Comments on: Trevor Ariza: Debunking Myth #2

By: Assessing Houston Rockets guard Trevor Ariza - Part 3 | Red94 | a Houston Rockets blog

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:42:43 +0000

[...] improved after the trade for Kevin Martin. This should not have come as a surprise. As I had explained, because Martin can handle and create, his presence alters Ariza’s usage, allowing Trevor to [...]

By: Part 2 - Houston Rockets & Toronto Raptors discussion on Chris Bosh | Red94 | a Houston Rockets blog

Thu, 20 May 2010 23:46:56 +0000

[...] Ariza wasn’t brought here to get the team anywhere; Trevor was signed to be a complementary piece. He struggled early due to being forced into a high usage role out of necessity, but settled in very nicely after the arrival of Kevin Martin. [...]

By: Does Kevin Martin Make Trevor Ariza Better? – The Dream Shake | Red94 | essays and musings on the nba & houston rockets

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:25:35 +0000

[...] As I explained earlier, due to his skillset, Kevin Martin’s presence drastically alters Ariza’s usage. The numbers on those long 2’s are indicative of this. Trevor Ariza does not come off screens for long 2’s like Ray Allen or Chase Budinger, nor does he pump fake the kickout 3 for closer 2’s. Long 2’s are also never of the spot-up variety because players space out behind the arc, not in front of it. For Trevor Ariza, long 2’s almost always come off his own dribble, in his attempts to create for himself. [...]

By: rahat_huq

rahat_huq — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:46:11 +0000

that's just a case of it usually working out that way rather than being set by definition. shooting guards/small forwards often cross matchup defensively. also recall that mario elie was 6'5 and listed at small forward, while clyde at 6'7 was our shooting guard.

small forwards are definitely usually taller than shooting guards. similarly, shooting guards usually handle the ball more than small forwards. but its not a case of the coach saying, “oh, trevor, you're at the 3. ok, don't dribble it as much.”

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:35:23 +0000

"The words ’small forward’ and ’shooting guard’ are simply interchangeable..."

I agree, except - Isn't the practical distinction that the SF is nearly always the taller of the two wings? This make sense, because you usually don't want a big height difference when assigning guarding duties.

The other duties should be assigned acoording to skill, as you write.

Tall wings usually guard tall wings.

By: Lars

Lars — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:14:19 +0000

I just wish Ariza could keep the opponents under 70 points in a half (unlike Battier)

By: rahat_huq

rahat_huq — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:46:11 +0000

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:35:23 +0000

By: Lars

Lars — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:14:19 +0000

I just wish Ariza could keep the opponents under 70 points in a half (unlike Battier)

By: Easy

Easy — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:24:19 +0000

This is why the all-star game categorizing players as “centers” “forwards” and “guards” are so senselessly archaic. PFs are way more like Cs than SFs. And SGs are way more like SFs than PGs.

I would much rather them do PGs, Wings, and Bigs. Or, even simpler, Perimeter players and Interior players. In a lot of systems, PGs and SGs aren't that much different anyway.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 01:44:36 +0000

Rahat, as usual, you're right-on. In each of these last two posts, I agree so utterly that I don't have anything to add!

By: jcogz43

jcogz43 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:18:35 +0000

who are you talking about right now?

By: clos4life

clos4life — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:05:10 +0000

But he still can't defend his man “on the ball” worth one lick (unlike Battier).

I've majorly like what I've seen from him since the trade though. Seeing him shows he is a good role player which is all he should ever bee.

By: jcogz43

jcogz43 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:18:44 +0000

how is aaron brooks worse than rafer alston??? am i the only one on this website who has faith in the fact the daryl morey is the smartest and most stat- savy gm in the league?? look at the last trade

4 games played - JOEY DORSEY - although potential and well liked no real value
clutch 4th quarter -CARL LANDRY-yes it was sad to see him go, but give some get ALOT
40 min played all year, washed up-TRACY MCGRADY-NO VALUE!!!!

in return
KEVIN MARTIN- maked our backcourt just about best in league
JARED JEFFRIES-solid backup defender
Hilton Armstrong-extraaaa
JORDAN HILL - difference maker
(question, why would dantoni draft hill if he said pf/c was too full for him to get a chance. WTF?!?!)

we essentially traded 1 player for 2, maybe 3 difference makers
this combo, combined with yao ming and some more XP, the rockets can be a very solid team next year

btw, can u guys please stop knocking aaron brooks, he is the only reason why we are relevant this year, and i bet my brooks jersey he will get most improved player of the year

By: The Mid-Afternoon Milk Mustache, featuring the NBA’s female fans | Stacheketball, an NBA Blog

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:49:58 +0000

[...] The Horseshoe: Rahat Huq dispels the myth that Trevor Ariza’s recollection of how to play basketball has anything to do with the mere switching of positions from shooting guard to small forward. [Red 94] [...]

By: mainsworth

mainsworth — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:35:28 +0000

Yup, basically have two shooting guards with AB and Martin. AB is like 80% shooting guard, 20% point guard.

By: rahat_huq

rahat_huq — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:14:32 +0000

thanks a lot ric, glad you're enjoying it.

By: Aussie_Ric

Aussie_Ric — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:42:47 +0000

Awesome point Rahat. I've always been peeved by the notion that different positions have different roles based on arbitrary names. A load of poppycock.

Anyway, my first post, thought I'd take the chance to let you know that you're doing an awesome job with this blog. I've been a Rockets fan since the early 90's, but there's a massive lack of info here in Australia. I've only just managed to get interested in the league again, and this blog is my main source of post game info. Cheers for the effort, keep it up

By: Rockets Fan Zone

Rockets Fan Zone — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:11:32 +0000

Trevor Ariza: Debunking Myth #2 | Red94 | essays and musings on …: Red94 | essays and musings on the nba & houst… http://bit.ly/9Nzuzc

By: rahat_huq

rahat_huq — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:11:23 +0000

Agreed on Rafer – he ran this team very smoothly and never made mistakes as a point guard. I disagree on Brooks. He has a completely different role in this offense as did Rafer in that he's not really a point guard. This offense doesn't really have a point guard. His role is just as the primary scorer.

By: Rockets Fan Zone

Rockets Fan Zone — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:11:00 +0000

Trevor Ariza: Debunking Myth #2 | Red94 | essays and musings on …: Red94 | essays and musings on the nba & houst… http://bit.ly/9Nzuzc

By: Trevor Ariza: Debunking Myth #2 | Red94 | essays and musings on … | Houston Rockets NBA Announcer

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:26:46 +0000

[...] Read the original: Trevor Ariza: Debunking Myth #2 | Red94 | essays and musings on … [...]

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:20:50 +0000

Aaron Brooks needs to understand that he is the team's point guard. Say what you want about Rafer, but he ran the offense. There were times when the Rockets were playing extremely well and you didn't even notice he was on the court. AB is a ball hog. I'm really getting sick of him sprinting to the arc and jacking up shots with 5 ticks off the shotclock and getting owned inside without one pass. He runs iso way too much. When we beat Denver he easily could have passed it back to Martin.