The Houston Rockets might be already missing Trevor Ariza’s wing presence as they have already lost 11 of their first 20 games.
The Houston Rockets are on a four-game losing streak, dropping games to the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, and most recently the Dallas Mavericks away from home. The Rockets are beat up at the moment, missing Brandon Knight, Nene, Gerald Green and most especially Chris Paul due to injury.
However, it is someone who’s not on the roster they might be missing the most. That man is Trevor Ariza. The former Rockets forward is now playing for the Phoenix Suns after averaging 11.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game from the wing last season. Those are not staggering numbers, but on a well-balanced playoff team, he was able to hold his own and provide depth, defense and scoring.
Depth is an overall objective that Houston just does not have this year, especially with so many key players injured and Carmelo Anthony being pushed off the team. Against the Mavericks Wednesday night, the Rockets’ bench was outscored 62-25. They have absolutely no wing play or defense, which are areas Trevor Ariza specialized in.
To make up for that lack of depth, head coach Mike D’Antoni is playing his key players for longer minutes, which is not a good sign considering how many are already injured. These long minutes will take a physical and mental toll on the team, and they are going at a pace they will not be able to maintain come midseason, let alone playoff time.
However, even when James Harden is picking up extra minutes, the Rockets are not playing well as a team when the starters are in. They are missing that energetic and high-energy player on both ends of the court, because as of right now, they’re putting their energy into scoring without much defense and it’s not panning out for them.
Ariza was a greatly undervalued piece in the Rockets’ success of last season, and they are reaping the consequences of not making him a better offer when the Suns dished out $15 million. Thinking that replacing him with Melo would work seems fitting for a D’Antoni-led team.
Getting rid of defense for more offense is going to cause issues, especially when in the Western Conference playing against playoff competition nearly every night. There’s no question this team could use Trevor Ariza’s two-way play right about now.