Oh yay, Hoopsworld. Judging by their recent slew of rumors and articles, the interest Portland has in Ariza probably goes back to interest in him when he was drafted.
He shot 16% better on threes in the playoffs (47.5%) than he did in the regular season (31.9%). He's a solid player, but as a Raider fan, I remember when Al signed Larry Brown to a big contract based solely on his play in a Super Bowl.
Bah.... I can't get behind any decision to bring the dirty biatch here, but if it were truly a mechanism to screw LA, I'm all for it. That said, I don't think our SF position of any concern right now. PG has a much, much more glaring hole.
Ugh ... I'm not sure I could get over my hatred for Ariza that quickly. His unnecessary hard foul on Rudy and subsequent crowing and chest-puffing is burned into my brain. -Pop
I think Batum becomes a very Ariza like player in two years, and quite possibly a lot better. Shoot, when he was playing with confidence he looked like Ariza last year.
I would love the Blazers to after Ariza for several reasons 1. He is better than any of our SF's right now 2. If they don't sign him they will drive the price up for the L*kers 3. Signing him more than likely means Travis will be gone
KP has been a master at misdirection about players he's interested in to the point where, if I see it in print (as a rumor) I assume there is no way it's going to happen.
I don't see Ariza going anywhere, and that's as it should be. He bounced around the league with only Isiah Thomas believing in him (say what you will, but Thomas could draft well) until Phil Jackson saw something in him. He fits perfectly with the Lakers, and wouldn't be as good in other systems. He's not a great ball handler or even particularly talented. He's their Bruce Bowen. They deserve him. But he also deserves a lot of money, so I hope they spend it all on him and let the much more talented and important Lamar Odom go. (I wonder what'll happen to all the scrubs that flourish in the triangle offense if Phil really does retire? I wonder if Jordan Farmar is REALLY rooting for it to happen...)
Fine. Play the game. Drive up the cost of Assriza. But dammit, if he's brought in I will have some serious psychological issues to deal with.
My mind says yes. My heart screams no. To be real though, he might *gulp* be the perfect fit. Shit. First the Lakers lose, then you bring me down with the race discussion, and now this. Why did I even wake up this morning?
