Houston we have a contender

When news broke that Ron Artest had been traded to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night, our resident NBA blogger and Laker lover Ryantific had this reaction:

“(Expletive), did you see Artest is going to the Rockets? Makes them tough.”

The Sacramento Kings sent 6-7 Artest to Houston for a familiar face in Bobby Jackson, draft rights to Donte Greene and a No. 1 pick in 2009.
The trade finally gives Houston a legitimate Big Three in Artest, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, and, more importantly, gives the Rockets a much needed defensive presence and a killer mentality.
Skip to My Lou helped give the Rockets a new swagger last season, but the Rockets have been known as an otherwise “soft” team in recent years because of Ming’s demeanor and McGrady’s one-dimensional ways.
Now they’re considered an instant contender in the wild, wild West, with a defender who can actually slow down Kobe Bryant (like only the Celtics were able to do in the playoffs).
For those who don’t know, Artest and Kobe have plenty of history as you can see by Artest’s unconventional one-on-one interview with “one of my idols” on the Best Damn Sports Show.
Artest said it best during his interview with Bryant: “I gotta get ready for Kobe.”