Yes, that’s right. Artest recently admitted to the Sporting News that he used to “drink Hennessy … at halftime.”  He said that he kept it in his locker, and would just walk to the liquor store and get it.

The obvious question here is, why? Performance enhancing substances I could understand. But alcohol? It’s not like it helps you play any better.

Artest confessed that he drank while playing for the Chicago Bulls from 1999 to 2001. And if that wasn’t enough, he also said that the infamous brawl he was an intricate part of during his time with the Indiana Pacers wasn’t his fault. “I don’t see anything I could have done different,” he said.

Does he not remember the fact that he stormed into the stands to fight with fans?? Maybe he was too tipsy to remember what actually happened?

I’ll leave you with these last parting words of wisdom from Artest himself:

“When I was a 19-year-old father, whew. I was a single pimp! I was wild,” he told the Sporting News. “A lot of marijuana and alcohol — even before [that age]. … I [still] party and I have fun, but not like I used to. I used to drink every night and party every night.”

What a guy.

Here’s a refresh of the Pacers/Pistons brawl. Maybe Artest should look it up on YouTube as well:

Post from: EveryJoe

Ron Artest Used To Sip Hennessy At Halftime

Gasol, who was out due to injury, didn’t skip a beat. He hit 9-of-15 field goal attempts and all six of his free throws. Kobe Bryant chipped in 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Ron Artest had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Bulls were never really in the game. They trailed by six after one, by 11 after 2 and by 17 heading into the fourth and final stanza. Derrick Rose led the way with 20 points and six assists in 38 minutes.

The Lakers are now 9-3 on the season. With Gasol back in action and the rest of their team healthy, don’t be surprised if L.A. goes on an extended winning streak to move into the top spot in the Western Conference.

Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant were together again (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Pau Gasol Returns, Lakers Win

The Rockets only had one starter in double figures, however that one player dominated: Aaron Brooks. The quick little point guard who tortured the Lakers last year in the playoffs was at it again. In 41 minutes of action, Brooks finished with 33 points, six rebounds and four assists. He hit 11-of-23 shots from the field, 5-of-7 three-pointers and 6-of-7 free throws.

The Lakers were led by Ron Artest’s 22 points. Andrew Bynum had 21 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, while Kobe Bryant was limited to 18 points, three assists, three steals and four turnovers.

Though the Rockets were supposed to struggle due to being without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady to begin the season, they’ve been able to look like a legit playoff team. With a record of 6-4, Houston wins by playing great team basketball.

Even though the Lakers might be disappointed in their 7-3 start, they have to be somewhat happy considering that Pau Gasol has yet to play this season.

Aaron Brooks - Houston Rockets (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Los Angeles Lakers Lose Second Straight

Ron Artest to the Lakers (Image: Zuma Press)

The Lakers needed to look for a new small forward after Trevor Ariza decided to ask for more money than Los Angeles wanted to pay. Although Ariza played great in the NBA playoffs, the Lakers obviously think he is expendable. Enter Ron Artest.

Last season with the Rockets, Artest averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He shot 40.1% from the floor, 39.9% on three-pointers and 74.8% at the line.

Prior to being traded to the Rockets last year, Artest had previously played with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings. He entered the NBA in the 1999-2000 season as a first round draft pick out of St. John’s.

With the Lakers, Artest will likely start at small forward and give the team a tenacious defender, who can create his own shot, bang in the inside and shoot from the outside.

Post from: EveryJoe

Ron Artest to the Los Angeles Lakers?

Devastating news out of Houston tonight (Saturday, May 9th) as Yao Ming will be out for the remainder of the playoffs with a hairline fracture in his left foot.

This is obviously painful for not only Yao but Rocket nation as well. The fans and the players really thought Houston could compete with the Lakers and even possibly beat them. Now it looks like a rather bleak proposition, but I wouldn’t rule Houston out just yet.

