ROOKIE HAS RUN INTO WALL

By MARC BERMAN
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December 1, 2004 -- KNICK NOTES

ATLANTA — During preseason and the season's first four games, Trevor Ariza looked like a high-impact rookie. But the 19-year-old former UCLA swingman has hit a wall, minutes decreasing with his production, looking more like a second-round pick.

Last night, Ariza played just two first-half minutes, didn't score, didn't shoot, get a rebound, or assist. Saturday vs. Toronto, Lenny Wilkens used him four minutes. Ariza hasn't been as active on either end, though he denies it's tiredness. With Allan Houston's return upcoming soon, Ariza could be most affected, not Penny Hardaway.

Wilkens said part of the slump is teams becoming familiar with his athletic game. Clubs are playing off him at the perimeter to take away his drive. Ariza's jump shot is not his strong suit.

"People are starting to adjust to him. He has to adjust as well," Wilkens said. "They know he likes to make hard cuts to the basket. Now they anticipate it and try to be there, making it harder for him. He'll find where his openings are."

Ariza has looked dead on second nights of a back-to-back games. The Knicks face Memphis tonight in a second leg.

"I'm sure it's a lot of games," Wilkens said. "He played one season of college ball and now he's going against the best players in basketball."

Said Ariza, "It's a long season. I'm just getting used to everything."

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I don't trust that at all. Ariza has been stuck to the bench cause of TT's play. they don't want to put the young guy in TT's head and push him to play even worst.

hitting the wall ? man are you kidding me ? this guys is an athletic freak and it's only what, 12 games in the season ?

They just know that trevor will eat TT at breakfast and I don't give a crap on "teams just adjusted...". Trevor was getting rebounds and was a high energy player. our team was feeding from his energy while on the court. even if didn't scored, at least he would defend, pass, rebound...

I come back again with my "keep the minutes low" post. Our starters played 45+ minutes to be able to beat the hawks. That only means that it is the wrong formula. we need to trust our bench more.


[Edited by - raven on 12/01/2004 03:11:30]

I agree......Timmy is playing with more intensity but it still doesn't match what Ariza brought. Plus Timmy is showing everynight that he is not the right fit for this team. It's Funny cuz Vince Carter is the better fit and he is playing uninspired ball. He got 5pts last night and played 28 minutes. Timmy for Vince might work only because Timmy's contract is shorter. Then they could focus on the team instead of Vince.

Ariza hitting the wall is a straight up lie. I don't buy that at all. You hit the wall at the all-star break not 12 games in. Ariza looks like he could play a double header and not sweat.

It's not just Ariza though......Sweetney, and JYD are getting it too.

KT's jumpshot is what's keeping him on the floor. He's becoming automatic.

When Houston is back Penny will get it.

It's rough.....

Nazr is averaging 20+ pts and 12+ rebounds the last 4 games against Atlanta and Toronto.

Lenny is still getting to know his personel. I'm quite sure he would like to play Ariza, but Guys like Timmy have to play because they have to be showcased for a trade.

Marc Berman is an idiot. Did you see his other article on Houston? Allan has a track record of being an iron man. He played with nicks and bruises all his Knick life. Then this idiot calls him out as selfish. Man, it must be that time of the month for this idiot.

Absolutely right on the WALL. Rookies hits the WALL in the all-star break not at 12 games in.

Did I forget to say he is an IDIOT!

Posted by diderotn:

I applaude his criticism. Houston deserves it. When you have a $20 million player siting on the bench because he has mental fear, you have to criticise him. Marb has been playing with a bad ankle since last season, but he is still out there doing his things, Houston has been out since after perhaps 30 games last year. What? Does he need another season to recover? Enough already.

Posted by NYKBocker:

Marc Berman is an idiot. Did you see his other article on Houston? Allan has a track record of being an iron man. He played with nicks and bruises all his Knick life. Then this idiot calls him out as selfish. Man, it must be that time of the month for this idiot.

Absolutely right on the WALL. Rookies hits the WALL in the all-star break not at 12 games in.

Did I forget to say he is an IDIOT!

Actually, no NBA player has taken less time off from microfracture surgery than Houston has

Posted by diderotn:

I applaude his criticism. Houston deserves it. When you have a $20 million player siting on the bench because he has mental fear, you have to criticise him. Marb has been playing with a bad ankle since last season, but he is still out there doing his things, Houston has been out since after perhaps 30 games last year. What? Does he need another season to recover? Enough already.

Posted by NYKBocker:

Marc Berman is an idiot. Did you see his other article on Houston? Allan has a track record of being an iron man. He played with nicks and bruises all his Knick life. Then this idiot calls him out as selfish. Man, it must be that time of the month for this idiot.

Absolutely right on the WALL. Rookies hits the WALL in the all-star break not at 12 games in.

Did I forget to say he is an IDIOT!

I guess it's just me then. People tell me I am loyal to a fault. Allan Houston has given his all for this team. I am not willing to bash him because he wants to be 100%.

Bad ankle is something else. I play on a bad ankle. Isn't Allan's ailment similar to Kidd and/or other players that has taken longer to come back?

In regards with money. I don't blame him there either. Didn't Checketts give him that money. I don't remember him making demands to be a max player. What was he suppose to do? Reject the contract?

2 weeks in December is what it is. 2 weeks in December. If this will help him be effective in the 2nd half of the season then I am all for it.

hasn't Isiah also told him that he wants him at 100% before he decides to come back.

You are all being sympathetic now that we are above .500. If our record reflected a little different, you all would have on this board screeming for Houston to hurry back.

Posted by NYKBocker:

He probably did a Gus Frerotte in his hay day.

? ? ? Gus Frerotte ? ? ?

Posted by raven:

Posted by NYKBocker:

He probably did a Gus Frerotte in his hay day.

? ? ? Gus Frerotte ? ? ?

Ex Redskins QB that head butted the WALL after a touchdown.

Less time???? where did you read that from??? CWebb and Kidd, Kidd wants to come back this week, CWebb has been playing since last season. It seems to me that Houston has been out for a lot longer. Forgive me if I am wrong. CWebb's job is much tougher than Houston. He at least played on both side of the court, plus he is the main man in that team. Despite his difficulty moving up and down, he is still doing his things. Then again, Houston is one dimensional, that may be the reason. There is only one thing that he can do, just shoot the ball.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by diderotn:

You are all being sympathetic now that we are above .500. If our record reflected a little different, you all would have on this board screeming for Houston to hurry back.

Wrong! No one here was saying that when the Knicks were below .500 this year. Our views don't fluctuate on a daily basis based on the team's record. I applaud Houston for taking less time off than anyone else ever has from microfracture surgery.

Diderotn: Chris Webber in his career has missed 243 of a possible 862 games in his career. In essense he has missed more than 1 out of every four games his teams have played. Which means once a week he is on the bench in street clothes. How in the world are you comparing his durability to Allan's. In Webber's 11 NBA seasons he has 5 seperate seasons where he has missed more games than Houston has missed in his entire career(not including last year). Cut the guy some slack. We know you don't like him and that's fine. But at least compare him to someone like AC Green or even Shandon Anderson. But CWEbb has no track record to be brought into a debate about durability. The truth is that Allan has been an iron man his entire career you just chose to ignore it.