5]

Never said you did.

But ya LeBron will not be as good as Kobe and the Cavs wont be as good as LA until LeBron and company put on a ring.

[Anthony]

New York Knickerbockers...

[Whatupdoe44]

Never said you did.

But ya LeBron will not be as good as Kobe and the Cavs wont be as good as LA until LeBron by himself gets a ring.

fixed

[BUCK3YE5]

New York Knickerbockers...

wont pick up 1 big name in 2010

[Anthony]

wont pick up 1 big name in 2010

You'll cry come 2010 & all the bandwagon Cavs fans that've appeared out of nowhere all of the sudden will all cut their wrists, up the street not across.

[Whatupdoe44]

You'll cry come 2010 & all the bandwagon Cavs fans that've appeared out of nowhere all of the sudden will all cut their wrists, up the street not across.

or theyll just become knick fans.....