Oct 7, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) hugs Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) prior to the game at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Trevor Ariza, F, Houston Rockets
In the simplest form, Trevor Ariza isn’t Chandler Parsons. I believe the Houston Rockets believe they’re getting a just as good player in Ariza — they’re wrong. For everything that Ariza is — an above-average defender and a knock down shooter — he isn’t Parsons. They’re different types of players.
Parsons averaged 16 points, four assists and five rebounds per game last season; Ariza posted 14, two and six averages in those same columns. In context, Ariza shot nearly 90 more triples than Parsons attempted last season. Parsons attempted 636 two-point shots last year, while Ariza only shot 411 of those — different players.
Ariza is more of a shooter than Parsons is, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just not what the Rockets will benefit from most this season.
Per NBA.com, Parsons averaged 6.3 drives per game. Ariza only averaged 2.7.
However, the most thing that Houston will miss from Parsons will be his versatility.
Per Bleacher Report, the Rockets were 27-11 in games in which Parsons scored at least 17 points; 20-6 in games in which Parsons had at least five assists; and 18-7 in which Parsons grabbed at least seven rebounds.
Whatever the Rockets needed on any particular night, Parsons supplied. Houston better hope Ariza can oblige.