Comments on: Ariza, Artest and the Death of Loyalty http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/ Probably Australia's Best NBA Blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:27:41 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Ham http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4735 Ham Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:03:47 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4735 bibby 3/18 and zaza 4/19 good contracts, both could have definitely got more money elsewhere. all they need now is a pg and a 7 footer :) bibby 3/18 and zaza 4/19 good contracts, both could have definitely got more money elsewhere.

all they need now is a pg and a 7 footer :)

]]> By: francis http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4722 francis Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:39:42 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4722 Blame that dickhead David Lee, the same agent that got the Lakers to shell out that huge contract for Bynum. Blame that dickhead David Lee, the same agent that got the Lakers to shell out that huge contract for Bynum.

]]> By: Oz http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4717 Oz Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:10:57 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4717 The Delusions of Ariza's agent was a much bigger factor than Trevor's loyalty in my opinion. You don't publicly announce they've got a big contract offer and then take the same cookies from Houston when the Lakers management call the bluff. In the words of Alonzo Harris; "It ain't chess, it's checkers". If Ariza could, he'd click his ruby red slippers three times and say "There's No Place Like Home". I bet he's already tried it. I'm a Laker fan, so I'd be the first to admit it if I thought Trevor was being unloyal. He's been brain washed, there's big difference. Either way, welcome to Ron Artest and great write-up. The Delusions of Ariza’s agent was a much bigger factor than Trevor’s loyalty in my opinion. You don’t publicly announce they’ve got a big contract offer and then take the same cookies from Houston when the Lakers management call the bluff. In the words of Alonzo Harris; “It ain’t chess, it’s checkers”. If Ariza could, he’d click his ruby red slippers three times and say “There’s No Place Like Home”. I bet he’s already tried it. I’m a Laker fan, so I’d be the first to admit it if I thought Trevor was being unloyal. He’s been brain washed, there’s big difference. Either way, welcome to Ron Artest and great write-up.

]]> By: Misha http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4694 Misha Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:56:50 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4694 When Yao is off the floor, the Rockets offense is not about 1st, 2nd and 3rd options. Its about moving the ball and cutting to the basket, which means balanced scoring and player efficiency are what matters most. Take a look at the success of the Rockets second unit in the regular season to see what I mean. Not that it matters this year. Unless the Rockets add a viable center, they are dead in the water no matter how balanced their scoring is. When Yao is off the floor, the Rockets offense is not about 1st, 2nd and 3rd options. Its about moving the ball and cutting to the basket, which means balanced scoring and player efficiency are what matters most. Take a look at the success of the Rockets second unit in the regular season to see what I mean.

Not that it matters this year. Unless the Rockets add a viable center, they are dead in the water no matter how balanced their scoring is.

]]> By: robd http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4693 robd Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:15:15 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4693 I have a sneaking suspicion you will learn just how limited Trevor Ariza is on the offensive end. He is made to look good in that Lakers offense, especially with a wing player like Kobe to defer to and get him open looks. Who will do that in Houston? This is why I'm so surprised, because Ariza had the perfect situation in LA. Put it this way. I can't see Ariza developing into a 15-20ppg scorer anytime soon. He is simply not a voluminous shot taker. He cannot be your 1st, 2nd or 3rd option on offense. I'd love him to prove me wrong though. I have a sneaking suspicion you will learn just how limited Trevor Ariza is on the offensive end. He is made to look good in that Lakers offense, especially with a wing player like Kobe to defer to and get him open looks. Who will do that in Houston?

This is why I’m so surprised, because Ariza had the perfect situation in LA.

Put it this way. I can’t see Ariza developing into a 15-20ppg scorer anytime soon. He is simply not a voluminous shot taker. He cannot be your 1st, 2nd or 3rd option on offense. I’d love him to prove me wrong though.

]]> By: Misha http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4690 Misha Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:29:57 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4690 You must have missed the Rockets games where Artest single handedly crashed the offense, dribbling away the clock and jacking up shots. The truth is that this is a great move for both teams. Artest, no matter what he thinks, cannot create his own shot; look at his epic dry spells in the Rockets season when he thought he was "the man" on the court. Artest was simply a bad fit in a Daryl Morey constructed team built around player efficiency. In LA he will be shooting off the ball, which is what he does best. Ariza is faster, much more mobile and willing to play close to the basket, which is what the Rockets need this year. He is a much better shot than Artest and he will get more touches because he is willing to move the ball. Being a Rockets fan, I couldn't be happier. We have a player with upside who was a real factor in a championship and all we had to give up was a bunch of attitude and a defensive specialist with a penchant for jacking up bad shots. You must have missed the Rockets games where Artest single handedly crashed the offense, dribbling away the clock and jacking up shots.

The truth is that this is a great move for both teams. Artest, no matter what he thinks, cannot create his own shot; look at his epic dry spells in the Rockets season when he thought he was “the man” on the court. Artest was simply a bad fit in a Daryl Morey constructed team built around player efficiency. In LA he will be shooting off the ball, which is what he does best.

Ariza is faster, much more mobile and willing to play close to the basket, which is what the Rockets need this year. He is a much better shot than Artest and he will get more touches because he is willing to move the ball.

Being a Rockets fan, I couldn’t be happier. We have a player with upside who was a real factor in a championship and all we had to give up was a bunch of attitude and a defensive specialist with a penchant for jacking up bad shots.

]]> By: matt http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4687 matt Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:12:35 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4687 agreed Ham. Gortat has been completely overhyped. and for what? like, 4 good games? I'm starting to wonder how much of the Lakers "disrespect" towards Ariza might have been due to the inkling they had that Artest might be coming their way? agreed Ham. Gortat has been completely overhyped. and for what? like, 4 good games?

I’m starting to wonder how much of the Lakers “disrespect” towards Ariza might have been due to the inkling they had that Artest might be coming their way?

]]> By: Ham http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4681 Ham Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:02:39 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4681 amazing what a few good playoff moments can do. every year a bench guy ends up with an epic MLE contract. to me pre-playoffs gortat was a complete nobody, now he is the greatest 3 & 3 big man of all time. amazing what a few good playoff moments can do. every year a bench guy ends up with an epic MLE contract. to me pre-playoffs gortat was a complete nobody, now he is the greatest 3 & 3 big man of all time.

]]> By: len http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4679 len Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:35:35 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4679 nice piece. i'll be interested to see how willing Artest is to give up the ball and obey the triangle. defensively he'll be fine, obviously. but i can see him being effective with only 8-10 shots per game, and i dunno if Artest would be comfortable with that? nice piece. i’ll be interested to see how willing Artest is to give up the ball and obey the triangle. defensively he’ll be fine, obviously. but i can see him being effective with only 8-10 shots per game, and i dunno if Artest would be comfortable with that?

]]> By: Jobba http://www.nbamate.com/2009/07/05/ariza-artest-and-the-death-of-loyalty/comment-page-1/#comment-4678 Jobba Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:00:41 +0000 http://www.nbamate.com/?p=2240#comment-4678 Very well written article Rob. But everytime you speak of the lakers, you must mention their best player a little more - Adam Morrison. Very well written article Rob. But everytime you speak of the lakers, you must mention their best player a little more – Adam Morrison.

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