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On the NBA | The beast is back ... and hungry
But Ron Artest's passion seems to be about playing basketball
By David Aldridge
Inquirer Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - He was out on the court late in a meaningless preseason game, with wanna-bes and no-hopers, which is exactly when most NBA guys take a seat. No one wants to risk injury - or embarrassment - being on the floor with those who will never log a real minute of playing time.
But you can't get Ron Artest off the floor these days with dynamite and a spatula.
"I like to work out and kind of stay hungry," he said.
Of course, you know why - unless you've been stuck on that island with those weird Lost folks for the last year or so.
After receiving an NBA-record 73-game suspension for his part in last November's brawl in Auburn Hills, Mich., with Detroit Pistons fans, Artest is back with the Indiana Pacers - with both high hopes and a target on his broad back. No one will be under more of a microscope this season than the 26-year-old.
Even innocuous comments he makes - like saying during the preseason that he was going to continue playing like a "wild beast" - are examined for potential malice.
"All that summarized was [being] hungry," Artest said of that statement. "I'm happy to be back, happy to be playing. Before all of that craziness happened, people said I played real hard, played like a beast. And I'm back, playing real hard and playing like a beast."
Artest's past doesn't allow most people to give him the benefit of the doubt in that area. There have been too many technical fouls and suspensions, too many incidents over the years when he has given in to the emotional cauldron that has made him one of the league's best players. All the work he put in to temper himself during the 2003-04 season blew up in the team's face that night in Auburn Hills.
So, everyone's back to square one.
"He's done everything right," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's worked hard. He's paid a heavy price. You've got to believe that the guy's excited to be back on the court."
Artest has been welcomed back enthusiastically by the team's fans. Much like Latrell Sprewell found out when he went to the New York Knicks, most everything will be forgiven by most people - as long as you're wearing the home white.
"When I'm in the street out here, they always show a lot of support," Artest said. "Every time I was out [last year], they were supportive, very supportive."
When his season was abruptly abbreviated last year, Artest was on an all-star pace, having established himself as a premier small forward. He'd already made himself into one of the league's best perimeter defenders at his position, and under Carlisle's system, Artest had made himself into a dynamic offensive player as well.
If he stays on the floor and plays to his capabilities, the Pacers can beat anyone in the Eastern Conference. With Jermaine O'Neal back and healthy, no one would have a better frontcourt combination. The Pacers are deep and talented, with scorers like guard Stephen Jackson, rebounders like Jeff Foster, and solid at the point with Jamaal Tinsley and Anthony Johnson.
But Artest is the key. There's no one like him in the league, which is both the team's blessing and curse. Indiana has counted on Artest in the past, and he hasn't always lived up to his end of the bargain. Team president Larry Bird has gone out of his way to defend Artest's actions.
Still, there were trade rumors involving Artest this summer, and sources maintained before last year's suspension that O'Neal had had enough of Artest's act.
Carlisle, though, maintains that Artest has tried very hard to be part of the team again.
"We've identified team unity as a major part of any success we'll have this year," Carlisle said. "Ronnie's aware of it."
Artest has tried to rein himself in. He was allowed to practice with the Pacers during his suspension, and he volunteered to play on the team's summer-league team. He spent the rest of the off-season playing with pros like the Suns' James Jones, as well as his own younger brother. He was also in the gym four or five times a week, lifting weights (he got up to 270 pounds during the summer) and swimming.
"I knew the guys were playing, so they were in NBA shape," Artest said. "There was nothing I could to match that. So I just did as much as my body would let me do."
He says he's not worried that referees will single him out.
"I play sound defense," he said. "Any time I play somebody, I'm playing real hard, real aggressive. It's not like I'm grabbing or holding. It's clean swipes, clean steals. I'm not worried about [the officials]. If they think it's flagrant, I'll let them deal with that. But I'm not flagrant fouling anyone."
