Former Laker adjusting to role as a go-to player http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6663212.html For a guy who says little and says it softly, Trevor Ariza's body language was screaming. He had been misfiring for a week, with the most recent misses or turnovers quickly accompanied by a shrug and shake of the head. He had come to the Rockets to expand his game, with plans to take it from sidekick to star. But now, even the shots that he sank so reliably in the Lakers' championship run were betraying him. Through 2½ preseason games, he had made five of 25 attempts, missing his first five Friday in Orlando. Then late in his first-half stint of playing time, he grabbed a rebound and went the length of the floor, scoring in traffic. He began the second half with a 3-pointer and 53 seconds later, drained another. He did not immediately turn everything around. He missed a few of the shots he would consider routine. But he seemed to relax and recoup confidence, a key step in the transition that will be a key to the Rockets' season. Gaining confidence “Just seeing a couple shots go in, I definitely got my confidence back up,” said Ariza, 24, who is averaging eight points on 29 percent shooting in the preseason's first three games. “A couple shots started falling for me. “As far as the city and everybody, it's been easy for me. But on the floor, it's been a little rough. As far as everything else, (Friday) it loosened up for me and I got a little more confidence.” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has said Ariza does not have to become a star scorer for the acquisition to work for the Rockets, insisting Ariza's all-around production with the Lakers would be enough for the Rockets. But he and coach Rick Adelman believe Ariza is capable of more, faith that convinced Ariza to sign a five-year, $34 million contract with the Rockets. “He's got to just play,” Adelman said. “He's got to keep playing and trying things, can't be hesitant. As he gets hesitant, he gets around his guy and gets off-balance, rather than just be aggressive. He has to be aggressive and we'll take it from there. I thought he passed up a couple early. He's got to keep taking them. “With new responsibilities, this is just part of it. You've got to keep doing it or you're not going to learn how to be aggressive, how to be a guy that attacks the other team. It's not unusual to be the way it is right now.” Adelman said he would look to put Ariza. a 6-8 swingman, in positions to do what he does best, but for now, heading into tonight's game against Milwaukee at Toyota Center, he wants to give him room to explore the scoring chances available to him. Ariza said he was “never a volume shooter,” even in high school. But the transition could be as much about dealing with new responsibilities and expectations. McGrady can identify “For him, he's coming off a championship season,” said Tracy McGrady, who went through a similar process when he went from Toronto to Orlando. “He played with the greatest player in our league (Kobe Bryant). He played with an All-Star team, Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom. A lot of pressure was off him. He had to really just come in and do his part, didn't really have to do that much. “Going from that team to a team that is really relying on you, because you are replacing a guy that did a lot for our team last year, Ron Artest, a lot is going to be asked of him. Now that Yao (Ming) is out and I'm not 100 percent, a lot more pressure is going to be on him. “It's a situation where you have to embrace it. He's up for the challenge. Just have fun with it.” McGrady had averaged 15.8 points per game when he made his move to a greater role, and that change did not come with the same expectations because it was forced on him by Grant Hill's injury. Rockets injuries could bring similar scoring opportunities for Ariza. Though the Rockets do not expect the same sort of scoring jump McGrady had in Orlando, Ariza has seen scoring chances he had not had, and has been experimenting with offensive options he has not had, especially off the dribble. “I'm not going to use that as an excuse,” he said. “It's not an excuse. It's just something that I have to do. They brought me here because they believe I can do something and I got to do it. I believe I can do it. It's just a little tough getting used to it. “I'm just trying to find places I'm comfortable. I'm rushing a little bit, trying to do too much. Couple more games and practices and I'll be all right.” dingaaa
I really wish this comparison would just die. It's just lazy. "Oh hey, here's two guys who switched teams at a young age! These are similar cases!" McGrady did not go through a "similar process" in his move to Orlando. This was a guy who came into the league at an already extremely high skill level and never got a chance to display his talents with Toronto. His emergence was part of a natural maturation process. Trevor on the other hand is a guy who has already been around for some time and has never possessed much refined talent. Reading the forum this past week, its funny to me how so many here seem disappointed by Ariza dubbing him a bust and overpaid. This really stems from faulty assumptions and unwarranted expectations. As I said throughout the summer, the ability to create off the dribble does not manifest itself after a certain age. It doesn't matter how many fluff pieces the chronicle put out about him doing ball-handling drills all summer long. He is what he is. This was a damn good signing and I for one think the cost is more than reasonable if Trevor merely duplicates his defensive prowess from the prior season. He has looked awful offensively, but that was to be expected - this is a guy who needs others to create. He will look much better next to McGrady and especially Yao. Don't let your unreasonable expectations dictate your level of satisfaction.
Nevertheless I for one hope he can develop a serviceable offensive game. Not T-mac like but Battier version 2.0 because I think Battier could score it if his mind told him to.
Battier doesn't have the confidence to score,but I do expect him to try harder this year.Ariza can develop a serviceable offensive game,he will have to take risks,which can eventually pay off. It may be possible that DM and RA are expecting a bit too much from him though.
Adelman has insane amount of confidence in Ariza. Many of us who realize his skill and know that the signing was worth it for his defense alone don't even have confidence in him. I wonder why does Adelman have so much confidence in him? What exactly does he think Ariza is capable of? It's not as if Adelman is an idiot and has not watched Ariza play all these years; I wonder what is it that he sees that we don't, what makes him believe in Ariza so much that us fans don't? I wish I could pick their brain apart because their faith in Ariza's offensive game has me baffled .
Coaches and GMs normally have more insight than the average fan. And simply the normal guy would not expect too much off this young team. Enjoy the way the team is going to gel is what makes me excited. If you are trying to read too much into preseason, that is you.
I think most people here don't know which way the Rockets are heading. IMO RA and Morey are just letting the young players play and develop with or without McGrady. There is no obvious goal such as making the playoffs. Enjoy watching!
I don't think they're "expecting" anything. More like they're "hoping". It's a lost season, and Adelman and Morey obviously has pegged Ariza as the one player they think has a chance to blossom. If Yao and T-Mac were both healthy, this wouldn't even be an issue right now. Because Ariza would be used in the same role as he did in LA.
There's no real 'saving the season' type of actions to suggest this. To me he just wants to build up a young player to become more of leader.
Spot on IMO at least. The read and react offense is based upon chemistry. This does not mean Ariza is just scoring off the dribble but moving without the ball alot more, making use of his midrange game, posting up instead of just parking outside the 3 point line.
One theory concerning chemistry is that they want to have young, hungry players who want to play in a system. So they shipped out Alston, nonchalantly did not resign Artest. To keep at least McGrady to see what he's got left.
his salary is $5 mil per year. justify what? it's not hard to replace shane's offense, jeez. he just has to do what he did in LA (when tracy/yao returns) + slashing/finishing and that's it. he didn't sign a big contract that justifies this kind of hype from the team.
If McGrady doesn't play this season, Ariza is gonna have a big season all be it in a losing team. Definetly 16,5,3 on 45+fg% material.
