Why is Ariza allowed to chuck so much?

[Dr Positivity]

His 3 point shooting isn't the reason he's so inefficient. He averages 32% from 3 a game on 6 attempts (or 2/6) and is actually shooting better from long range than last year, on more shots. The problem is that he's shooting 9 2 pters a game and shooting 40.8% on them (3.8/9.3), that's awful. Furthermore he's shooting 65% from the FT line which is ridiculous.

In comparison Ariza took 7.3 2s a game last year and shot 52% (3.8/7.3) on them. That is a HUGE drop.

[kdot99]

They should just give T-Mac some actual minutes already...playing him 7 minutes for 5 games straight...yeah thats going to get him into game shape.

[wreck]

It seems like every other game i see he's going 5-21 or 6-19 or 7-21 or something. Most of which are contested jumpers. It would be a different case if he was driving to the basket and drawing fouls but he isnt. He has a low TS% AND FG% compared to players he's supposedly better than. Thats too damn inefficient to warrant the shots he takes when guys like Bynum and Gasol are averaging significantly less Field goal attempts per game? Why isnt Jackson reeling him in?

Were you talking about Ariza or Bryant?

[wreck]

What happened to Kobe making his teammates worse argument that was so popular here 2 seasons ago?

Bryant definitely makes his teammates better. Just check the statistics of Odom, Gasol, Fisher, Artest, Farmar, Vujacic, Mbenga, Morrison, just about the entire team other than Bynum. All playing the best ball of their careers.

[el loco]

I have only seen a few Rockets games this year, but how much of his chucking has to do with this is what the opposing team is giving the Rockets on offense? Do other teams play off of him and dare him to take shots? If they don't, they should start His numbers are bad when it comes to shooting, but all of his other numbers are pretty decent.

[Basileus777]

At this point, it's a coaching problem. Ariza still has some potential, but it's as a role player. He still has plenty of room to improve his defense and shooting from what he did last year (his fluky playoff shooting aside). But Houston is running the risk of ruining him by trying to make him into something he will never remotely be good at. He is a solid roleplayer with the potential to become better at what he can already do, stop trying to make him into a scorer or a playmaker.

Brooks, Landry, and Scola are all superior offensive players to Ariza, there's no way to tell me you can't ge them more shots at Ariza's expense.

[LarsV8]

The reason is there are only 2 people who can create plays for the Rockets right now: Brooks and Lowry. While I have zero problem giving them the reigns to do as they please, part of the condition of Ariza signing here is so he could be "featured on offense". We really don't have much hope of contention this year and they are giving Ariza his "feature" and hoping he becomes a better scorer by the time Yao returns. Yao, obviously creates alot of opportunities for other players on the court. We saw this extensively last year with Von Wafer. Wafer isnt a very good player, he cant dribble, he cant create, but he is one heck of an athlete and can shoot. Wafer was used as a gimmick when Yao was fronted. With a simple screen and roll a setup man can fake an entry to Yao which causes his defender out of the paint to front. Wafer can screen off the entry passer, catch the ball at full speed and sail straight towards the basket to either stop and pop or fly in for a dunk. Rockets are simply grooming Ariza to fill this roll and are giving him his due this year.

[rz04]

Theres a reason Houston signed him for the MLE, and that was to be a role player once we get Yao healthy. His has to take a bunch of bad shots simply because right now we lack a playmaker (he's clearly not it) who can get our players involved.

Also looking at Houston's record I don't think his shooting has devastated the team that much.

[rz04]

The reason is there are only 2 people who can create plays for the Rockets right now: Brooks and Lowry. While I have zero problem giving them the reigns to do as they please, part of the condition of Ariza signing here is so he could be "featured on offense". We really don't have much hope of contention this year and they are giving Ariza his "feature" and hoping he becomes a better scorer by the time Yao returns. Yao, obviously creates alot of opportunities for other players on the court. We saw this extensively last year with Von Wafer. Wafer isnt a very good player, he cant dribble, he cant create, but he is one heck of an athlete and can shoot. Wafer was used as a gimmick when Yao was fronted. With a simple screen and roll a setup man can fake an entry to Yao which causes his defender out of the paint to front. Wafer can screen off the entry passer, catch the ball at full speed and sail straight towards the basket to either stop and pop or fly in for a dunk. Rockets are simply grooming Ariza to fill this roll and are giving him his due this year.

QFT nicely put sir!

[BubbaTee]

honestly, maggette could do a better job...

Larry Hughes could do a better job.