Ariza has been exposed. He's a good kid but the league is hip to his very limited arsenal of tricks.

If you make him put the ball on the floor he's a TO waiting to happen.
If you make him adjust his move he's a TO waiting to happen.
If you block a once clear path he may have had to the basket he's a TO waiting to happen.

He's still good at crashing the boards and getting to loose balls, but the offense has suffered some with him in it, especially in the half court.

or Marion

I think he should stay up here. He should be able to get 15-18 minutes off the bench against the other team's 2nd unit and be effective on the boards and making hustle plays.

Maybe he can evolve into a JAmes Posey type, which would be GREAT IMO

james posey...bruce bowen...defensive guys that have this 3 point shot that you have to respect. it's obvious that he has a long way to go in terms of developing a handle or polished mid-range jumper (which is harder to learn than a 3 pointer) so let's start simple and have him get a nice 3 point shot down (where he's wide open and would work with curry) and then we can take it from there. b/c when he starts nailing them, he still has the quickness to take a dribble and go past you to the hoop.

Posted by fishmike:

Ariza has been exposed. He's a good kid but the league is hip to his very limited arsenal of tricks.

If you make him put the ball on the floor he's a TO waiting to happen.
If you make him adjust his move he's a TO waiting to happen.
If you block a once clear path he may have had to the basket he's a TO waiting to happen.

He's still good at crashing the boards and getting to loose balls, but the offense has suffered some with him in it, especially in the half court.

fish, you know I am a huge ariza fan, but you are right on the money here. I am somewhat dissapointed by his slow offensive development, but I hope that changes, right now I am not so sure. I look at travis outlaw from the Blazers and that kid's offensive game grew over the past year, he can hit the jumper and he is everybit the athlete ariza is if not more.. Briggs I must commend was right about outlaw last year.... Hear that briggy...

its a bad sign when a young player comes back and has improved on absolutely nothing.

Lets be honest Ariza sucks!

He was a breathe of fresh air last year because he did something no other knick did he played hard and tried defensively....he is a good defensive player but not great, and attacks the glass as well as anyone during a missed shot

Apart from that he ****ing didn't improve one thing about his game this off season which means he has no desire to get better, especially coming from a second round pick that is trying to earn a bigger contract, he can't shoot is the worst ball handler i have ever seen, and doesn't know how to control his body or dunk a basketball. He is plain awkard, and could develop into a 12-13 ppg 7rb player if he works on his game which he has not....

Ariza needs to stop taking jumpers, and just do what he does best attack the glass play hard and get garbage points other than that he doesn't need any expectation on his back

Dang. The kid is in his 2nd year. Give him a break.

Posted by EnySpree:

Gerald can put it on the floor and finish with something other than a dunk. Ariza will be just as much of a headache if he could do that.

Just look at Ariza's arms......sheesh man it's a shame someone with that much reach can't score. He should be finger rolling all day.

I agree, if ariza could just finish around the hoop he would be much better, and at least work on dribbling enough to get him in position to make shots.. I have faith in him tho. he will get there one day..