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/13039644.htm
On the NBA | The beast is back ... and hungry
But Ron Artest's passion seems to be about playing basketball
By David Aldridge
Inquirer Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - He was out on the court late in a meaningless preseason game, with wanna-bes and no-hopers, which is exactly when most NBA guys take a seat. No one wants to risk injury - or embarrassment - being on the floor with those who will never log a real minute of playing time.
But you can't get Ron Artest off the floor these days with dynamite and a spatula.
"I like to work out and kind of stay hungry," he said.
Of course, you know why - unless you've been stuck on that island with those weird Lost folks for the last year or so.
After receiving an NBA-record 73-game suspension for his part in last November's brawl in Auburn Hills, Mich., with Detroit Pistons fans, Artest is back with the Indiana Pacers - with both high hopes and a target on his broad back. No one will be under more of a microscope this season than the 26-year-old.
Even innocuous comments he makes - like saying during the preseason that he was going to continue playing like a "wild beast" - are examined for potential malice.
"All that summarized was [being] hungry," Artest said of that statement. "I'm happy to be back, happy to be playing. Before all of that craziness happened, people said I played real hard, played like a beast. And I'm back, playing real hard and playing like a beast."
Artest's past doesn't allow most people to give him the benefit of the doubt in that area. There have been too many technical fouls and suspensions, too many incidents over the years when he has given in to the emotional cauldron that has made him one of the league's best players. All the work he put in to temper himself during the 2003-04 season blew up in the team's face that night in Auburn Hills.
So, everyone's back to square one.
"He's done everything right," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's worked hard. He's paid a heavy price. You've got to believe that the guy's excited to be back on the court."
Artest has been welcomed back enthusiastically by the team's fans. Much like Latrell Sprewell found out when he went to the New York Knicks, most everything will be forgiven by most people - as long as you're wearing the home white.
"When I'm in the street out here, they always show a lot of support," Artest said. "Every time I was out [last year], they were supportive, very supportive."
When his season was abruptly abbreviated last year, Artest was on an all-star pace, having established himself as a premier small forward. He'd already made himself into one of the league's best perimeter defenders at his position, and under Carlisle's system, Artest had made himself into a dynamic offensive player as well.
If he stays on the floor and plays to his capabilities, the Pacers can beat anyone in the Eastern Conference. With Jermaine O'Neal back and healthy, no one would have a better frontcourt combination. The Pacers are deep and talented, with scorers like guard Stephen Jackson, rebounders like Jeff Foster, and solid at the point with Jamaal Tinsley and Anthony Johnson.
But Artest is the key. There's no one like him in the league, which is both the team's blessing and curse. Indiana has counted on Artest in the past, and he hasn't always lived up to his end of the bargain. Team president Larry Bird has gone out of his way to defend Artest's actions.
Still, there were trade rumors involving Artest this summer, and sources maintained before last year's suspension that O'Neal had had enough of Artest's act.
Carlisle, though, maintains that Artest has tried very hard to be part of the team again.
"We've identified team unity as a major part of any success we'll have this year," Carlisle said. "Ronnie's aware of it."
Artest has tried to rein himself in. He was allowed to practice with the Pacers during his suspension, and he volunteered to play on the team's summer-league team. He spent the rest of the off-season playing with pros like the Suns' James Jones, as well as his own younger brother. He was also in the gym four or five times a week, lifting weights (he got up to 270 pounds during the summer) and swimming.
"I knew the guys were playing, so they were in NBA shape," Artest said. "There was nothing I could to match that. So I just did as much as my body would let me do."
He says he's not worried that referees will single him out.
"I play sound defense," he said. "Any time I play somebody, I'm playing real hard, real aggressive. It's not like I'm grabbing or holding. It's clean swipes, clean steals. I'm not worried about [the officials]. If they think it's flagrant, I'll let them deal with that. But I'm not flagrant fouling anyone."
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/13039644.htm
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