The Wizards (18-39) are 15-11 in the past 26 games that Ariza has appeared, with him backing up Webster for the past 25. In 27 games as a reserve, Ariza has a better scoring average (9.3 points compared to 8.2) and shot better from the field (43.1 percent to 37.5) and from beyond the three-point line (35.7 percent to 25.8) than he did as a starter. Those improved numbers are also mostly since John Wall returned from his left knee injury.
“Anytime you get into a role and accept a role, it’s sets up for you having a chance to play good. That’s what he’s done. And he’s played extremely well,” Wittman said. “He gets in passing lanes, steals, deflections, gets us on the break. He’s making his spot-up threes and he’s putting the ball on the floor and creating for others during this stretch that’s been beneficial.”
Ariza had a difficult initial adjustment to Washington, having to serve the role as an elder statesmen at age 27. He was looked upon as a leader and forced to offer advice to players up to eight years younger while still trying to figure out his own role. Sitting and observing for nearly a month because of injury did nothing to help him.
“It just prolonged the process of me fitting in,” Ariza said with a laugh. “When you’re coming from a different place, it takes time to get settled in and get used to. I’m not worrying about making shots anymore. Is this a bad shot? Or a good shot? I’m just shooting them now. I have [assistant coach Sam Cassell] in my ear the whole time: ‘Shoot it! Shoot it!’ All that has definitely helped me a lot.”
Ariza has an early termination clause in his contract that would allow him to opt out of the final year of a deal that will pay him $7.7 million in 2013-14. “I haven’t even really thought about it. I’m just trying to do what I need to do to help this team win and put together a string of wins and build momentum, some sort of way,” Ariza said when asked of his plans. “We do have a full team now. And as everybody has seen, with a full team, we’re not a bad team at all. We’re a pretty good team that can compete in this league for a playoff spot. We’ve just got to continue to work at that.”
And Ariza will continue to settle into life on the East Coast. “I’m a West Coast dude, definitely, but I do like the city of D.C. It’s cool. A lot of things to do,” he said. “It’s just cold.”
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