Ariza All Alone in Houston

Sports Betting News - July 9th, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers stud defender Trevor Ariza just signed a new contract with the Houston Rockets. Leaving the team he just won an NBA title with.  Trevor Ariza is likely not to have a star studded year in Houston like he did with the Lakers. Next years Houston Rockets will be with out super star and top 3 center in the league Yao Ming for the entire season as well as all-start Shooting guard Tracy McGrady for the first half of next season. Yao Ming has never been a physical defensive player but has rebounded and scored at will, McGrady is an NBA two time scoring leader and often added the much needed fire power for the Rockets struggling half court offense. Not to mention 2004 Defensive player of the year Ron Artest recently left the Rockets and Signed with another team (the Lakers).

Trevor Ariza will now have to become the leader on defense and offense for Rockets to start next years season, a role I'm not sure he is ready to take on.  Last year Ariza was the fourth scoring option on the team behind Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom. Ariza will now have to become the number one option while Tracy McGrady still recovers from injury and returns for the second half of the season. Ariza will likely move from a starting lineup that contained names like Bryant, Gasol, Bynum, and Fisher to Houston's projected line up of Aaron Brooks, Von Wafer, Luis Scola and an undetermined starting schedule. 

Ariza will likely induce some early season frustration as well as media scrutiny if the Rockets don't start well next season. Though Ariza only received the mid-level exception of about 5.7 million the pressure is on him to come in and lead the team since he has a title ring now.  Ariza's numbers might increase with an offense directed through him in the mean time but, those wide open looks from three Ariza made all year during the playoffs last year will soon disappear.  Ariza and Fisher were often wide open in the playoffs because of teams focusing on doubling Gasol and Bryant freeing Ariza open on the perimeter.  Ariza will be the player getting double teamed with Yao and McGrady still hurt next year. Good luck Trevor Ariza.