[Chron]Rockets' top pick talks softly but packs big talent

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3247109

June 30, 2005, 12:06AM

Rockets' top pick talks softly but packs big talent
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle


A night before, Luther Head was so nervous he locked himself in a room alone, away from his family and friends who would "explode" in roars when he was selected by the Rockets.

A day later, he was so nervous talking about himself he said he could barely remember his name, much less the players whose sticky defense he had come to admire.

In a few minutes, he would hit the Toyota Center practice court for the first time.

But first, Head showed another side of himself the nerves could not hide.

He had said all the right things about joining a 51-win team and fitting in. He said he would learn "everything" possible from the veterans who fill the Rockets' roster. Had anyone asked, he sounded ready to fetch doughnuts right there.


Quietly confident
But when he was asked Wednesday about bringing all that athleticism that had the Rockets' brass raving, about mixing in his 39-inch vertical leap and raw speed with the NBA's oldest team, Head sounded ready to compete.

"I hope that will help me out," Head said. "I know they want to play, just like I want to play. So we'll all get to practice, and we're all going to see."

That might have fallen far short of brash, but it could have been a glimpse of the confidence that comes to those with such talents. And as Head spoke softly, barely audibly, about what he could bring to the Rockets, his confidence slipped through.

"I think I can defend on this level, just because they have a lot of confidence in my defense," Head said. "I take pride the most in defending my man. I think I need to work on everything. Coming from college to the NBA, you have to get better at everything.

"I think I can knock down open shots and get those guys the ball. I think I can put the ball on the floor a little bit and do enough to get to the hole and create something for others."

That will do for a start. The work on the Rockets' roster will not end there, general manager Carroll Dawson said.

Dawson said the selection of a guard in the first round did not mean the Rockets have given up on signing point guard Vasilis Spanoulis, acquired in last year's second round.

"We have to see," Dawson said. "We hope to have him over at the camp (the summer tournament in Minneapolis), and it will be interesting with him and Malick (Badiane) to get a firsthand look at them."

Teams may begin talking with free agents Friday, and Dawson indicated the Rockets will be busy, likely jumping in at 12:01 a.m. that morning. Free agents can't sign nor can trades be made until July 22.

"July 1 starts the next part of the process," Dawson said. "We've got free agents of our own (Dikembe Mutombo, Jon Barry, Scott Padgett and Ryan Bowen) we've got to talk to and address, and we're looking at other free agents. It's going to be an interesting summer.

"We want to add a part or two, as well as Luther, to make the mix even better. The West is so strong, if you stand still, you're going to be left behind. You've got to keep getting better."


Knows how to win
But on Wednesday, with a first-round pick to introduce for the first time since 2002 when the Rockets picked Yao Ming and Bostjan Nachbar, Dawson spoke of Head's success with Illinois, where he was a second-team All-American last season.

"We were looking for a player to help this program, and I think that's what we've done," Dawson said. "Losing is not something he knows, and that's always great. One of the things you have to do in the NBA is teach people how to win. If they are on track when they get here, it's going to make it that much easier.

"Being a tremendous athlete, with speed and quickness, he finishes when he gets to the rim. He just does a lot of things we really like. Being from a winning program helps. But he was selected because we think he can help this program."

Dawson said Head's "defensive background" would help him "fit in with our coaching staff," particularly because so many young players struggle defensively.


Finding the holes
"Holes in your game do get exposed," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "If you have a hole, you find out. On our team, the hole can be if you can't defend or if you can't knock down an open shot, especially with Tracy (McGrady) and Yao."

Head said Van Gundy already had told him he was "a little mean" but that Head would become accustomed to it. But he also can learn from the experienced players with whom he will be sharing the court.

"They've been in this place for a while," Head said. "I can learn everything from those guys, from the way they bring the ball up the floor to the way they adjust to the defense to the way they draw people, everything they do.

"I think it will be a great experience."

jonathan.feigen@chron.com