Houston Rockets: An interesting stat on Trevor Ariza’s shooting
The Houston Rockets have surged to a 49-13 record and are riding high on a 15-game win streak, the league’s longest thus far and the second-longest in franchise history. Trevor Ariza has been a big part of the success of that streak and it’s his peculiar way he’s shooting that’s doing the job. Let’s take a look.
Houston Rockets fans — to say it’s a great time to be watching this team do work is an understatement. With each game they undertake, I’m getting to the point where I’m extremely confident in terms of the team being able to win despite the odds. And as of late, the odds have been in the Houston Rockets favor.
The team may start out flat or their defense may not be a stifling for in the early goings but it doesn’t matter. I’m going with the old adage of it’s not how you start but how you finish and that’s what is ultimately important for the success of this team.
The amount of depth that this team has is sickening with the corners being rounded out with the additions of Joe Johnson and Brandan Wright in the buyout market. We were active at the trade deadline this season and I’m perfectly fine with it. Why tinker should a good thing going on?
But anyway, back to the point, here’s an important stat that the Chron’s Trevor Ariza brought to light in regard to his shooting:
Trevor Ariza was 4 of 13 on 3s and has made at last three 3s in all five games since coming back from his hamstring injury, the longest streak of games with at least three 3s of his 14-year career.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 4, 2018
Although his shooting has been shoddy as of late from behind-the-arc, he’s certainly making the threes when it counts. The Houston Rockets were trailing a bit in the 4th quarter against the
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Boston Celtics Saturday night and we just needed that push to get over the hump. One can make the argument the Ariza was part of that push, especially with the three-pointer that he nailed to tie the game at 115-all with 1:33 left in the game.
It shifted the momentum and the crowd got on their feet, rallying behind the team that displayed immense perseverance when the game — as well as the streak — was on the line. Just like Feigen had noted, he has made at least three threes in his past five games, obviously the longest of his career.
There’s no doubt that Ariza still has the right stuff and I even wrote that because of the team’s large amount of depth, he should come off the bench. Did you see how he finished Saturday night? I’m making the case that he’s a better finisher than starter and to let Luc Mbah a Moute jump into the starting lineup at the three-spot.
I know, I know — we’ve 15 games in row so why tinker it? But I think this minor tweak can get the maximum efficiency out of this roster. It won’t happen because of Mike D’Antoni‘s being dead-set on the rotation he has now but it’s certainly food for thought. We’ll have to see.
Next: Why Trevor Ariza should head to the bench
Ariza, 32, is averaging 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals off 42.6 shooting from the field and 38.7 percent from the three-point line in 34.6 minutes per game this season.
Go Rockets.