Ariza coming off the bench was basically for him to ease back into game shape, he looked good conditioning-wise but he was still out a good while but it was only 1 game dont draw conclusions and get ur panties in a bunch just yet, he may start over Shane but that will remain to be seen come the next few weeks
If Ariza play as good a defense as Battier...then i will definitely start him because he has something that Battier doesn't ...which is DRIVING and ATTACKING THE BASKET. But i don't know if our perimenter is going to be thin with Brooks and Martin though. Battier does thing to win game like taking charges. Ariza doesn't do much of that i don't think. And everyone know Battier is an established FIERCE defender in the entire league...so whoever he's guarding will have some respect on that alone...that's very important. At this point...i really don't know who they should start...i like Ariza ability to attack which complement Yao perfectly like Brooks and Martin. Battier is too slow to drive and often have to force up a shot. Of course we already have Martin and Brooks to attack...maybe that's enough?? Again...i don't know until we see Yao in the lineup with them.
I dont know...looks like Ariza may be declining and injury prone! I'm surprised a statistic stud like yourself isn't going to take into consideration the difference martin will have on their stats. Not to mention there a "much better" difference between their stats, other than ariza scoring more on more shot attempts.
He is a good player, and despite the lingering hate that has percolated here all season... he had never played more minutes than what he was seeing before the hip pointer and all the games of shooting poorly and too readily. I still hold out hope that he fully matures here. I often wonder, is that a pipe dream on my part? I'm afraid I don't have enough info to make the call, and that I'm biased from my hope....
Ariza should start since Battier and Hayes equals zero offense. Battier can come in with the bench of Hill, Lowry, and Budinger..
His awful dribbling is what limits him so much on the offensive end, and if he hasn't learned how to handle the ball by now, I doubt he ever will. It's unfortunate, because he has the length, strength, and athleticism to be a huge threat attacking the basket, but his godawful dribbling and his poor free throw shooting prevent him from being able to create for himself. His jumper is also poor, meaning that like Battier, he needs to be wide open with his feet set to shoot efficiently. All together, he's a decent roleplayer and an okay fourth or fifth option, but I can't see him ever becoming more.
Ariza was not only a poor addition to this team but a poor value in comparison to the other players on the roster. I do have faith that he will be able to contribute but that is only because Morey is adding the offensive talent necessary to HIDE Trevor's horrendous offense. With Ariza, the best the Rockets can do if they don't get rid of him is make lemon juice out of a lemon.
we've been scoring well lately, so i wouldnt put driving and attacking the rim at a priority right now. I'd give the nod to battier whos our only consistent shot blocker and the best perimeter help defender we have. Lowry also should improve our offense or pick it up when it does sputter, so until we need offense over defense i'd keep battier starting.
Lowry has horrendous offense? Check his 36 min per for points. He gets FTs, makes layups and the occasional shot, and CREATES offense, which is part of being a good offensive player. 36 min stats: 12.8 points 6.7 assists 2.6 TOs .540 TS%
The difference between those guys and Ariza is that they know what they can and cannot do. I think Ariza is finally realizing that he isn't much of an offensive player but he still has a long way to go. I can deal with a player shooting often if he shoots well or a player who shoots poorly but doesn't shoot often. Ariza shoots often and at a low percentage. Nobody on your list takes shots away from the good offensive players on our team but Trevor Ariza does. I don't understand why some of you don't get that.
He RUNS, he does not CREATE offense, there is a difference. Do you realize a lot of his assists come off fast breaks? Not in set offenses
The reality is Rockets were an offensive challenged team. Good offensive player? one to none. To help the team, somebody has to step up and shoot it. Ariza was told to shoot. Shying away from taking the shots is as bad as, if not worse than, bricking the opportunity. Being a good offensive player, you have to shoot enough, shoot efficiently and put points on the board. Lowry is not one. 13 points in 36 minutes is very average.
If it leads to 2 points and an assist, whats the difference? Steve Nash and the Suns run, does that make all of Steve Nash's stats worthless?
Yes, he creates fast break scoring opportunities by pushing the ball up the floor hard and having good court sense in finding teammates in transition.
Why? because i watched the entire game Yes, that is true, but it also helps that he gets to runs with the best finishers on the team. Lowry would not be able to run like he does with Battier and Hayes, it just wouldn't happen.
