Adelman promised Ariza the Rockets would feature him offensively

With a lack of "go to" guys on our team next season, it's not far fetched that we could see Ariza develop nicely. Without teammmates like Kobe, Gasol, Lamar, etc, he may feel more comfortable to develop his game.

 

10? Yes. 17? Yeah only because we have no other options.

He played just over 24mpg last year and averaged 8.9 mpg. That's less than .36ppm. Let's say he manages to get 35mpg, he still only projects out to about 13ppg. Given no other offensive options until at least January or February, he could get 17, but it won't be pretty.

Let's not fool ourselves into truly thinking Ariza was a great pickup. The guy has been a journeyman throughout his 5 years. He played on a talented Lakers team with a coach that knows how to utilize his players' strengths. Still, Ariza could never stick in the starting lineup. Here, this year, he will be forced into that role. It is going to be an ugly year for the Rockets.

 

I think we will be on a 22 losing streak until after Christmas.

 

Can't really see that....adelmans system will keep us in some games.......I think well be hanging around that 8 to 10 spot in the west as of this moment in the offseason.

 

How many role players suddenly turn into feature guys?

Can anyone name ONE slashing wing player that has developed into a creative star player?

Just one?

Ariza can not dribble, if you can't dribble by 24, you are not suddenly going to be able to by 27....

I seriously can not recall a single player that has developed from a slasher to a creator...in more than 37 years of following the Rockets and the NBA...not one.

DD

 

Just because he never created offense for the Lakers doesn't mean he can't. They have Kobe to do that. Ariza obviously wants to be the facilitator in that fashion, and the reason he signed with Houston is so he could be given a chance to. Perhaps it's just a facet of his game we've never been able to see. Perhaps it's a facet that Morey/Adelman have seen in his UCLA days or on occasion with L.A., something they want to develop.

Y'all sure are short-sighted. He's a young player that wants nothing more than to develop his game. Don't sell the car before you know how fast it can go.

 

Uglydala.

 

Hey DD, you know that dead horse I talk about you beating in chat... now you're beating it on the forums.

 

Iguadala? Could he not dribble? He is a slasher, but is he now a creator on offense or does Andre Miller set the table and he is just a better slasher.

Hayes, I honestly want someone to name one, so I can have hope that Ariza will develop that skillset.

DD

 

When you say creator do you mean create his own shot or create for others....I'm confused now.

 

I get the comparison but Iguodala was much more advanced on offense than Ariza at an earlier age. Iggy was not much of a scorer but he was and still is an excellent ball handler and passer for a SG. There were talks that he could play PG in the NBA if need be. I am hoping with an expanded role Ariza can advance his game into that next level but I have my doubts.

I just hope we don't get into a situation where he is relied upon to create his own shots because he won't be able to. This is why Brooks and Lowry are going to be key in penetrating and breaking down defenses to get our wings and bigs easy buckets and wide open looks. I also hope he learns to take it strong to the hole any chance he gets and maybe develop a mid-range jumper instead of settling for a three-ball. I don't want to turn him into a spot up shooter which I guess we won't have to worry about since Yao isn't playing.

 

A guy who can create his own shot off the dribble, someone to go to late in the shot clock who can dribble penetrate....and pass or shoot.

DD

 

Yea the Igadaloua(sp) can definetly do that as witneby the playoff series against the magic this year.

 

In RA system and anybody could be featured on offense, hell luther head could be featured cause he knew the offense well with cuts and movement.

 

I wouldn't go that far......lol

 

Turkoglu's developed quite nicely. He's not a Kobe/LeBron/Wade type, but he's certainly a competent facilitator that I had never heard of until he got the "Most Improved Player" award a few years ago in Orlando.

Not sure if he fits your rather specific criteria since I had never bothered watching him prior to that "Most Improved Player" award (at which point he displayed his facilitator skill).

 

I don't understand you anymore. Are you trying to bring Von Wafer into the picture? Iggy is a slasher and can create and can shoot witht he shot click ticking down. He did that against the Celtics and the Lakers oh and against us.

 

Yup, and even in his rookie season when he had to play off Iverson, Iguodala showed that he had potential to be an offensive force on his own. Ariza has not and nor does Morey/Adelman expect him to, IMO.

 

I wasn't talking about Ron Artest. Luckily for us, hes gone.

 

Not that I think Ariza is going to develop into a go to player ... but for the sake of thinking of a name I came up with -

Shawn Marion- started as a leaper and a spot up shooter with a terrible looking shot- not much of a ball handler, became more of a slasher/post scorer- 3 pt shooter and avg. 20 ppg- of course he has flamed out in old age

Actually Clyde Drexler wasn't that great at breaking down someone off the dribble but Clyde's skillset is way over Ariza

Hard to come up with a wing player who didn't have good handles and developed into someone who could get their own shot consistently.