Yes, you are being too hard on him. He's 20. 20, 20, 20, 20, 20. It's been said so many times on these forums, but it can't be said enough. When he does his thing, he is like water moving around stone with the ball. He will keep growing. He just looks overwhelmed and underconfident with everything LB is putting in his head. These Knicks are still cramming for the NBA season as if it was their SAT's. It takes time for them to get the material and get the confidence they need.

Just listen to Isiah on MSG right now. This roster is not done. Penny and Davis will be gone by the end of this year one way or another. Rose and Mo T will be either this year or next. JJ... well, he's insurance in case everyone else on the team gets into a freak accident... or if some height deprived team wants a bigger stomach to clean up their buffet table. Even if he stays for the full length of his contract we at least know the LB won't get mugged on the way home. No matter how you look at it we are headed in a good direction. Enjoy the ride.

Ariza will be fine. He's a baby. This loss had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Antonio Davis sucking and Marbury not taking over in the third and fourth when we needed him.

yes he's 20 and still raw, i know people have been worried about paying him the full mle. but i havent been worried about that since i first heard it several months ago. ariza is worth keeping and could develop into a solid player yes, however, no way we offer him more than 3.5 mil a year for the next 4 years. which leaves us with some money to sign another player if need be.

Ariza is TRASH. I will say that now and would love to eat crow in the future. And from the looks of things, it would be a LONG TIME before I eat crow. Next year we will say wait he is only 21 21 21 21.

Garbage, you guys have this kid gassed up and he is maybe worth the league minimum. He didn't improve any this past off season what makes you think he is going to improve next off season.

Posted by King1:

feel for the game. Why is everyone so high in this kid? He has no skills in a half court game, cant shoot, cant pass and cant dribble. I havent seen this kid play alot, but I just dont see where you give this kid a lot of moeny or a MLE next year. He is a great athlete, and good in the open floor. AM I being to hard on the kid?

He has a great nose for the ball to rebound, block shots, and STEALs. Much of his game is not going to jump out on the stat sheet.

He did not have a good game last nite.

He was bringing the ball up and im thinking "ha, he can too so dribble!". Then he just loses the handle! This kid is a lot like jefferson, still very raw, but only 20!

He has the will, the hops, and the intangale insstincts to succeed. It won't be over nite.

Ariza isn't trash but he does have very limited basketball skills at this stage of his career. I'm sure he will improve but most nba players already have those basic skills before they get to the league. Like I've said from Day 1, he's a good energy bench player but his lack of basketball skills are going to keep him from becoming anything more than that.

Ariza is a very good passer, a willing defender and one of the better offensive rebounders on miss shot attempts. He is young and needs time, muscle and a jumpshot you need to give him at least three more years before you judge him. It takes kids time and by then he would have just been in the league for a year.....

However he has no idea how to attack the rim, and is one of the worst dunkers i have ever seen considering his athleticism, its alarming the lack of body control in his game

Posted by tkf:

The thing about this, and i laugh at those who call him trash, (just ridiculous) is that with a summer or two, he could develop a jumper and a handle

Thats the whole thing TKF. He already had a summer or two to improve on his game and the only thing different I noticed about Ariza are the new tattoos he sporting. Not a new jumper or handles.

Posted by islesfan:

I'm not saying he won't improve because I think he will but do you see much improvement in his jumper and handle from last season? Personally, I think he hasn't improved at all in those areas despite having a summer to work on it.

I agree...along with Craw and working on getting stronger, Marb and his left hand. Disappointing to say the least.