If T-Mac wasn't injured? JVG seemed reluctant to play him when the season started but lately he has had no choice. Luther has been by far our best perimeter player. He has been a pleasant surprise. I don't think we would have discovered his abilities and potential if he wasn't given a chance to play in real games. He contributes in so many ways. He's quick, can handle, can penetrate, run P&R, shoots well, he's fearless and clutch. I'm not one who looks at the glass as half full, but could the T-Mac injury turn into a slight postive for the Rox due to the fact that the Headman was born?
mmm think it's got more to do with alston going down with his doghouse injury than anything else. if alston didn't go down, head never would have gotten much of a chance.
Both injuries contributed. As my friend and I were leaving the game we agreed that the injuries could probably be seen as a good thing since we now have Head to show for them. There's no telling how few minutes he would've gotten if we had a healthy rotation. We'll still make the playoffs, probably with a more favorable seed now (6 or 7), and we have a deadeye shooter in Luther.
I think our quality of play would have contributed to his minutes too. Not just injuries, ofcourse. our play has been crappy because of injuries.
We've found our PG of the future, that's all I can say. Hopefully we can upgrade Alston, DW, JB, and Moochie in the off season, otherwise I am satisfied with Luther and think he's going to be a very good player for our team for years to come. I mean, a guy who is confident in himself, can shoot, picks his spots, can handle the ball, is a half decent passer, and will make teams pay for their overzealous defense on T-Mac and Yao. Seriously, where are those who were chastising the team for picking this kid in the draft? I will admit I didn't think he was going to be this good this early, but from watching him play in college, I knew this kid had something you can't teach: the character of a winner, a clutch player who thrives under pressure. We're lucky, very lucky. Just hope he stays healthy and we'll be fine.
I was a very big fan of us drafting Head. I'd seen him play a lot on television and I love the way the guy plays. He will, in time, improve in every area, but I don't see him as our point guard of the future at all. He can be a playmaker, he will hit big shots, but he's going to be an over-achiever. Alston may (probably has) have looked clueless since the season began but right now his length, quick first step (again length), play-making and past performance puts him a huge step above Luther even if he turns out to be a bust here. Though I have to admit with the ball in T-Mac's hands most of the time, and JVG's history of wanting a pg automoton, it could happen.
Last year when I heard he's drafted by Rockets I jumped all over my bed and screamed. I think he should have been higher up the draft, but I am happy to see where he is now.
I love Head's shooting behind the arc and drive to basket. But I think he needs to defend a little better.
Allow me to echo a sentiment probably expressed elsewhere... that whoever scouted Head should definitely be in charge of the next draft as well. Especially if we wind up in the lottery...
Luther Head has exceeded my expectations so far. Who was that guy that started a thread entitled, "Luther Head is a piece of crap!!!" It might be fun to dig up those naysayers sometime.
I thought he was taken too early, but I can't complain, He was in the ncaa finals and had proven his metal more than once. So it was a good pick. He's been better than I expected. Glad we had to stick him in there. The shooting will take us to the finals in my opinion.
Luther's playing time has been more affected by Rafer's injury than Tracy's. But I doubt Luther would have shot as much without Tracy being injured. I can almost guarantee you there wouldn't have been a 28 point outburst against the Mavs.
I couldn't disagree with this more. * Rudy played Nachbar (a 15 pick) a grand total of 77 minutes in his rookie season. For all practical purposes, Boki was a rookie (minimally an unknown commodity) when VG played him 516 minutes in Boki's 2nd season. * VG gave both Mike Wilks and Torraye Braggs signifcant minutes early on and gave them ample opportunity to get more. They didn't perform and the minutes diminished. Luther Head is a decent player who seems to be learning in leaps and bounds. IMO, he'd have earned his minutes on the practice court (a VG tradition) and taken them away from Alston anyway.
I agree completely. Luther would have gotten playing time eventually, but just not this soon. JVG although he does give playing time to rookies, journeyman, NBDL players, is loyal to veterans and tends to give them as much of an opportunity to improve their play as possible. But in then end, talent and effort win out for JVG.
JVG is not stupid. The back court has struggled this year. It was just a matter of time when Head would get his chance.
That's how things work, even Yao didn't get to play much until Cato had to leave for a funeral. If it wasn't for that, he wouldn't have had an early breakout game which led to him starting earlier than expected.
A rookie doesn't get much chance to play, if all the starters are healthy and perform well, which would be a great thing, unless you are a lottery pick. TMac was down, and Alston was down, so he got the chance, and made good use of that opportunity. NBA doesn't have room to practice your rookies in real games, unless you are willing to tank the season, or that rookie is better than your healthy starters, or the situation forces the coach to. It has NOTHING to do whether JVG is willing to give young players chance or not.
As my friend pointed out, the biggest thing Luther can do to improve his game right now is work on his midrange shot and develop a floater. If he can start to hit a soft runner in the lane a la Tony Parker, he'll score a lot more around the basket. Right now he's going to the hoop and his lack of size is making it hard to get direct layups. He gets that tear drop runner and he'll be even better.
