IF LA loses this series (big if), would they have won with Ariza? Ron Ron plays good D, but he is absolutely terribly on offense. Missing the two free throws in game 5 were huge (down by 5, less than a minute left).

I still think it is 80% chance LA wins. The home team usually gets 15-20% more calls which will be the difference.

Anyone think the spectacular block by Tony Allen on Gasol in game 5 was an obvious foul? The announcers needed to smoke a cigarette after the block, not one mentioned how it was a foul.

What would an NBA game be like if they announcers could critique ALL the calls/flops? They do some of it, but you know they are told to keep it quiet for the most part.

To me, the refs largely dictate the NBA games. The signal to noise ratio is terrible with the refs/actual play of the game. If wrestling is a 10 (purely fake), and NFL is a 2 (refs can decide a game with a poor turnover, pass interference or holding call), I would say the NBA is around a 5. There are probably 20-40 questionable calls/noncalls a game. The home team and the agressor (usually the same) gets more than their share.

According to Simplebay Ron Artest >> Trevor Ariza

that was absolutely not a foul. he hit the ball first. gasol should have simply gone up stronger

80% chance LA wins the series???

NO

Switch Ariza for Artest and the Lakers win this series going away.

Artest is a liability on the court. He's out there to guard Pierce, and he didn't even do that particularly well last night. He's gonna hit 3 out of every 10 3-pointers he takes, suck at the FT line, and make stupid passes.

On the flip side, Ariza had his coming out party in last year's playoffs. He had more points than Artest, more rebounds, more steals, better shooting and more energy. He was just better, period.

^Against Orlando. Boston would have punked Ariza this year just like they did the entire Lakers team two years ago.

Would it change the outcome? I don't know. Maybe.

I do know that I'd much rather have Ariza. That trade was extremely confusing to me. Gifted swingmen who accept and excel in that role are hard to come by.

Wasn't a trade.

My misremembering of events aside, I'd still rather have Ariza.

Ariza is not the defender Artest is. Pierce would have 5+ more ppg had he been in there.

The only advantages with Ariza would be a touch more youth and athleticism and 'perhaps' a little more three-point efficiency. You have to remember Ariza was on a serious 3-pt hot streak at the end of the playoffs last year.

Artest is better at getting off his own shot though it seems he's not been allowed to (for good reason). The triangle is a thinker's offense and, for obvious reasons, Ron has not excelled in it.

The story last night was FG% - Boston 56, LA 39. There is absolutely no way you can win with that big a disparity. The fact the Celtics only won by 6 is pretty amazing.

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The only advantages with Ariza would be a touch more youth and athleticism and 'perhaps' a little more three-point efficiency. You have to remember Ariza was on a serious 3-pt hot streak at the end of the playoffs last year.

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I mostly agree with this although I would also add hustle and obviously as you alluded to, intelligence/basketball IQ. You could make a case for team cohesiveness but I really haven't seen any evidence of Artest having a negative impact there, at least in the Finals, beyond his reputation.

I picked the C's to win in 6, one of the few to pick the Celtics at all given how bullish everyone has been on the Lakers, so last nights game went about how I thought most games would go, aside from the 52% from the field. Kobe got his but the Celtics stepped up when necessary.

Unless someone on the C's pulls a game 2 Ray Allen, I'm thinking LA will take game 6 just based on how the playoffs have trended this year.

Ariza was smarter and lacks the crazy factor when he played for LA. He knew how to play within himself. Artest is battling his ego/craziness.

They wouldn't be playing in the finals if it wasn't for artest. Why is this even a question?

Artest has been fine. he's a little out of it on offense because of the pressure on him. but, it's his first year in the offense. and they still are 2 games away from a title

I think if Ariza was still in L.A., the chances L.A. would still be playing would be 50-50. Artest did a 'decent' job on Durant in the first round. Remember they were only a Gasol putback away from a game 7 against OKC. Durant would have abused Ariza much, much worse than Ron.

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Switch Ariza for Artest and the Lakers win this series going away.

Artest is a liability on the court. He's out there to guard Pierce, and he didn't even do that particularly well last night. He's gonna hit 3 out of every 10 3-pointers he takes, suck at the FT line, and make stupid passes.

On the flip side, Ariza had his coming out party in last year's playoffs. He had more points than Artest, more rebounds, more steals, better shooting and more energy. He was just better, period.

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in game 6 Artest vastly outplayed Pierce. He scored 15 points on 6-11 shooting (3-6 from three) to go with 6 boards, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 31 minutes. He was a team-high +24.

A repeat performance on both ends will practically guarantee a Laker victory. The Pierce/Artest match-up could easily decide this game.

Looks like this question has been answered. Ron Ron answered the bell on a night when even Kobe was MIA on O for basically 3 quarters. Congrats on the ring buddy. You deserved it as much as anyone on the team.