Trevor Ariza in the long run will develop into a more effective contributor to our team. Ron Artest was in his waining years and is even less effective with his new team.(he wasn't a team player, always trying to take over the action) It is difficult to draw conclusions about Ariza, he has been called on to play out of character this season,as the team is without its two stars. Next season with Yao back, Ariza will play under control with higher percentages.
I understand Ron's departure from the Rockets and from the Ron Artest point of view. Pretty much the dominoes fell when Yao was finished for the season. getting younger is the better way to go with Ariza. but last year was fun for clutchfans, people can't deny that.
Hell yeah i miss Ron, i knew going into every game is some team tried to start stuff and play dirty (Dallas) we would have ron artest on our side and nobody want a piece of ron artest. I think ron helped us more than he hurt us. I know alot of people on this board disagree what whatev. Just my two cents.
Ariza makes sense in the grand scheme of things considering age and proximity to Artest's overall impact, but I still miss Ron Artest. Artest is a better player than Trevor Ariza, and I miss having an elite physical defender.
I admit that last year was fun because of him, but that is no reason to miss Ron. As you keep asserting Tinman, the end game is a championship. The lakers may believe that they can get another championship with Artest this year, but for the Rockets, developing players this year is much more important to any future championship run. And that would not happen if Ron was still here. I'm happy with the direction of our team, and from your other posts it seems that you are too.
LOL at everyone hating on Ron. Fact is that we would LOVE for him to be on our team this year. The guy brought intensity every game and knew how to WIN. Something tmac couldn't do in 5 yrs. I know his comments were harsh, but it was the rockets that didn't want him to resign, he liked houston and deep down I'm sure everybody misses him.
I liked Ron. He really helped us in the playoffs last year. Watch some of the big shots he made. Sure he was a ballstopper at times. But, he was fun, Yao and him seemed to get along. And Trevor isn't anything great to have. Some users seem to have a ex girlfriend complex going on with the Ron situation. He left us for a more attractive team, understandable.
That and the fact that management offered him a contract that they knew he would turn down. I honestly don't understand how people can hold a grudge with him for leaving when it was clear as day management did not think he was in our future plans.
You know what? He absolutely was a good guy. I always felt that he brought presence to this team, though not always in a good way, you always felt like you had a chance with a guy like Ron. Ariza strikes me as a player who is certainly an effort guy that I really appreciate, but he's not quite as dynamic as Ron. The way that he and Battier communicated on defense was amazing to watch; especially when they held Lebron to a 0-assist game. I feel that Ron is where he belongs now, and I don't feel that Ariza is a long-term starter type player at all for this team, though maybe it worked on a team as talented as the Lakers. I like Ariza, but I'm quite sure that LA knows that they got the better player. I also hate how some here are always quick to vilify a player just because he's not on this team anymore. I wonder what will be said about Shane the day he's gone.
Ariza: 24 yrs old, 5 yrs at $34M Artest: 30 yrs old, 3 yrs at $18M, but player option to 5 yrs at $34M(basically same contract) The production & impact each brings to the team is comparable. Ariza is younger, but if you're going to suck, at least have the entertainment value of Ron. Wash.
