After learning a new system, 20-year-old Trevor Ariza is fitting in nicely in Orlando
Waiting Game Over For Ariza
By Bill Fay
Take a look at the game-by-game stats for Trevor Ariza and there are some nice numbers.
The 11-point, 11-rebound effort at Philadelphia on March 24 raised a lot of eyebrows. Ten points and eight boards against Atlanta five nights earlier gave a hint of what was to come. And 10 points, seven rebounds against his old team, the New York Knicks, qualifies as a keeper for a guy who looked lost when he arrived in Orlando a month ago.
Ariza came to the Magic from New York as part of the Steve Francis–for-Penny Hardaway’s expiring contract deal. He got into town about a week after Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo arrived from Detroit and it was an instant case of two’s company, three’s a crowd.
Milicic and Arroyo blended quickly into the Magic playing rotation. Ariza sat and waited. And waited … and waited some more. He played exactly five minutes spread over three games the first three weeks he was in Orlando.
"It’s hard enough working one guy into the lineup in the middle of the season," Magic coach Brian Hill explained. "Three guys? That’s too many to fit into the rotation at one time and maintain some integrity about winning games.
"Carlos and Darko came over during the All-Star break so at least we had a couple of practices before we put them on the court. We didn’t have that with Trevor and you can’t just throw him out there and let him try to learn a system on the fly, especially when you have two other guys on the floor in basically the same situation. We had to take our time and to Trevor’s credit, he was patient with that."
The waiting game is now over.
With Grant Hill probably out for the season and Stacey Augmon nearing the end of his career, Ariza is the first call off the bench as backup to Hedo Turkoglu. His playing time varies, depending on the opponent and his level of effectiveness, but he is getting the kind of opportunity every young player wants.
"I’m finally doing something to help the team," Ariza said. "I knew that eventually I was going to get an opportunity so I kept working hard and staying ready. That’s something I have learned quick in this league: You’ve got to stay ready."
Ariza’s first real action for the Magic was a 20-minute performance against the Hawks when he hit four of seven shots on his way to 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists. As impressive as those numbers are for a reserve, Hill said that wasn’t why he decided to move Ariza in the lineup on a permanent basis.
"When I put Trevor in the game, I’m looking for defensive effort and somebody to help us on the boards," Hill said. "If we get any offensive contributions, that’s really just a bonus. Offense is a part of Trevor’s game that is still developing, but he can definitely defend and rebound now and we need that."
Ariza is just 20-years-old and recognizes that defense is the reason he has a job in the NBA. He left UCLA after his freshman year and was selected in the second round by New York in the 2004 NBA Draft. He became the youngest Knick in franchise history when he beat the odds and made the team with the highest payroll in the league as a 19-year-old.
The Knicks moved him into the starting lineup for 12 games at the end of his rookie year because he was their most effective defender on the perimeter. He finished the year averaging 5.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and felt confident he had a long-term future in New York.
However, the Knicks hired Larry Brown in the offseason and after starting Ariza 10 times early in the season, the new Knicks coach buried the youngster at the end of the bench and ridiculed him in the New York media.
"Coach Brown does things his way and that’s all I really have to say about it," Ariza said about his falling out of favor in New York.
Magic assistant general manager Otis Smith saw enough of Ariza to covet his athleticism and potential. When New York called about a Francis-for-Hardaway swap, Smith said he’d do the deal on one condition.
"I told Isiah (Thomas) that if Trevor was part of the deal, it’s done," Smith said. "If not, that was going to be a deal breaker for me. I like Trevor a lot. He’s long, he can defend, he attacks the basket, he can get to the free throw line and he’s only 20. Those are all qualities we can use."
Ariza appreciates the compliments, but knows he has more to give the Magic. His big nights against the Sixers, Hawks and Knicks are offset by some disappointing games against other opponents. He’s shooting around 33.3 percent in a Magic uniform and that’s a number that has to go up before he can take on a significant role in Orlando.
"I know I can shoot the ball a lot better than I have," he said. "I have to get more confidence in my jump shot because I know I can become a good shooter."
"That’s true of a lot of young guys," Smith said. "I can relate from personal experience to what he’s going through. It’s a matter of work and that’s something I also like about Trevor. He’s got good work ethic and I know for a fact, his best basketball is still ahead of him."
