What's Wrong With Trevor? - A Rebuttal

by Only_A_Lad on Dec 4, 2009 10:13 AM CST in Player Analysis

I have to get to class soon, so I'm going to make this short.

Dave made a comparison between Ariza and a certain player earlier this morning, and I think it expresses a concern we've all felt: Trevor is trying to shoot the Rockets out of the game. In fact, Dwyer at BDL has explicitly said this. The argument seems to be a simple one: Ariza takes too many threes.

And yet we're faced with a dilemma: the Rockets, whom we all suspect to be geniuses or androids or something, are apparently encouraging Trevor to do these things. What's up wit dat?

By now, I'm sure you're all familiar with our new best friends at Hoopdata. Let's look at their stats for Ariza this year. What do we see?

First, his efficiency beyond the arc is the best it has ever been outside of the playoffs. It's not a particularly efficient shot for Trevor this season, but it's worth slightly more than shooting 50% on twos.

Second, his efficiency at the rim and around the basket has declined remarkably: an 8% decline at the rim for last year, and a 26% decrease at less than ten feet (though he doesn't take many shots from there).

Third, he has increased the number of long twos he shoots. That's not cool, and he probably needs to cut that out.

So what does that mean?

Well, if I were going to guess (and I will), it means that his three point shooting isn't the real issue so far. Trevor's decline in offensive efficiency has a lot to do with the fact that his shot around the basket isn't falling quite as often, and he seemingly can't get a call when he drives into the paint (Trevor's foul-drawing rate is down this year, as well). I would expect both of these things to improve as the season progresses.

As for the other comparisons to Rafer: as I stated in the comments section, Trevor is actually better at keeping control of the ball than Rafer was, and his contributions on the boards and on defense are better than Rafer's. And his usage rate is significantly larger than Rafer's, too. So the comparison between Ariza and the Dream Shake's menace seems to me to be only apt in describing the frustration we all feel when Ariza isn't scoring well. But I think there's a good chance that will change in the near future.

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Comments

If the lay-ins don't fall, a jumpshot won't do any better. DUNK it Trev, Dunk it.

by suzaku on Dec 4, 2009 10:26 AM CST reply actions

I think he's been doing that more.

He’s trying to slam when he goes to the rim. Which is good, because his touch around the board doesn’t conjure visions of Aaron Brooks and his crazy “English” on the ball.

by Xiane on Dec 4, 2009 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

Do you have a link to that vid?

by VBG on Dec 4, 2009 6:43 PM CST up reply actions

Which vid?

by Xiane on Dec 4, 2009 8:22 PM CST up reply actions

Never mind. I meant the crazy English on the ball vid, but I found it.

by VBG on Dec 5, 2009 2:57 AM CST up reply actions

Kind of amazing

that someone can do that at full speed in an NBA game – fully as impressive as various dunks.

by Xiane on Dec 5, 2009 3:56 AM CST up reply actions

MORE than what he is doing currently.

Oh and when it comes to touch around the board, I’d like Landry more as an example. He seems to now have a complete arsenal when it comes to scoring around the basket. I sometimes think that Trev should practice with Landry about that, I would :D.

by suzaku on Dec 4, 2009 8:00 PM CST up reply actions

dude

Thanks for giving away the punchline to everyone who hadn’t read the first article yet…

by grungedave on Dec 4, 2009 10:26 AM CST reply actions

whoops

oh yeah. Forgot about that.

by Only_A_Lad on Dec 4, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions

maybe there is good that can come out of it…
as the season goes on he will get better and that will be good the next year when we really see how good Brooks and Landry can be. Even Budinger will be better.

by HtownBoy1999 on Dec 4, 2009 10:41 AM CST reply actions

I think Trevor

just needs to learn his role here and adjust to what he has to do. We are going to need more points from him to contend.period. and with that being the case hes going to have to play “smarter” basketball, which means limiting turn-overs, taking more effiecient shots whether thats driving(and he will have to work on his dribbles a little) or just taking less shots period,
Think about the transition he made from L.A. where he only had to come off the bench free stroke when he got the ball and playe decent D oh yea no worries though b/c if you dont make your shots Kobe and a damn good team will take care of things. And for the record I hate Kobe and EVERYTHING L.A.

I think maybe…maybe manegment and a little bit of Trevor may be pressing himself to make more than he really needs to. I think people got the wrong impression when he came to Houston in the first place, that he was suppose to save our season or be our Tmac but thats not his game, now maybe he will become a better player with more time and more responsibility, but thats something he will have to prove and that will take longer than this year.

I could only imagine the weight lifted from his shoulders if he gets to play with Yao and or possibly Tmac(god willing his back,ankles,knee,right eyebrow arent injured) But lets give him some time, we just need to see strides from him this season, we’ll see who steps up to carry this season when its on the line….

Great players dont win championships.....Great TEAMS win championships

by DT58forever on Dec 4, 2009 3:41 PM CST reply actions