http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/24/fanhouse-qanda-with-trevor-ariza-on-hornets-success-lakers-depar/ Bolded anything Rockets related. Huge Quote: Spoiler
Tha'ts everybody's dream, it doesn't matter if you're Kobe, Ryan Bowen or "a player like Ariza." What's the use of an agenda at this point? Yo, let it go.
Yeah, his defense obviously has an affect. In one season the Hornets have gone from 22nd most points allowed in the NBA (102.7) to first (only giving up 91.2). Complete coincidence or all due to Emeka kind of steeping up this season seems unlikely. Either way the trade obviously worked out better for them than most people expected. There was a good article on Trevor in the New Orleans paper recently: Trevor Ariza’s Work against Kevin Durant Shows His Worth to New Orleans Hornets
Ariza also seems to be settling into the New Orleans offense...much like he did with the Rockets last season after the midway point. Through December: 10ppg, 36%fg, 22%3pt, 5.4rpg, 2apg, 1.8to, 1.6spg, 0.3bpg In January: 13ppg, 45%fg, 37%3pt, 6.4rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3to, 2.1spg, .5bpg He's also been playing 38 minutes per game on a 31-16 team that is in fourth in the Western Conference standings and 1st in NBA Team Defense. Meanwhile, Courtney Lee (who I like) has average 18 minutes on the season, which has decreased to 16 in January on a losing team whose defense has been even worse than last season. And the Rockets have yet to use the trade exception that was supposedly a big part of the deal.
This clown played like a moron with a bad attitude. The only thing he did consistently well for this team was rebound. Good riddance.
I got Chuck. Seriously, he handles the ball well enough and is quick enough to effectively get to the rim. He's also strong/wide/crafty enough to get his shot off once he is there without Ariza blocking it. On defense, he would force Trevor into all pull-up, fade-aways.
Did he just say that he was supposed to make the jump from a role player to a superstar but wasn't given enough time?
Chuck of course. If Blake Griffin has trouble scoring against him, how many baskets can Ariza make against Chuck 1-on-1?
Ariza is playing well and he is a big part of the Hornets success and the Rockets failure this season...no matter what people say.