Bill Fay, an Orlando freelance writer, has covered the Magic since their inaugural season.
Take a look at the game-by-game stats for Trevor Ariza and there are some nice numbers.
The 11-point, 11-rebound effort at Philadelphia on March 24 raised a lot of eyebrows. Ten points and eight boards against Atlanta five nights earlier gave a hint of what was to come. And 10 points, seven rebounds against his old team, the New York Knicks, qualifies as a keeper for a guy who looked lost when he arrived in Orlando a month ago.
Ariza came to the Magic from New York as part of the Steve Francis–for-Penny Hardaway’s expiring contract deal. He got into town about a week after Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo arrived from Detroit and it was an instant case of two’s company, three’s a crowd.
Milicic and Arroyo blended quickly into the Magic playing rotation. Ariza sat and waited. And waited … and waited some more. He played exactly five minutes spread over three games the first three weeks he was in Orlando.
"It’s hard enough working one guy into the lineup in the middle of the season," Magic coach Brian Hill explained. "Three guys? That’s too many to fit into the rotation at one time and maintain some integrity about winning games.
"Carlos and Darko came over during the All-Star break so at least we had a couple of practices before we put them on the court. We didn’t have that with Trevor and you can’t just throw him out there and let him try to learn a system on the fly, especially when you have two other guys on the floor in basically the same situation. We had to take our time and to Trevor’s credit, he was patient with that."
The waiting game is now over.
With Grant Hill probably out for the season and Stacey Augmon nearing the end of his career, Ariza is the first call off the bench as backup to Hedo Turkoglu. His playing time varies, depending on the opponent and his level of effectiveness, but he is getting the kind of opportunity every young player wants.
"I’m finally doing something to help the team," Ariza said. "I knew that eventually I was going to get an opportunity so I kept working hard and staying ready. That’s something I have learned quick in this league: You’ve got to stay ready."
Ariza’s first real action for the Magic was a 20-minute performance against the Hawks when he hit four of seven shots on his way to 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists. As impressive as those numbers are for a reserve, Hill said that wasn’t why he decided to move Ariza in the lineup on a permanent basis.
"When I put Trevor in the game, I’m looking for defensive effort and somebody to help us on the boards," Hill said. "If we get any offensive contributions, that’s really just a bonus. Offense is a part of Trevor’s game that is still developing, but he can definitely defend and rebound now and we need that."
Ariza is just 20-years-old and recognizes that defense is the reason he has a job in the NBA. He left UCLA after his freshman year and was selected in the second round by New York in the 2004 NBA Draft. He became the youngest Knick in franchise history when he beat the odds and made the team with the highest payroll in the league as a 19-year-old.
The Knicks moved him into the starting lineup for 12 games at the end of his rookie year because he was their most effective defender on the perimeter. He finished the year averaging 5.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and felt confident he had a long-term future in New York.
However, the Knicks hired Larry Brown in the offseason and after starting Ariza 10 times early in the season, the new Knicks coach buried the youngster at the end of the bench and ridiculed him in the New York media.
"Coach Brown does things his way and that’s all I really have to say about it," Ariza said about his falling out of favor in New York.
Magic assistant general manager Otis Smith saw enough of Ariza to covet his athleticism and potential. When New York called about a Francis-for-Hardaway swap, Smith said he’d do the deal on one condition.
"I told Isiah (Thomas) that if Trevor was part of the deal, it’s done," Smith said. "If not, that was going to be a deal breaker for me. I like Trevor a lot. He’s long, he can defend, he attacks the basket, he can get to the free throw line and he’s only 20. Those are all qualities we can use."
Ariza appreciates the compliments, but knows he has more to give the Magic. His big nights against the Sixers, Hawks and Knicks are offset by some disappointing games against other opponents. He’s shooting around 33.3 percent in a Magic uniform and that’s a number that has to go up before he can take on a significant role in Orlando.
"I know I can shoot the ball a lot better than I have," he said. "I have to get more confidence in my jump shot because I know I can become a good shooter."
"That’s true of a lot of young guys," Smith said. "I can relate from personal experience to what he’s going through. It’s a matter of work and that’s something I also like about Trevor. He’s got good work ethic and I know for a fact, his best basketball is still ahead of him."
Bill Fay, an Orlando freelance writer, has covered the Magic since their inaugural season.
