L.A. Lakers: Why Ron Artest's "Transformation" Is Hurting the Lakers
Ron Artest is going through the ultimate transformation. The guy who was once arguably the most controversial player in the league, is now turning into the Yoko Ono of basketball.
Prior to the 2009-10 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers were fresh off the first of their back-to-back NBA titles. A key role player in that series and throughout the playoffs was small forward Trevor Ariza. He provided defense, long-range shooting and athleticism to help the Lakers win the championship.
Then, during the offseason, the Lakers did something very puzzling.
They decided not to resign Trevor Ariza and instead acquire Ron Artest via free agency.
What the Lakers saw in Artest was defense, shooting and defense (did I say defense twice?). By the end of his first season with the Lakers, it seemed to pay off. That year, the Lakers won yet another NBA title (their fifth of the decade).
Throughout the playoffs, Artest seemed to show up when it mattered most. He even hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in the conference finals against the Suns.
But in the Finals, Ron-Ron played his best basketball. He was never afraid to confront the savvy Boston Celtics, including a skirmish with Paul Pierce in the opening moments in the series. He undeniably played a pivitol role in the Lakers' Finals win.
But last season, something was different.
He began to change the way he played and the way he was perceived by the public.
He no longer got involved in the on and off-the-court troubles that have highlighted his career.
Not that this was a bad thing, but it started to affect his play on the court. It's almost as if he's beginning to get soft.
Everything that Artest lacked hurt the Lakers. When they needed an effective small forward, Artest wasn't always able to fill the void (it didn't help that Matt Barnes was injured most of the season).
His most recent change is his own name.
By next season (if there is one), Ron Artest hopes to be "Metta World Peace."
If that doesn't say he's crazy, I don't know what does.
So, unless Artest is traded, the Lakers are stuck with Metta World Peace, not the Tru Warrior that helped win the championship just a year ago.
