In examining the success of Artest against Durant it brings to the forefront the incredible advantage that the Lakers have in Artest’s uncanny ability to shut down the other teams best perimeter scorer, much in the same way that a shut down corner in football can completely eliminate one side of the field.
Artest is relentless, has incredibly quick hands, is disruptive, gets in the players comfort area and makes them very uncomfortable. Durant is just one on a long list of NBA scorers that Artest has frustrated in his career and there are sure to be more along the way.
Looking at this realistically, Durant is bound to break out against the Lakers at some point. You really can’t keep a great player down for too long.
Until that happens on frequent basis, as the evidence has shown in overwhelming fashion, the deed to Kevin Durant is the possession of the rightful owner Ron Artest and possession, as they say, is 9 tenths the law.
