Ron Artest will receive the defensive assignments of LeBron James and Paul Pierce on the Lakers' eight-game road trip.

Artest was asked if he thinks of guarding those players as a challenge.

?Not really, because I had those assignments since I was first in the NBA,? he said. ?That?s a normal day of work. It?s nothing new, nothing new to get excited about. I get excited for everything.

?Me and Paul, we?ve had tons of battles over there in the East when I was on Indiana [Pacers] -- even me and LeBron when I was on Indiana. When I left for the West Coast, I kind of think both of those guys were kind of happy to see me go.?