"Ron Artest has tried to be on his behavior since joining the Lakers last season. On Tuesday, Lakers coach Phil Jackson confirmed that Artest reverted to his old ways recently, confronting the coach at a recent practice because he felt Jackson was embarrassing him in public.
Artest was not pleased that news of the incident was leaked. "I've worked too hard to have something like this come out," Artest said Tuesday, prior to the Lakers' win over the Pistons. "My image is very important to me — whatever image I have left — and this hurts, this really hurts."
Added Artest, who apologized to the team for the confrontation: "I've tried so hard not to be part of any controversy, not to be part of any conflict, for this to come out now, that's weird, and it's really hard (WEEI)."
Maybe for the first time ever I don't really blame Artest. Phil Jackson has been shooting off his mouth a lot this year, and I am totally against calling out your players in the media. Jackson has already done this to Kobe this year, and now he has been all over Artest. I feel like Artest has tried to change, he is definitely still crazy, but I do feel like he is at least trying. On the other hand Jackson seems be under the thinking that this is his last year and he isn't going to take anyone's shit, and will let everyone know if a player is screwing up.
From a Celtics' perspective (or anyone in the West) they have to be loving this. There is a lot of fighting in that locker room right now, and they just haven't looked right in awhile now. I still think they will figure it out, but in the beginning of the season I thought this team would be unstoppable.
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