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KRIEGER: Artest would make it fairer fight

By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 21, 2008 at 10:54 p.m.

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Ron Artest was grabbing a snack for the flight home when I ran into him at LAX after Game 1 of the Lakers-Nuggets series. So I asked him what he thought.

"I thought it was a good game," he said. "I think the Nuggets are just as good as Boston and L.A. I don't know if the Nuggets know how good they are, but I like them, Boston, the Suns and L.A. Those are my top four teams."

Evidently, Artest has seen more of the Nuggets' good days than the other ones. As a former Defensive Player of the Year (2003-04), I figured he'd have an opinion on their defense. "Decent at times," he said.

"Sometimes defense take away from offense. That's why I only average 20 points. If I played a little less defense, I could average about 25 points, or 28 points."

So there's something for Kings GM Geoff Petrie to chew on while he mulls the pros and cons of a multiyear deal for his talented, combustible swingman.

I mentioned the trade that didn't happen at the deadline, the Nuggets declining to part with Linas Kleiza as part of a package for Artest, and that if it had, he would have been out there on Kobe Bryant and Kenyon Martin could have been in the paint, where Pau Gasol was holding his own little playoff party.

"Well, I would have been Defensive Player of the Year, I guess," Artest said. "With K-Mart and Camby behind me, easy Defensive Player of the Year right there. That's why I got it with Jermaine O'Neal."

So I asked if he thought it might still happen.

"Well, I'm a King now, but after that, Kings got first option and if the Kings don't want me, then I don't know. What type of player would I be on that team? I would be the fourth best or fifth best?"

"I don't know," I said. "Defensively, you'd be right up there with K-Mart."

"What about as a overall?" Artest said.

I have to admit, I was a little stumped here. I had never considered ranking a player who can play both offense and defense among the Nuggets' platoon stars - Martin and Marcus Camby on defense, Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony on offense.

"What do you think? What would you rate me?" Artest insisted.

"Overall?"

"Yeah."

"I'd probably put you . . . "

"Two? Three?"

"Three, two."

"Probably three. Say three?"

"All right. Three."

"Because I want to get paid like No. 3. Who else is No. 3?"

On this year's pay scale, that would be Anthony at $13 million. Next season, the price of No. 3 goes up to $14.4 million.

If Artest is looking for that kind of money, I doubt seriously he's getting it from Silent Stanley Kroenke, who is already facing a luxury tax bill of about $15 million on top of his $80 million payroll.

Just as well, probably. The stories that go around about Artest's interaction with coaches are scary. The Nuggets aren't a particularly coachable group to start with.

Still, it's fun to imagine them with a good defensive guard who would let Martin play his own position against the Lakers.

We now return you to reality. When I asked George Karl on Monday if the tradeoff - a porous interior in exchange for K-Mart on Kobe - had been worth it, he said, "I think it was 75 percent yes and 25 percent no." I don't know what that means, but when I asked if he would stick with it, he said, "Probably."

Unfortunately, the key to it actually working is help from the same guards who make the strategy necessary in the first place.

"We watched a lot of film this morning and we talked about how our guards have to come back and sink," Camby said. "When I'm out there roaming and our teammates get beat, my natural instinct is to come and help. That's what I was doing. We just didn't get that 'D' to crack back and Gasol got a lot of easy layups."

If the Nuggets are counting on Iverson, Anthony Carter or J.R. Smith to rotate down and provide defense on the 7-foot Gasol, I would like to wish them luck with that.

As Karl edged away from the wretches after practice Monday, I asked if he would activate assistant Stacey Augmon if he could, which he can't. For years, Augmon was one of the best defenders in the NBA. He's 39 now, so it was sort of a joke, but only sort of.

"Yes," Karl said. Then he smiled.

Tell you what: I think he would, too.

Comments

  • April 22, 2008

    5:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    maybenextyr writes:

    Hope Nuggs dont give up bunch of 3's to help out CAMBY.

    The worthless WeAkside shotblocker!!

  • April 22, 2008

    8:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DJRMTNSPF writes:

    Nothing but selfishness and individualism. It does not matter what line-up is in until they learn to play as a team. How many times in the first game did the first player with the ball just chuck it up instead of look to pass. The Lakers, including Kobe, were smart enough to drive/dribble and pass to the open man. With the amount of talent the Nuggets have there is no reason they should not be far better. It is amazing that Doug Moe is not on the bench losing his mind over the lack of teamwork. Karl's coaching is pathetic.

  • April 22, 2008

    9:15 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DeimosJB writes:

    Yes, we could have Artest now. Yes, Artest COULD be playing good offense and lights-out defense, or he COULD be a cancer in the locker-room and a thorn in the coaches' sides. Yes, we could lament over what we do not have, and invent imaginary scenarios of what might have been, or we can live in the present: the Nugs do have Melo, AI, Camby, JR, Kleiza, and enough ability to win the championship if we'd play like they want it. Instead the Nugs will probably play just bad enough to lose to the Lakers in 5.

  • April 22, 2008

    9:36 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    I wish this guy would write just ONE story where he gives the Nuggets praise, instead of all the stupid crap he spews. Why are you in Denver if you can't side with our teams ONCE IN AWHILE!?!?! Bottom line is Artest ISN'T on this team and probably won't be. Stop kissing his ass.

    If our defense steps up and we pass the ball more on offense we can win this series. If's always the bad stuff that I see in your articles. The only home team you seem to praise is the Avs. Do the Nugs a favor and write your stories about the Avs and leave the Nugs alone. YOu stink!!!!