Of course Houston is a better team with Yao playing 30+ minutes a game, that’s not the issue.

Transition Game?

Houston is a consistently half court team with a good, well rounded offense geared towards working it inside-out. Now that Yao is absent the offense is much more perimeter based other than the sprinkling of scoring Scola and Landry will have from time to time in the paint. The Rockets can exploit LA a little more in transition now and not feel too bad about it because Yao is, well, no longer there to slow it down. With Scola, Landry, and now forced into duty Brian Cook, the Rockets bigs can get up and down the court in a more fast break type of style if Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry get the freedom to push the ball at their discretion.  With Artest, Battier and Wafer on the wings, the Rockets do have some worthy scoring options. This could force the Lakers to make somewhat of a key decision in terms of who to play at the point guard spot. It’s apparent that Derek Fisher cannot stay with Brooks and that Jordan Farmar can, however, Derek Fisher has been the staple in the Lakers lineup and isn’t likely to sit the bench for too long. Farmar did prove in Game 3 that he is capable of producing but when push comes to shove I think Phil would rather see Fisher on the court more for if nothing else his leadership skills and intangibles. Thus, the Rockets could have an advantage by pushing the ball whenever possible.  Obviously Brooks will need to have a repeat of Game 1.  In Game 3 he missed a lot of open shots.

Lackluster Lakers?

This goes without saying, the Lakers are awfully athletic at every position as well, and it’s not like the Lakers do not know how to defend a fast break style of offense, but I have to wonder if it could take LA by surprise. Of course the Rockets will still have to make their fair share of baskets, which will be more difficult without Yao keeping the defense honest in the half court. All I know is that Adelman is probably going to open it up, go super small, and let loose guys like Brooks, Wafer, Scola, and Landry to try and be competent offensive sidekicks to Artest (this is an issue in its own right, Artest as the #1 option, oh boy). And I know the Rockets are mature and well coached enough to come out and play hard like they always do, making this a very winnable game seeing as the Lakers, for a lack of a better term, are soft—maybe not cutthroat enough to see this as a viable challenge—thus allowing Houston to steal a win.

Ron Ron must have a huge Game 4 for the Rockets to have a chance (Image:Newscom)

Insanity At Its Finest

You know, with the abundance of open shots Von Wafer missed in game 3, I’m willing to predict if he gets the same looks in Game 4 he will knock them down en route to a big game. He’s capable.

Depending on Von Wafer as an integral part of the scoring attack? Have I gone mad?

Oh yeah, almost forgot, there’s this thing called interior defense and Houston just got a whole lot worse  at it with this Yao guy no longer available.

I can see Gasol licking his chops right now. Odom too. Even softy Andrew Bynum is licking his chops, although I bet he doesn’t last long if the Rockets fast break.

Guess Houston is going to have to score well over 100 to pull out Game 4.

It’s going to be one helluva problem.

Post from: EveryJoe

Houston, We Have A Problem

The easily agitated Ron Artest is going to join Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady on the Houston Rockets. It kind of makes you wonder why the Sacramento Kings didn’t trade him to an Eastern Conference team so that this didn’t come back to bite them in the butt. And for Bobby Jackson … really?

Although Artest wanted to go back to New York (why, I have NO idea) he’s still content with this trade.

According to ESPN, he was quoted as saying:

“I’ll be a kid in a candy store. I’ll be a kid in a store with a lot of candy. I’m going to dance with the stars.”

I don’t know how well Yao can dance, but as far as candy goes I think that Artest is right. He’ll have a lot of candy to play with. There’s a lot of potential for the Rockets to get over the hump now.

And despite Artest’s reputation, he’s been relatively calm since the “brawl” in Detroit.
(What is it about Detroit??)

I think Artest has grown up. And I’m anxious to see what he’ll be able to bring to the Rockets.

For more inside information on the NBA, visit NBA Obsessed

Photo provided by Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Ron Artest Is A Rocket