The Ron Artest Experiment is off to a rocky start. Think in terms of Professor Phil Jackson holding vials of unstable substances … and it they have blown up in his face, and his hair is all Einstein-like … as if he were drawn by the guys at Warner Brothers cartoons.

After two games, neither of them impressive despite the Lakers winning one (against the Clippers), Ron Artest is not only no improvement on Trevor Ariza (for whom he was traded, essentially), he is a notable downgrade.

Artest has more turnovers (eight) and personal fouls (seven) … than rebounds (six), field goals made (four), free throws made (three) or three-pointers made (two).

Until he makes a shot or two, and finds the handle on the basketball, he needs to remove himself from the offense. Give the ball back to Kobe Bryant or, better, toss it inside to Andrew Bynum.

Artest’s shooting numbers after two games are just wretched — 33 percent from the field, 22 percent from behind the arc, 33 percent at the line.

He never has been a good shooter (42.1 percent in his career, from the field), so the Lakers’ expectations weren’t high. But they certainly were higher than 25 percent.

His defense also looks shaky; a guy committing seven fouls in two games probably is having trouble keeping up with his man.

Artest may be best used off the bench, and with fewer minutes. When Pau Gasol comes back, Artest probably should start the game sitting on the bench with Prof. Jackson.

The Lakers also need to keep an eye on his social activity. He seems keen to make a celebrity splash here when his first (second and third) priority should be basketball. He already has dropped by TMZ and had a video of the encounter posted.

You have to be a serious contributor to get away with that. So far, that doesn’t include Ron Artest. In this case, Kobe Bryant may need to have a chat with Artest and make sure he has his priorities in order.