I don't know what many people expect from Luther Head, but I was checking out his stats and highlights during his college ball days and I like his style for the Rockets. I know he will probably not get much minutes this year, but in 2-3 years he might be replacing Sura (if he is not traded by then) because we all know Sura doesn't have more than 2 years left. In about 4 years I expect Luther Heads stats to look sopething like this. PPG-10.1 APG-6 MPG-29 RPG-3.8 (because he is so fast) FG%-.435 3P%-.382 Pretty solid player. He might have a little more points per game than I expect (possibly up to 15, and maybe 7.4 asssists). What do you guys expect his stats to look like. I KNOW IT IS WAYYYYY TO EARLY TO TELL ANY THING, but come on. The kids got potential and with the right training he could reach those numbers easily.
dont hate on Bobby Sura mayyyyyyyyyyyyne ... anyway, it seems that the Rockets organization is taking a very slow approach with Luther...I think he'll be seeing a lot of time in the NBDL this year...theres just too many guys ahead of him...I like him as a third guard at this point for us, but as a 3rd guard he'll hardly see any minutes, so why not just let him gain experience and playing time in the NBDL? But he will be something special for us in the near future...
I thought JVG or CD said that no one would be going to the NBDL because it doesnt help people it just hurts them mentally ? I beleive it was during one of those radio interviews
I think Head has the potential to be an Eddie House/ Keyon Dooling like guy for us. If he does become a part of the rotation, he'd be a spark plug off the bench and provide some instant scoring and pesky defense. I foresee him as a combo guard with the ability to play both backcourt positions but his lack of passing ability makes him not a pure point guard, while his size prevents him for being a full-time shooting guard.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting rocketsfansam:</div><div class="quote_post">I thought JVG or CD said that no one would be going to the NBDL because it doesnt help people it just hurts them mentally ? I beleive it was during one of those radio interviews</div> did he really? I must've missed that...can anybody else confirm?
I do recall someone else metioning that as well. Something about Van Gundy saying that the NBDL is no help because the coaches are different. He has a point. If Austin (our NBDL affiliate) brings in a coach who preaches offense and forgets about defense, then Head will not do well in Van Gundy's system.
What makes no sense is the players you send to the NBDL still count on your NBA roster. It would have served a better purpose if the two or three players you send to the NBDL didn't count at all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">I do recall someone else metioning that as well. Something about Van Gundy saying that the NBDL is no help because the coaches are different. He has a point. If Austin (our NBDL affiliate) brings in a coach who preaches offense and forgets about defense, then Head will not do well in Van Gundy's system.</div> yeah that makes sense...shape also had a good point with the roster space issue...i suppose it would suit him better to just stick on our roster and gain experience through practice and such...
Luther is in a pretty good spot even if he gets no PT. Hes got alot of great veteran guards who can help teach him. Sura, Wesley, James, and Barry all play different Sura: Heart/Rebounding Wesley: Moving w/o the ball James: Handles/Getting to the basket Barry: Shooting/Passing/Smarts And all these guys hustle. So hopefully through practices and some PT Head can pick up some of these traits.
The reasons i think CD drafted luther head: 1) security purposes if our veteran gaurds go down head is always there 2) veteren mentorship for the future b/c barry is retiring after this season and who better to take over than luther head 3) there wasnt any other player that was better for the rockets rotation that luther head left in the draft (some can argue salim stoudemire or wayne simien would have been good to but i like the luther head pick)
Well, in hindsight, my whole madness of drafting Ronny Turiaf seemed a pretty good one, due to his play in the summer league for the Lakers, but now that he might not even play again, I'm glad we didn't draft him. Head's selection makes sense now that we've managed to bring in Swift and Anderson. We can bring along Head slowly and have him learn from practice. I think that in 2006-07 he will become part of the rotation as Wesley and Barry might both not be on the team anymore. Head has an all-around game that would benefit the team.
^I agree. In a worst case scenario, next season we could be without jon barry, david wesley, and anderson. Head can be some good insurance, and he is a guy that can come in and help right away.
Yeah, I don't want anyone go to the NBDL. When you go in, there is no coming back into the NBA, with rare exceptions (Bobby Simmons). I like that in Jeff Van Gundy. Anyway I wish that Head would let us get rid of David Wesley, who was like a liability almost in the playoffs. If Head can replace David Wesley then I'll be happy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting houston_owns_u:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, I don't want anyone go to the NBDL. When you go in, there is no coming back into the NBA, with rare exceptions (Bobby Simmons). I like that in Jeff Van Gundy. Anyway I wish that Head would let us get rid of David Wesley, who was like a liability almost in the playoffs. If Head can replace David Wesley then I'll be happy.</div> no way head can replace wesley...wes will give you 10-12 points per night and good percentage shooting...hes also a valuable defender...Head is probably 3-4 years away from contributing the same numbers that wesley gave us last season...
in summer leagues head was an aggressive defender and hopefully jvg can mold him into something better than what wesley is now. If he can do that i see no reason why he cant take over wesleys job he has a better shot and is more athletic and if he gets that defense right which is a biggy with jvg then we might see a new starter in 2-3 years or even this year
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">in summer leagues head was an aggressive defender and hopefully jvg can mold him into something better than what wesley is now. If he can do that i see no reason why he cant take over wesleys job he has a better shot and is more athletic and if he gets that defense right which is a biggy with jvg then we might see a new starter in 2-3 years or even this year</div> no, head's shot is NOT better than wesley's...and at this point I'm sure JVG has more faith in Wesley's defense against NBA comp than Head...
Head was the 33rd best three-point shooter percentage wise in the NCAA, while Wesley is at least a top 30 three-point shooter from NBA range. Players' shots get better with experience and Head will definitely surpass Wesley in the future, but not this season. Wesley is more proven than Head, and therefore will be ahead in the rotation. The only advantage Head has on Wesley right now is his athleticism. Wesley is a much smarter player and already knows how to play with Yao and McGrady.