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Unrestricted Free Agents? Imagine Duhon Running The Fast Break (or pick and roll) With DIS Guy
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misterearl
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12/9/2008  9:33 AM
Ariza, 23, has been a burst of energy as a reserve, leading the team with 1.95 steals a game and averaging 9.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 24.2 minutes.

"He's something refreshing," longtime Lakers official Bill Bertka said. "He's a lot like Michael Cooper was athletically."

Ariza's penchant for creating turnovers is often punctuated with an authoritative dunk, leading to early-season recognition around the league.

"He plays the passing lanes extremely well," Philadelphia 76ers Coach Maurice Cheeks said. "Getting into the open court is another one of his assets. He's a good complement to what they have, particularly with their second team. He's one of the reasons why their second team is so good."

On offense, however, Ariza carried a reputation as an inconsistent contributor. A rangy 6 feet 8 and 210 pounds, Ariza had an innate ability to get open with his planting and cutting skills, but his lack of an outside shooting touch hurt him. Defenders learned to lag off him, taking away his ability to slash to the hoop and daring him to shoot from the perimeter.

Over the summer, he added an extra dimension to his game, piling up long hours in nearly empty gyms.

He concentrated on holding the follow-through of his shot a little longer and added confidence via twice-daily visits to the court -- 90 minutes in the morning and two hours at night. Ariza went with his cousin, his personal chef and Tony Bland, a former Westchester High standout who played college basketball at Syracuse and San Diego State. It was an unlikely quartet, but it allowed Ariza to shoot with more assurance.

He is shooting 50.4% from the field this season and has already made eight three-pointers after making only nine in his entire career before this season.

Judging by his play so far, Ariza might double his annual salary, with a five-year contract worth about $30 million seemingly on the horizon when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in July.

Whether he stays with the Lakers is unknown.

Then he smiled.

"Hopefully things work out so I can stay home."

- LATimes
once a knick always a knick
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fishmike
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12/9/2008  9:36 AM
just another Isiah blunder... just sweep it under the carpet and move on, you will feel better!
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
Bippity10
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12/9/2008  9:43 AM
He's gone. Time to move on.
I just hope that people will like me
Allanfan20
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12/9/2008  9:49 AM
If we didn't have Chandler, I'd say go after him if you were interested, but Chandler is better. Same defensive player, same energy player, MUCH MUCH better offensive player. To top it off, we have Patrick Ewing Jr waiting in the wings and he's the same player too, except he might be a better shotblocker than Ariza.
“Whenever I’m about to do something, I think ‘Would an idiot do that?’ and if they would, I do NOT do that thing.”- Dwight Schrute
kam77
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12/9/2008  9:54 AM
Isiah couldn't blunder what he didn't discover though. I blame Larry.
lol @ being BANNED by Martin since 11/07/10 (for asking if Mr. Earl had a point). Really, Martin? C'mon. This is the internet. I've seen much worse on this site. By Earl himself. Drop the hypocrisy.
Nalod
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12/9/2008  9:58 AM
Perhaps we can develop Ewing Jr. into that energy role player.

Reezy had a great knack for the ball.

This is why I keep harping on why Phil Jax is so great. He makes role players very relevant! He won with Rick Fox as his starting 3! Evolving Reezy took hard work on his part, but phil does his Jedi mind trick thing and elevates his team. He finally got into Kobes head also!
fishmike
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12/9/2008  10:03 AM
Larry wasnt the GM and Ariza probably quit on Larry along with the rest of the Isiah veterans because it was the cool thing to do.

Isiah was responsible for every roster move and coaching move. After 4 years we have Lee, Nate and Chandler to be happy about and missed chances on franchise caliber talent
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
Nalod
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12/9/2008  10:10 AM
Posted by fishmike:

Larry wasnt the GM and Ariza probably quit on Larry along with the rest of the Isiah veterans because it was the cool thing to do.

Isiah was responsible for every roster move and coaching move. After 4 years we have Lee, Nate and Chandler to be happy about and missed chances on franchise caliber talent

Reezy was also a nervous wreck under larry. No doubt his own maturity has been the greatest factor in his improving. Larry was bought in to win now, and I can see how he was used as a trading pawn when Isiah moved him.

While I am a Larry lover, he was the wrong guy for this team (duh!), but Reezy was a great pick for a rebuilding team and we could have used the Balky pick on another player or in a trade.

Earl, If reezy's shot is consistant, he would be better than Shawn Marion. Good call.

BlueSeats
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12/9/2008  10:19 AM
Brown wanted everyone gone.

Ariza, over, for example, Marbury, Eddy, Jamal, et al, is the one Isiah chose to part with.
EwingsGlass
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12/9/2008  10:27 AM
He might be athletically gifted, but he was had the mental capacity of a rock. He was the guy who asked how you figure out how much time is left on the shotclock...
You know I gonna spin wit it
K22
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12/9/2008  10:37 AM
Posted by EwingsGlass:

He might be athletically gifted, but he was had the mental capacity of a rock. He was the guy who asked how you figure out how much time is left on the shotclock...

To be fair, you could say that about a lot of guys in the league right now.

I watched a few Laker games (b/c League Pass rocks) last month and Phil Jackson started him over Odom.
-- the preceding post was brought to you by the letter K and the number 22.
Bippity10
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12/9/2008  10:38 AM
You guys are all living in the past man
I just hope that people will like me
misterearl
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12/9/2008  10:40 AM
EwingsGlass - were you there?

Before you start questioning "mental capacity", you might consider the wisdom of parroting third-hand reports
once a knick always a knick
misterearl
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12/9/2008  10:42 AM
Bippity - shut up and pass the cheetos

once a knick always a knick
Bippity10
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12/9/2008  10:46 AM
Posted by misterearl:

Bippity - shut up and pass the cheetos

I don't share my cheetos
I just hope that people will like me
islesfan
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12/9/2008  10:49 AM
Posted by Bippity10:
Posted by misterearl:

Bippity - shut up and pass the cheetos

I don't share my cheetos

Knowing what you do while eating your cheetos, only a crazy person would want some after having you digging into the bag with your cheeto encrusted fingers.
If it didn’t work in Phoenix with Nash and Stoutamire... it’s just not a winning formula. It’s an entertaining formula, but not a winning one. - Derek Harper talking about D'Antoni's System
islesfan
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12/9/2008  10:50 AM
The Duhon Man Love on this board is really getting out of hand.
If it didn’t work in Phoenix with Nash and Stoutamire... it’s just not a winning formula. It’s an entertaining formula, but not a winning one. - Derek Harper talking about D'Antoni's System
Allanfan20
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12/9/2008  10:53 AM
I guess you're having fun hoping Stephon Marbury finds a team so he can get 20 minutes of playing time, if he's that lucky.

Islesfanbury.
“Whenever I’m about to do something, I think ‘Would an idiot do that?’ and if they would, I do NOT do that thing.”- Dwight Schrute
islesfan
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12/9/2008  10:55 AM
Posted by Allanfan20:

I guess you're having fun hoping Stephon Marbury finds a team so he can get 20 minutes of playing time, if he's that lucky.

Islesfanbury.

Mark my words, this board will miss Starbury when he's gone.

That's factorial.
If it didn’t work in Phoenix with Nash and Stoutamire... it’s just not a winning formula. It’s an entertaining formula, but not a winning one. - Derek Harper talking about D'Antoni's System
Bippity10
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12/9/2008  10:57 AM
I would marry Duhon
I just hope that people will like me
Unrestricted Free Agents? Imagine Duhon Running The Fast Break (or pick and roll) With DIS Guy

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