Nothing new this week. Ariza continues to be a low efficient scorer while providing solid defense, decent playmaking and rebounding, and racking up the steals. Rumor is that T-mac will be coming back into the line-up in a non-disclosed time. The teams success will depend on T-mac’s ability to mesh team. In the long run it will probably be good for Ariza to be a solid second man, which his game is built for. Throw in a healthy
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ariza watch
32-19
A couple of surprise wins this week really skewed my total.
Only a couple picks this week. I’m only going to pick Laker and Rockets games and games that actually matter, so who’s cares about the Minnesota/Knicks game anyway right?
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Cavs, Bulls, Rockets
Thursday:
Friday: Cavs, Lakers
Saturday: Nugs, Hawks, Rockets
Sunday: Lakers, Bucks
Monday, November 23, 2009
Ava
It’s amazing what kids can remember and what they are “into” at different times. As phases come and go, Ava, surprisingly, hasn’t gotten into the doll phase. I think I’m kind of glad about that but I’m not sure why. Lately, she’s been into Christmas BIG TIME. I think this year will be the most fun yet. Last year, she was kind of into the present thing but not quite getting it. Two months later at her B-day…it was ON. So getting back to my point, Toys’R’Us conveniently sends out a huge ad. Ava has been “reading”, kind of, this book for weeks. Here’s our exchange:
Ava: Daddy, I get hippo hungry for Christmas.
Me: Hungry Hippos?
Ava: Yeah, Hippo Hungry.
Me: Ok.
Ava: Daddy, I get this (points to play kitchen), and this (points to princess dress up), and this (points to play oven), and this (points to everything else on the page). Daddy, I get a WHOLE BUNCH OF TOYS!!!!
Me: Ava?
Ava: Yeah.
Me: Only good girls get lots of toys.
Ava: silence
Me: Are you going to be a good girl?
Ava: Yeah (not so convincingly)
Me: ok
Ava: Daddy?
Me: Yes?
Ava: Daddy, I get this (points to play kitchen), and this (points to princess dress up), and this (points to play oven), and this (points to everything else on the page).
Gotta love her enthusiasm. Can’t wait for Christmas.
Ariza Watch
So rather than include Ariza watch in my weekly post, I decided to do a separate post every week or after every Rockets game for Sarah. Ariza continues to be a high volume shooter and low volume scorer. So far, averaging about a point per shot, which in NBA standards, is pretty poor. I think I’ve said this before, but that’s not his game. What is his game is the almost 2.5 steals per game and the hustle plays that don’t make the box score. Over the past week, the turnovers have gone down to under 3 per game. I’m thinking that making Ariza the man will improve his ball handling skills and in the future make him that much more dangerous. Coming from a system which he was more or less a spot shooter and then going to making plays for himself and setting up others isn’t an easy transition. Either way, the Rockets are on my radar and I’ve been rooting for them. The Rockets have a tough week. At home to the Mavs and Spurs and then on the road against the Thunder.
126-67
Went the week 33-18. A couple of surprise wins skewed my total. The Knicks actually winning 2 games, Washington won their supposed “rival game against the Cavs, the Hornets with 2 wins for their new coach/GM over the sliding Suns and the hot Hawks teams, the Warriors and Clippers upsetting the Blazers and Nugs, and the finally the Rockets lost on a last second tip in dunk to the Hawks.
The Lakers welcomed back Gasol to the starting line up and they rolled over the Bulls and Thunder. Not surprisingly, Gasol didn’t need much of a jump start to get going. He had a great first game back. In the short term, things are looking up for the Lakers. Long term, the bench will still have to step up big time for a repeat championship. Gasol’s 18 & 8 helps the Lakers almost immediately, as it would help just about any team. Watching last night’s game, the bench is still struggling to hold a lead against the opposing team’s bench. One of the reasons going around was that Odom needed to move to the second line up to get them going. I didn’t see much of that last night. Fisher continues to struggle to guard or put up any points. So which makes me wonder how much of a contribution “leadership” counts towards when your getting lit up by younger faster guards and struggling to find your shot on a consistent basis. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Fisher, but he’s definitely on the downward side of his career. If Fisher goes out with ANY type of injury and the Lakers being so thin at the point, would it cost the Lakers a chance to repeat? Hmmmm…
This week’s picks.
Monday: Kings, Bucks, Blazers, Clippers
Tuesday: Wiz, Raps, Mavs, Nugs, Thunder, Lakers
Wednesday: Pacers, Raps, Celtics, Heat, Hornets, Pistons, Nugs, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Blazers, Kings
Thursday (
Friday: Heat, Hawks, Cavs, Celtics, Pistons, Mavs, Rockets, Nugs, Suns, Thunder, Blazers, Kings
Saturday: Wiz, Cavs, Magic, Blazers, Lakers
Sunday: Hawks, Clippers, Suns, Celtics, Magic, Sixers, Rockets, Nugs, Hornets, Lakers
Monday, November 16, 2009
Special edition Ariza Watch (For Sarah)
At the beginning of the Laker/Houston game, the Lakers had a ceremony to present Ariza with his championship ring. The jumbotron said “Thank you Trevor” and there were a few highlights of the key plays made during the playoffs. Of course, not missing the chance to bust my balls, my lovely wife convinced me I was tearing up. Well, not exactly…ok maybe a little. Funny thing was I was wondering what they did in the case where a championship is won and a player is traded. Well, that’s that. I thought it was a nice gesture on the Lakers part to put the effort in to make it special. On a side note, two rings were presented as Trevor’s son, Tajh, was also given a replica ring. Nice, very nice. Apparently, that must have tweaking Artest the way as it provoked him to do a little shoe throwing.
No seriously, shoe throwing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu1zMV5j0fo&feature=player_embedded
Ok, onto Ariza watch. Interesting week. Ariza had good games against crappy teams as to be expected and struggled against the Lakers and Mavs. I would expect to struggle against your former being that they know your game. Three point shooting has fallen off quite a bit from last year but turnovers have gone down as well. Scoringwise, he’s all over the map, 9, 17, 28, 9. But looking closer at the numbers, he’s averaging about a point per shot attempt. Not great but there are other numbers that stand out. 6 ½ rebounds, 5 assists, over four steals a game and about one block a game. That’s filling up the box score. There was a great sequence during the Laker last night.
Ariza v. Artest II- I hate to say it but Artest takes this one. More points on more efficient shooting, rebounded, dished the ball and fewer turnovers with the same amount of minutes. The difference, Ariza had a +9 and Artest -9. Is Artest the man? No. He’s cherry picking and gets choice looks on
umm...LA we have a problem.
So the Lakers drop two in a row for the first time this season and triple their losses in three days. Cause for concern…yes. The Laker bench is horrible….let me repeat…horrible. How horrible? How about being outscored 91-43 in the two losses. So, averaging 17 points a game from the bench isn’t going to get it done. I don’t care if Gasol comes back tomorrow, long term, there’s a problem. Am I saying trade, trade, trade? No, but someone needs to chew someone’s ass and fire these guys up.
This week I went 33-16 bringing the season total to 93-49. Surprise wins?
This week’s games:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
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