NBA BEAT - RON ARTEST ALLEN IVERSON MOVE ON

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Is Ron Artest a LAKER BAKER or faker? Now that Artest is a Laker and he's claiming that he always wanted to play with Bryant. The problem is can they play together? - IVERSON ON THE ROAD AGAIN Willie Nelson isn't singing it but Allen Iverson is on the road again looking for that elusive NBA title team that he can be apart of before he hangs up his sneakers

Thursday August 6, 2009

IS RON ARTEST A LAKER BAKER?

You've got to wonder what the Lakers were thinking when they acquired Ron Artest. Is the Laker goose cooked? During the playoffs it was Artest who challenged Bryant that he couldn't guard him resulting in a back and forth argument of who was the best defender and that one couldn't guard the other.

Now that Artest is a Laker and he's claiming that he always wanted to play with Bryant. The problem is can they play together? For sure the Lakers are Bryant's team just ask Shaquille O'Neal since he's been through that Lakers grinder. The question is can these two massive egos coexist?

Both enjoy the limelight. The now departed Trevor Ariza who was a key player in the Lakers winning the NBA title is not as talented as Artest but he was the perfect role player for the Lakers and a compliment to Bryant's skills. Too much talent and ego can be as bad as not having enough.

The other point is Artest's has played with many teams during his career including the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets. Does that indicate that he is a malcontent and not a team player? Stay tuned...

IVERSON ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Willie Nelson isn't singing it but Allen Iverson is on the road again looking for that elusive NBA title team that he can be apart of before he hangs up his sneakers.

Considered one of the games best ever players the 34-year-old guard who is entering his 14th NBA season seems to be snake bit when it comes to being in the right place at the right time. His best chance at winning the big one was in 2001 with the Philadelphia 76ers. They won the first game of the series finals but it was all downhill from there as the Lakers took the series 4-1.

Iverson spent over 10 years with the Sixers but Philadelphia never assembled a team strong enough to win the title. The teams were built around Iverson but he couldn't do it alone. He was shipped off to the Denver Nuggets December 19, 2006 where he spent almost two seasons. Early last season he was traded to the Detroit Pistons where he felt left out and played less than a half the season due to injuries.

While with Detroit Iverson wasn't content about being a reserve player. During the playoffs he said that he would rather retire than come off the bench this season. His $20-plus million contract with the Pistons expired after the close of the season which will be a major issue for any team that is interested in signing him.

Prior to joining the Pistons Iverson had averaged 27.1 points and 6.2 points during his career since he came into the league the first overall pick in the 1996 draft. With the Pistons his average fell off to 17.4 points a game. He was the league MVP in 2001, when the Sixers made it to the NBA finals, and has been selected as an NBA All-Star nine times.

Now that the Pistons have fallen out of love with him it is rumored that the New York Knicks are interested. The point being the Knicks won't be an NBA champion any time soon particularly during the remainder of Iverson's career. So who would be a good fit for the man without an NBA title ring?

When you sift through the ashes of the contending teams the Boston Celtics would be a nice fit where there is plenty of talent. He would be among vintage 30 something players such as Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rasheed Wallace. Did someone sing Old Rockin Chairs Got Me? The concern here is could they all get along and would they need more than one ball to play with to satisfy all of their shooting requirements.

The other good fit would be the Cleveland Cavaliers where he would be with LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal. He and LeBron could run the floor and if they miss their shots Shaq should be pounding the boards in time at full speed to grab the rebound. The Iverson looping pass for a slam dunk to O'Neal or a slashing James from the corner or wing i.e. Magic Johnson to Michael Cooper and James Worthy would be some nice icing on the Cavaliers NBA title chasing cake.

After some serious thought the most interesting choice would be with the Cavaliers. Agree or not?

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