I know that was some jawing going on at the beginning of the game last night between the Rockets and Lakers, and Artest was bodying up Ariza, so Ariza was pushing back. But could this be the beginning of a rivalry between the two players? I could understand it from Ariza’s stand point that he’d be pissed, just because Artest is the only new guy on the squad this year and basically replace Trevor. But check out this quote from Artest after the game:

“I don’t have hard feelings,” Ariza said. “It was emotional, I guess you could say.”

Artest said he thought about giving Ariza a hard shot, but backed down for fear of a fine or a suspension.

“You know if somebody hits me, I’m going to react,” the famously temperamental Artest said. “I got hit with about three elbows. It’s just not fair. I don’t want to fight, I don’t feel like doing it. If you throw an elbow into Ron Artest’s chest, do you know who you’re hitting?

“But I give up, I just give up,” he said. “I’m not fighting anymore. You could elbow me, smack me, use me as a punching bag. I’m not reacting anymore, I’m tired.”

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