Adelman promised Ariza the Rockets would feature him offensively

He will start at Power Forward and Scola at Center. Mark my words. The Rockets have clearly guaranteed he would be a starter. The ESPN article confirmed it.

You have to do the math. Battier is an Adelman favorite, so I don't see him going anywhere. Scola is Adelman's #1 so he is not going out of the starting lineup.

I just don't see how Ariza has the offense to play SF or SG. Defense yes. Offense, no. It's amazing how Gortat and Ariza have a good playoff run and suddenly they are mid-level + guys. Look at the whole during the regular season.

 

I agree with you on that. Being featured could just mean more involvement, not primary option

 

Hey DD - I've talked with a few friends and they all say Ariza is legit, both as a person and a player. They said he's a really good guy and that he's a 'team guy, for sure!'

Personally, and I might be the only one, but I'm REALLY excited about having Ariza. I miss Ron but those nights where we broke down offensively and Ron's shots went nuts and out of control are still haunting me. But I will miss who he is. But I think with guys like Landry, Scola, Battier, can keep that alive.

Ariza seems to me like a perfect fit, TBQH. When people buy into Adelman's offense, it works - it always has but you do need that scorer to get points when it breaks down. Ariza may or not be that man but I believe hie worse case scenario is going to be a GREAT asset for the Rockets.

Now, if we can just Aaron Brooks to FAKE the drive to the hole and then pull up and hit the mid-range - that boy could drop 20 a night. Watch out for Aaron Brooks this year, I'm tellin ya. Watch out for Brooks and 20 a night.

(No matter what team he's on...J/K )

OMT---the grapevine says watch out for the D-League kids, as well. Summer LEague is going to be very important, I'm told. The Rockets brass will be watching this league closely. No details really other than this summer league is VERY important.

 

Danny Granger came in the league as a slasher with ball handling as his weakness...

 

You're not. I'm quite pumped, too. I think we got a great deal.

A la Tony Parker? That'd be really nice. Run off a screen, stop, pop. It's a bit harder for him since he's so short though, but it would be quite nice, yes.

 

It's interesting to make comparisons using scouting reports @ draftexpress.com:

Granger - Most of Granger's weaknesses stem from the fact that he was played in the post for most of his collegiate career. His main one is his ball-handling, which will need serious work for him to become a shot-creating threat in the NBA. His left hand is particularly weak, as most everything of what he does off the dribble tends to be with his right. This hurts his slashing ability, as his first step isn't lightning quick as it is.

Ariza - Won’t do a lot of damage off the dribble—ball-handling skills are average, but his first step is terrific. Gets most of his shots at the rim, where he is a very good finisher (among the best in the league actually).

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Danny-Granger-86/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Trevor-Ariza-1527/

 

So are we going to boost Brooks value by making him the man and then trading him away?

 

I can honestly see Ariza in a Doug Christie molding. I see him handling the ball, guarding guards like Christie did, hitting the open three and finishing at the rim. Bye bye Battier!!

 

Not exactly sure, maybe Caron Butler? I'm not familiar with his career before he was getting 30 mpg.

 

the whole point is that ARiza fits well into RA system cuz Ariza likes to move around.

Last year it was only Luis who was constantly omving now with Ariza, we'll be flowing like water. But this can be a lot better team if we have a pass-first PG. Rubio, Rubio, Rubio!!!!.

 

unless RA and morey know more than we do, and i'm gonna take a wild hunch and say they do.

i mean i could be wrong, but i doubt it.

 

I'm sure the Rox spent all that money on Taylor and Budinger for a reason. See how they play in the summer league. Will they play well enough to keep? Or well enough to include in a trade?

I'm sure we're looking at some bigs in the summer league as well. Masive understatement there on my part.

 

unless brooks is traded, this offense is going to feature brooks and scola. ariza is never going to be an all-star. he doesn't have the ballhandling or the playmaking capabilities to be featured in an offense. however, he's a PERFECT complimentary player.

 

I thought the point of Adelman's offense was to feature everyone- movement, picks, get the open shot, exploit the defense

I predict we will sign a center that can defend and rebound. (at least I hope we do)

I also believe we are going to sign another scorer but that could wait until they see more from the rookies.

This team lost alot of inside defense between Deke and Yao

The shots Yao took will be more distributed now that he is out for the year

 

Which articles are these?

 

Danny Granger.....good one.....

OK...fine......you guys are right and I am wrong.

We got Ariza....WOOHOO !!



DD

 

Jeff Teague?

I'm wary on this "this summer league is VERY important" part.

There's the hope that a trade ahead is dependant on the performance of a player/s in SL. However when reality kicks in it's suggesting it's because the Rockets are in an awful situation where they have absolutely nothing on the horizon beyond signing Ariza this FA.

 

with all the movement, you don't need a pass first pg. Brooks, Bibby, etc.

 

Which articles are you referring to when you said you saw them state he would be "the man"?

 

I don't think we can make that assumption. Role players generally are asked to do certain things on the floor. His 'role' in the triangle was to spot up on the three point line to help create spacing for their bigs and be a relief valve when Kobe gets stuck or trapped trying to create (much the same as Battier here). Why would Phil Jackson take the ball out of Kobe's hands to have Ariza create and have Kobe spot up? What coach is going to do that ever when you have the ultimate closer and finisher? I say just because he hasn't done it yet only means he hasn't been asked to do it yet? We will know soon enough but I wouldn't base my opinions on his body of work so far.