By Joel Meyers
FOX Sports West and PRIME TICKET
ASK JOEL ARCHIVE
January 11, 2011
Joel Meyers returns to answer more questions from Laker fans. Joel speculates on the Lakers' moves before the deadline, breaks down what is wrong with refs in the NBA and grades Ron Artest's performance thus far.
Hey Joel, big fan. Here's my question: Do you think Mitch Kupchak will pull the trigger on a trade since Matt Barnes is injured? Maybe get Ronny Turiaf back?
Kenzi R., Bakersfield
Kenzi,
Good question regarding the Lakers' plans now that they've suffered their first serious injury of the season. I would be surprised if Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak made another deal with the trading deadline coming up on Feb. 24. Don't look for a player like Ronny Turiaf to come back for a couple of reasons: the Lakers already picked up Joe Smith, giving them an insurance policy down on the baseline and don't forget a player like Turiaf doesn't fit in economically with another year left on his contract at a little over $4 million for next season. The Lakers have plenty of options when it comes to filling the minutes vacated by Barnes. Kobe Bryant has always enjoyed sliding down to play the three and Phil Jackson has also been trying to find a way to get Luke Walton some minutes. This isn't the way Walton wanted to find them, but it's nice to have that type of depth with a player that knows the system as well as anyone on the team. And don't forget about Devin Ebanks, who just got back from a productive run down in the D league with Bakersfield. Never say never, but I really don't think the Lakers are going to be active before the deadline.
How are the refs getting away with all the petty calls? I am trying to maintain my language, but a perfect example is the game between the Knicks and Lakers. It is clear that some of the refs should be fired. The new rules are far too stringent and needs to be addressed by the NBA. Bynum got kicked out for a legitimate complaint, Kobe got a tech for a non-important arm gesture, and Artest got a tech for something that should have been directed to the other team's player who wrapped his arm around Artest's neck. And all Artest did was get in the other person's face. The offender got a free throw for that. WRONG, UNFAIR and totally UNJUST! The rules need to be eased off and reviewed and I don't care how long it takes to review an unjust call by a ref. The refs are deciding who wins. None of Sunday's calls by the refs were justifiable. I just want to wring their necks for being such bad refs.
Betty C., Anaheim
Betty,
If there is one job that I would never, ever want, it's a referee in the NBA. It is very rare when a player ever admits they deserved to be called for a foul and most of the time, they whine about the calls. In the Knicks game, Artest not only got in the face of the Knicks'Shawne Williams, but he also started to wrap his right hand around his neck. Then later, Artest was given a flagrant foul when he clothes lined the Knicks' Amar'e Stoudemire...any time you go above the shoulders, near the neck or head like Artest did, you're going to get a flagrant. The officials have been very consistent in making that call over the last few seasons. Situations that I disagree with are similar to one we saw involving Andrew Bynum in the knicks game. Bynum got a technical after being very demonstrative on a call that he had a right to be upset about. He should have had a technical for the way he responded, momentarily impeding the progress of the official as he was moving towards the scorer's table. But when Bynum then said to the official, "Are you serious?" he was quickly thrown out of the game in the first 90 seconds of the fourth quarter. Bynum didn't throw any four-letter words out there, he was simply in disbelief over the original call. Most veteran officials will make every effort to keep the player on the floor, but for some strange reason, this official want to the other extreme. The good ones know that no one is in that building to see them call the game. Loyal NBA fans are paying top dollar to see their favorites and the official has to realize that more than anything else. At the end of a well played game, you shouldn't even know who was officiating the game. At least, that's the way it used to be.
I don't know if I believe this hype about Artest being so good at defense that he's allowed to go 1-for-20 in field goals. If he's so good, why did James get his 31st triple double on the Lakers? And the offense to match that unfocused D, yuk.
Trevor, Whittier
Trevor,
Ron Artest has had his share of ups and downs already this season and as you mention, at both ends of the floor. As far as I'm concerned, what Artest gives them offensively is a bonus. He came in here to help defend the big guards that the Lakers will see in the postseason like Paul Pierce. Artest is a physical presence at that end of the floor when it comes to matchups with the bigger twos and threes on the defensive side. Artest still has super quick hands and great instincts when it comes to reading situations. At this stage of Artest's career, I wouldn't expect him to keep up with the quicker big guards and small forwards that the Lakers have seen over the last couple of weeks. Artest was exceptional last year in the postseason and he should be an asset once again this year when he gets to concentrate on one player in a long series. We haven't hit game No. 41 yet, the halfway point of the season, so I wouldn't give up on Artest helping the Lakers when every game is crucial and he's making the opposition feel like they're playing in quicksand.
What happened to running the offense? Do you think this is a good strategy to forget about offense so that they can focus on defense? That is what Kobe said a few weeks ago, right? Defense wins championships.
LaMarcus, Compton
LaMarcus,
When you bring up running the offense, the Lakers are doing a much better job of working their half court sets. Just a couple of weeks ago though, I would agree with you regarding their lack of patience when it came to executing the triangle. Phil Jackson has reminded them over and over again that they're an inside-out team and it seems like it's finally starting to sink in. Bynum is making a huge difference now that he's getting his conditioning and timing back. Pau Gasol is the best big man passer in the game and when he gets enough touches, good things always happen for the Lakers. Now that Barnes is going to be lost for the next few weeks, the Lakers aren't going to get as many early looks offensively from their quicker second unit. Lamar Odom is having an All Star season and hopefully the reserves look to him more often when he's out there with Steve Blake
