I have been watching Luther this year to see how his handles look, and I see major improvement. In fact in last night's game against the Grizzlies he ran the point for a bit. I am wondering if Rafer continues to struggle might we get a look at Luther in the PG role more ? The Rockets PGs are asked to bring the ball up and pass it to Tmac and cut or spot up for a shot. Luther is much better at spotting up and cutting than Rafer, and may be able to adequatly take on that role? I know everyone wants Francis, but maybe Luther should get a shot first? DD
I would agree with you last year, but have you been watching him this year? He has been driving a lot... DD
It's one thing to drive, its another thing to be able to dish it. I'm not asking for Steve Nash who will jump in midair between 3 defenders, and somehow find an open man at the baseline. Just someone who knows when to pass it off. I agree his penetration has been pretty good this year. He's fooled me a few times in thinking it was James driving into the paint. That said his court awareness to find the open man isn't that good, and I've yet to see him make a good pass after penetrating in the paint and finding an open man.
A couple of times in the pre-season and in the first few games he connected with Chuck or Scola when he drove to the basket. I haven't seen him drive and dish outside a whole lot, but would imagine as his court awareness improves in this offense he will be able to do that. I don't know that he's the answer at PG, but he can handle the spot minutes there that he's given. Last night everyone seemed to struggle in the second half. Scola, Bonzi, James and Head.
This only happened in last nights game. He has been attrocious so far. I' am not saying it can't happen. I don't know about him handling the ball but he could definitely benefit from this system as far as him driving to the basket. I liked what I saw and I think this is a good sign of things to come from Luther.
He's just being asked to bring the ball up the court, so Mike James can play off the ball more and free himself for better shots.
Luther has low bball passing I.Q. The only way it works is if McGrady runs the offense and Head is the shooting guard.
That's not true, he's been doing it more whenever he gets on the court. The only time he went to the basket last year was on the Yao hand off. This year he's driving a lot more. He's taken 10 3ptrs, 10 fgs and gotten 12 assists. That tells me he's driving and finding the open man more than jacking up shots.
No. No. No. No. No. No. He hasn't been driving "a lot". What games have you been watching? He did it a couple of times last night and one (maybe two) other times in previous games. Luther has played terrible and has done nothing to earn more time on the court. His handles and decision-making are still weak and his defense is still pathetic. At some point very soon, Luther should be yanked out of the rotation and his minutes should go to SF or AB. This would be a relatively small, painless move for the Rockets that could pay dividends later in the season.
I have noticed improvement from Luther - it's no longer an automatic turnover when he sends a pass into the post. That said, he is still far away from where you would want a primary ballhandler to be. He has zero quickness (different from foot speed, though he's no wonder there either), only an average handle, and while he commits well to his role with cutting and moving without the ball, he has always been a horrendous decision maker. He's a follower, not a floor general. If you want a change from within the current roster, you should be calling for a revisitation of McGrady as a point forward. Games like last night aren't what this offense is supposed to be about. We should be seeing 1-11 getting mid-20s, and 4 other guys chipping in the low-to-mid teens. McGrady shouldn't have to be taking 28 shots unless Yao is on the bench in foul trouble all game. I'm not calling him a ballhog either, he was trying to involve others, but he can't when the guys are just clearing out and watching him. That's Kobe ball, and Adelman needs to be all over their case today about it. I'm also fully in favor of turning off Alston's green light to shoot 3s. Evan
Luther in the pg role would be absolutely horrendous. he can't handle the ball as good as he thinks he can. he definitely doesn't know how to pass. that's 2 major requirements he already doesn't meet.
I'd give Luther a shot. I'm sick of seeing Rafer chuck 18-footers with 21 seconds left on the shotclock, when the rest of the Rockets have not passed mid-court yet. That's not good shot selection even when they go in.
I said a lot "more". He did it maybe twice all of last season. Under JVG.. not part of his job description. Under Adelman... part of the scheme. He cuts more without the ball also, which is something he never did last season. My point is, he is showing what those who watched him in college knew, that he was more than a spot up shooter. I also said he isn't necessarily the answer at PG, but he does fine in the few minutes he's given. I'm not saying make him the full time back up. I mean at this point he's only getting about 8-10 minutes a game anyway. Edit: I was wrong he's averaging 11 and 1/2 minutes. But you get my point.
Season T G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG 07-08 HOU 8 8 25.8 0.300 0.212 0.778 0.3 3.0 3.3 4.3 1.0 0.0 1.63 1.40 6.3 rafer is about to get in the 20%s for FG% and the teens for 3pt% not one game, not 2 games....8 games.
