Comments on: Assessing Ariza – Part 3

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:43:55 +0000

I read the post. The fact is that typically you have two wing players and one of them needs to be able to create his own offense. In Ariza and Battier, the Rockets had none. If Ariza had shown an ability to create his own offense, the Rockets would not have felt as much pressure to get a scoring wing like Martin, but the labels of shooting guard and small forward are more related to matchups than skillset. Like I said, if the Rockets had a scoring 3 man like Carmelo or Durant, there would be no issue. But the issue is not of two guard or small forward for Ariza.

By: bob schmidt

bob schmidt — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:28:12 +0000

Thinking about Ariza over the course of this past season, I can't help but be reminded of Murphy's Law. He was promoted beyond the level of his highest competence. Rahat has him nailed in terms of how he fits on this team in my opinion.

If he will accept coaching in the area of defense, when to go for a steal or not, and improve on offensive skills in the area of body control, he did show promise the last couple of weeks of last season. If Battier would mentor him, he could improve considerably. I have suspicions that he will ultimately be the key to a significant trade, in which case I will sing, “Thanks for the memories”.

By: rahat_huq

rahat_huq — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:50:06 +0000

You're forgetting about Bibby. But yes, Brooks/Lowry is a dangerous combo that I don't think needs to be touched.

By: entropy

entropy — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:42:21 +0000

I'm not trying to scream ignorance here, but think solid point production accompanied with great power forward play. The example in my mind being the kings under Adelman. Great number 4 with Webber but only mediocre play from the point, meaning either Williams or Jackson. That sounds rather close to a Bosh/Brooks team. I would take Brooks over Williams in a heart beat. Bosh over Webber? I am not informed enough to make that call. And then possibly the recently acquired(ala kings of course) Kevin Martin. If he can be injury free then he isn't he just as potent offensively as Stojakovic combined with Turkoglo? But then look at the C position for that Kings team… Wasn't Scot Pollard starting? Compare him to Yao. Yao with two broken feet is twice the Center Pollard ever could dream of being friends on facebook! The similarities between these two teams seem to be adding up… Maybe Professor Moriarty, I apologize, Daryl Morey, had in mind what sort of coach he was chasing when this whole shin dig began.

Oh yeah, of course you can't forget the other PG/PF combo that blow every combo out of the water. Stockton and Malone. And while I am not saying anything about those two, just look at their supporting cast. Hornacek was SG and Eaton or Ostertag were the center. And there were still two potential titles. My god. The Rockets might be on to something.

By: thirdcoastborn

thirdcoastborn — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:43:24 +0000

You must of not watched our season last year, and definitely did not read this post. He was the two last year, and did not produce at the position. They are more then labels it about your skill set, like Rahat said. We learned that Ariza cannot create a shot off his dribble like Martin,Wade, an other two guards. We learned his ball handling skills are not that great either. And if Ariza came in and played the two well last year, we would not of traded Landry away for Martin who is a true two guard. We could of just traded away McGrady to the Knicks. Please read the whole article.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:00:39 +0000

I think that Ariza cannot be the dominant wing player, but saying he cannot be a two guard is not true. Shooting guard and small forward are arbitrary labels in the game today, typically the small forward is the taller of the two but in essence, they play the same role. Battier and Ariza were the 2 and 3, but that didn't affect who they would match up with when they both started. With Lebron or Paul Pierce at the 3, Ariza would thrive, just like he did with Martin at the 2.

By: thirdcoastborn

thirdcoastborn — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:44:01 +0000

This a good post. We learned last year,that at this point in Ariza's career he cannot play the two guard. Like with the Lakers, Ariza is at his best while running the floor, and hitting the open shot, as a third option. He is a good defender, and plays the passing lane well. Before the trade, with only AB able to dribble penetrate,Ariza would force too many turnovers while trying to create a shot. He leaves his feet to much, while trying to pass. It was still a good signing , especially after Artest went to the lakers. With a dominant Yao, and or trade at the four it will take even more pressure off him too produce offensively. When we take Yao out and run, Ariza is at his best, with his long, athlethic body.