[D HampParticipant]

Here’s a Dhamp prediction:

Ron Artest will make the all-star team. A change of scenery and teams, hype (72-10) and exposure will only help Artest, who has largely stayed out of trouble the past few years. Also, he’s been snubbed for the all-star team twice, but next year, even in the forward heavy Western Conference (Carmelo, Durant, Gay, Jefferson, Josh Howard, Turgolu, Magette and Jackson), Artest will make the team.

Dhamp…the greatest basketball mind in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.

[Tha King2121Participant]

I dont think so cuz there are so many great playas on the squad

I dont think he will put up more than 13 points a game

[ckowalskiParticipant]

I disagree. I think Artest will be more focused on winning a championship than getting an all-star berth. He will sacrifice his numbers to play with a better team and help them win. Plus, last year he was only dealing with one person before him in the shot pecking order so to speak (Yao). This year he will be dealing with at least 2 and possibly 4. Kobe and Pau for sure will demand more shots than him. Bynum if he can stay out of foul trouble will look to get more touches. Also, Odom will be in the running for 6th man of the year so I think he could get about the same amount of touches as Artest per game.

[D HampParticipant]

I was waiting for someone to say there are too many players on the Lakers’ team for Artest to be an all-star. He is what I will say to that:

Van Exel, Jones, Kobe and Shaq

Billups, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Hamilton (Prince was a snub).

All the Lakers have to do is start off hot and win alot and the critics will say is, “Wow, what a good and unselfish team.”

Dhamp…the greatest basketball mind in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.

[Champzilla21Participant]

No way hes an allstar it took him about 13 shots a game last year to average 17 pts last year, shots are going to be spread out and his numbers will fall but hopefully theyll be more efficient, becuz if he continues to shoot only 40% from the field we could see a major drop off from him, also hes being overrated as a plaer based on how he use to play, quick players are now abl to go around him, and look at everyone else he has to beat out melo durant u named them all like come on lets be realistic

[ckowalskiParticipant]

That’s a good point but when they sent almost the whole Pistons team to the allstar game it was kind of ridiculous. I think Ron will not make it also because Kobe is not going to let him jack up those ridiculous three’s like he did in Houston deep in the shot clock. Also, Billups is a great facilitator and did an amazing job making sure everyone got theirs. Fisher is not that kind of point guard. Kobe will run that offense most of the time and they are gravitating to a more inside out game with Bynum, Pau and Odom inside. Artest is not the kind of player that will wait at the 3 point line for the ball, he plays a more physical inside game. I just think it will be too crowded with good players and inside for him to make an all-star type impact. Although, if the Lakers do win 72 games I could see the league voting in everyone but Fisher.

[D HampParticipant]

Champzilla21. Ha ha ha ha ha. Wins count more than anything.

Dhamp…the greatest basketball mind in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.

[MagikKnickParticipant]

D Hamp, Turkoglu isnt in the western conference… 🙂

[quincey hodges]

he has all star ability but whos spot would he take?…lets think about the locks…paul,dwill,mello,dirk,prob dwest again,billups, kobe,paul,durant,jefferson,amare,duncan,parker broy,boozer if healthy…i just dont see it

[Champzilla21Participant]

yeah wins count a big deal of the time but have 8-10 more wins then melo isnt going to put him over the top, hell even 20 games over durant isnt gunna help him

[ckowalskiParticipant]

The Lakers could sit Kobe the entire year and win 20 more games than OKC. I don’t think that is an accomplishment.

[McWinningParticipant]

sorry but i think Jefferson, Durant, Carmelo, and maybe even Gay, or K-Mart will beat him out. winning is important but you cant ignore stats.

[aj81Participant]

western conference all star team 09-10

duncan
nowitzki
carmelo
kobe
paul
roy
gasol
al jefferson
deron williams
baron davis* will have better season than nash and tony parker
amare stoudemire
durant

[NYK2010Participant]

Very few teams

Artest an All Star over Mello, Durant, RJ and Rudy Gay at SF not likely.
At PF you have guys like Dirk, Amare, Duncan, Gasol, Al Jeff def. won’t happen.

More importantly who is Artest better than at SF?
Is me much better than Ariza, Maggette, Thornton, Marion
He’s not better than Mello, Durant, RJ, Gay, Howard, Steve Jax

How will Artest numbers improve he’s the 3rd option and maybe 4th when Odom is in the game.
Last year he was 1st or 2nd option with all the Rockets injuries.
He’s a career 72% ft shooter, 42% on fg’s & his playoff #’s were fg 40%, 27% on 3’s guess the 4 asts, 4rebs and 2.5 TO’s/gm. He put up some nice numbers for the Kings doubtful he’s doing that in LA.

BTW Lakers won’t be 10 games better than the Nuggs at the break.
Baron Davis will have better years than Parker and Nash no way.

[j1232eParticipant]

D-Hamp is predicting this version of the lakers one of the best alltime teams ever! BOLD PREDICTION! It is possible with this stacked team, but lack of point gaurd play and to many good teams in the west will make the lakers record 61-21.

[NYK2010Participant]

Don’t forget about the greatest bench of all time with Farmar, Morrison, Vujacic, Walton, Powell, Mbenga, Brown forgot Odom but he’s basically a starter since Bynum usually hurt, in foul trouble or just not that effective.
Somehow the Lakers get better when they are getting older and the West is improving.

[RickyRubio9Participant]

I think the team will be like –
CP3, D-Will, Kobe, Roy, Melo, Durant, Gasol, Duncan, Dirk, and a Center.
I don’t know if that’s the amount of players, but Amare has a chance and Tony Parker. I think Artest can beat out alot of other players if his team is good and he gets around 16 Points, 7 Rebounds…It’ll be tough, but who knows.

[OldSkoolBasketballParticipant]

There’s no way he can put up good enough points to be consider an all star. Only way I think he can get in is if someone got hurt and he replaces them.

[quincey hodges]

you dont have to have great all star pg play to win that many games as the bulls showed. phil jacksons triangle only needs a adaquate pg that can hit the jumper

[D HampParticipant]

I didn’t predict 72 wins. I said many people are creating that buzz.

Dhamp..the greatest basketball mind in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.

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