David Lassen of the Press Enterprise reports:
The day after his last-second heroics in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, things were just fine for Ron Artest.
Wait — make that “just a fine.”
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Artest was fined for being a half-hour late to the Lakers’ Friday practice, Coach Phil Jackson revealed, although he seemed to understand, at least to a degree, how Artest had misread the team’s scheduled reporting time.
“I usually have no issues with him being on time,” Jackson said, “but it was just one of those nights. I think he was so excited after the game that processing of things that were on the (locker room whiteboard) just didn’t register.”
Understandable or not, it cost Artest an undisclosed amount of money.
“Oh, yeah,” Jackson said, “that’s all part of it.”