Lakers Continue To Be Artest-ed

Artest close lined JJ Barea Wednesday night,
and it seemed intentional. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have been continually faced with challenges this postseason and will now need to overcome yet another.

On top of facing 2-0 series deficit to the Dallas Mavericks, the two-time defending champions will also be without forward Ron Artest in Game 3 Friday night at Dallas.

Artest has been suspended by the NBA for his flagrant foul on Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea in the closing minute of Game 2.

With Artest playing well offensively through the first eight Los Angeles playoff games and the bench struggling to produce, this could hurt the Lakers.

Artest is the fifth leading score on the Lakers this postseason, averaging 10.5 points a game, well exceeding his 8.5 in the regular season.

In the biggest game of his career last June, Artest played his best game of the postseason in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Against the hated, rival Boson Celtics, Artest recorded 20 points in 46 minutes and made a game-sealing three-point basket late to extend the Laker lead.

The former St. John's standout has proved time and time again, even though he comes with a lot of baggage, he plays his best when it matters most, doing so again in the his team's most recent playoff run.

Artest, with, at times, suffocating defense, has been known to get under opposing players skin and caused them to make uncharacteristic like decisions. He is a former Defensive Player of the Year, winning the award back in 2004 as a member of the Indiana Pacers.

A year later, Artest would be involved in one of the messiest brawls in NBA history at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Artest flew into the the stands to confront a Pistons fan and was suspended by the NBA for the rest of the regular and postseason play, missing a total of 86 games.

So, this is not the first time Artest has been suspended and probably will not be the last, but this one might have come at the wrong time.

The bench has been inconsistent most of the season and even worse this postseason, totaling just 12 points in their Game 2 loss Wednesday and have been outscored in the series 70-31 by Dallas' reserves. Despite that, Los Angeles has controlled the series, leading in most major categories.

The Mavericks have turned the ball over 22 times in the first two games compared to the Lakers' 21. Los Angeles have also outscored Dallas in the paint, 88-72, and outrebounded the Dallas bigs 88-79. But it has been Dallas's ability to hit the outside shot that has allowed them to win the first two games.

The Lakers missed their first 16 three-point attempts in Game 2, finishing 2-for-20 from behind the arch with Dallas putting in eight-of-25. That can not continue, but at any rate, Los Angeles' long range shooting has been atrocious thus far. Lamar Odom has been reported to be the player chosen by Phil Jackson to replace Artest in the starting lineup, meaning more minutes for players like Matt Barnes and the ghostly Luke Walton, who has yet to appear in the series.

This Laker team has faced adversity all year and responded every time. Expect that not to change in Game 3, trying to avoid falling into an 0-3 series hole in this best of seven series. Teams that are faced with a three-game deficit are 0-98 in NBA history, a mountain Los Angeles does not want to climb.

Could the most recent Artest antics cost the Lakers a chance to head back to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight year and the right to defend their back-to-back titles?

Los Angeles and Dallas began their third hand of Texas Hold 'Em with the chips down and ALL IN Friday in Dallas.

Superman Does it Again

Howard has developed into the best big
man in the NBA.

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard captured his third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award Monday.

Howard will become the first player in NBA history to win the award three times in-a-row. There is no question that Howard has been the best defensive player in the NBA the last couple of years with his shot blocking ability and being able to alter opponents shots around the rim.

Along with being named the top defensive player in the NBA in 2011, Howard could add another piece of hardware to his collection at the end of the season.

Howard has been in the Most Valuable Player discussion most of the NBA regular season and rightfully so. He is enjoying his most consistent year of young seven-year career. The 265-pounder averaged 22.9 points per game along with 14.1 rebounds this season.

Both of those are well above his career averages.

Howard led the NBA in trips to the foul line, averaging 11 free-throw attempts during the regular season. With Howard's overwhelming production, the Magic secured the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 52-30.

It's not a stretch to say without Howard Orlando might not even be a playoff team.

Even though Chicago's Derrick Rose is the most deserving of the award, Howard is finally getting the reconition he deserves.

The 6-foot-11 center showed why he was the best defensive player in the NBA this season yet again, averaging 2.4 blocks and a career-high 1.3 steals per game. Drafted with the first overall pick by the Magic back in 2004, Howard has been a top five player in the NBA since his arrival and continues to impress his piers.

Orlando suffered a tough loss Saturday night at home against the No. 5 seeded Atlanta Hawks, 103-93, but Howard gave it his best effort, leading the away with 46 points and 19 rebounds.

The Magic have a tough road ahead if they want to appear in their third Eastern Conference Finals in as many years. It's a goal that plan to meet, but Orlando will first need even up the series at a game apiece on Tuesday night to get there.

Howard can become a free agent after the 2012 season and will be sure to draw a lot of interest from many NBA teams on the open market.

The Magic will need to show the 25-year-old Howard they get back to the NBA Finals, like they did in 2009. If they don't, that could be kryptonite that sees their beloved Superman fly out of town.