That "IF" is very plausible outcome. Alston has poor career jumper % and REALLY poor career FG%. He needs to much improve this year. And VSpan is an even bigger reach. The guy isn't even tearing up at the shorter International line with weak defenders. I don't think VSpan should remotely be considered as likely to take away Heads rotation minutes any times soon, nor equal to Head as a player, or even having greater potential. Head is younger but atleast already shown flashes of excelling in the NBA and highest caliber D1 ball. Head is even a few months younger. Basically VSpan's expectations are way overblown based on the evidence he will ever be an NBA player, yet alone a major contributer this year. I think there is a good possibility some combination of Snyder, Head and JL3 will best round out the Rockets backcourt. I'd don't feel good about the Rockets guards (I don't list Tmac as a guard SG because that just creates other problems), but I'd feel even worse without Luther Head. Until Snyder proves he fits in as a team player, Alston improves his j, or even bigger surprises from VS or JL3, Head is the most reliable/predictable guard we have.
I'd much rather have a guy who does a bunch of things mediocre but is deadly at the 3--a Kenny Smith lite, than a Rafer Alston for this Rocket team. If Luther can just get close to mediocre on traditional point guard skills, but hit the open 3 with consistency, I'd start him over what the Rockets have now. With Tmac and Yao you don't need a PG to "control things".[/QUOTE] Exactly....more frustrating than anything last year was watching Bogans, Head, Rafer, and even wesley clanking 3 pointer after 3 pointer.....We need at least 2 or 3 guys that can hit that open 3 consistently....back in the days of Dream, we had Kenny Smith, Matt Bullard, Mario Elie, etc who could do that...if we really want to use Yao the way he can be, we have to have deadly shooting from the arc..
IOW, CD tried during draft day to move up and get Roy, but was unable to make it happen. Wait, didn't I just say that? I would use turnovers to compare players at similar positions. So, using turnovers or, more appropriately for a PG, assist to turnover ratio, would be a great measure of "handles." For a center, you can use the same comparison with other centers to compare their "handles." Obviously, you cannot compare centers to point guards using those numbers since centers rarely dribble the ball as much as your average point guard. However, I would suggest that the TO number would indicate whether Yao has better "handles" than Shaq or Ilgauskus. However, we were comparing guards, so the TO numbers, and even moreso the A/TO ratio, is an appropriate statistic. Luther has a 1.8 A/TO ratio whereas Nash's is 3.0. Nash handles the ball far more than Luther ever will in this league and as such, averages more turnovers. In the same vein, Yao handles the ball FAR less than either of these guys and as such, has fewer turnovers. Show me anything anywhere that supports this assertion. Frahm has averaged 3.3 points, 1 rebound, and .6 assists for his career. Head has shown FAR more than Frahm and, barring a MAJOR upgrade via trade, I would not be comfortable with Frahm taking Head's place in the lineup.
To be fair, Head shot .361 for the year, even after a HORRIBLE December and January, months that he rebounded from at the end of the year. That is better than Maxwell, Cassell, and Drexler shot during 94-95. Head will be one of our deadly 3-point shooters this year. Mark it, Dude!
