In his previous trip to the Rose Garden, Ariza was booed every time his name was mentioned and every time he touched the ball. He had earlier last season floored Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez while going for a block, sending Fernandez sprawling in a frightful spill and to a night in the hospital. When the Lakers returned late last season, Portland fans made sure he knew how they felt.

"You would think they would understand," Ariza said. "They're great fans. They love the game of Basketball. So you would think they would understand, but I understand their standpoint, too. That's their team. They love their team. They saw one of their players go down.

"At the time, I was just trying to play Basketball. I wasn't trying to give up anything easy. They were already killing us. I was just trying to make a good play at the ball to block the shot. I apologized to him. He was fine with it. He could tell it wasn't intentional, trying to hurt him. It's not a big deal."

Ariza's swing at the ball caught enough of Fernandez's head for Fernandez to lose his balance. When Ariza returned to town, he noticed the boos but said they neither bothered nor motivated him.

"It didn't bother me, not at all," Ariza said. "Every time I touched the ball, they booed me. It was kind of funny. You can't get too high or too low. That's when you mess up."

Expectations high

Ariza, who had 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and four turnovers in just under 33 minutes in Tuesday's 96-87 season-opening loss to the Trail Blazers, said he will apply the same attitude to his increased role. More is expected of him than ever before. The change is not just with Ariza's place in a team's offense. With the Rockets' changes, more focus will be on Ariza and his ability to lead a team.

"I'm fine with it," said Ariza, who was 3-for-8 from the floor. "I don't mind it. This is what we play Basketball for, to become the best player we can become and to win championships. Whatever comes with that, we have to take. I try not to let anything get to me or use anything to any advantage. I know I'm just a regular person that has a gift to play Basketball, so I try to stay level-headed.

"It's really clicking. It's definitely starting to come. I'm getting more confident, more comfortable out there. We're coming along. It's taken time, but it's slowly coming. Every Basketball player wants touches, but I know it's a team game. I've never been in a situation where I have to take the tough shots. I like it. I don't think there's any added pressure."

Coach Rick Adelman said there is also no expectation that he make those strides immediately. Rather, the Rockets want Ariza to grow steadily and perform consistently.

Seeking consistency

When he was a role player, Ariza could have a few big games, a few big shots or key steals, and be praised for those moments, with little attention paid to the nights he did not contribute so greatly.

With the Rockets searching for players to step up to greater responsibilities, the Rockets will look to Ariza not just to excel but do it often.

"He's done OK," Adelman said. "It's going to be steady progress. He has to keep trying things. He has to find what his strengths are and keep going to those. The biggest thing for him is to be consistent.

"He's kind of like our team, a work in progress. We're asking him to do a lot he hasn't done. It's not going to happen all at once. The light is not going to just turn on and stay there. He's going to have to keep working at it. That's where we are as a team."

jonathan.feigen@chron.com