It seems i have roundabout come to this discuession with several boardmembers on the subject in different threads, and just wanted to its own for clarity and to really focus in on it. So the question is what is Luther Head's future potential in this league, and specifically for the rockets, he has made some improvement since coming into the league, so how much further can he go? at 6'3 185 he doesn't have the size, length, or bulk to play the 2 guard consistantly especially on defense. He doesnt have the raw speed and quickness to play the point consistantly either nor the handles or decision making skills. Classic tweener, except he has an amazing stroke from the outside and has proven to be a great shooter down the stretch. he is a poor man's Ben Gordon, and that should be viewed as a best case scenario if luther is going to remain at the 2 spot. If Luther is able to make a successful transition to the point, really the sky is the limit. He has exceptional size for a point guard, and his shooting from the 1 spot would be deadly. Unfortuneately i have not seen alot of promise from Head playing the point to feel to comfortable predicting that he will make major improvements in this part of his game. The last thing i think should be factored in is the "Superstar Effect" in essesnse when Shaq was winning championships with the lakers, or Jordan with the bulls, certain role players played exceptionally better with their superstars and when they came up for free agency they made a killing when some other team failed to recognize that a significant portion of this players ability was gleaned off the ability of the superstar to make those around them better. I think the combination of Yao and Tmac creates this effect to some degree with luther. I think a player like Salim Stoudamire could have an equivalent offensive production in our system. For example in a year when Luther's contract is coming up, what is he worth? Are we going to give him Barbosa money? Basically i've come to terms that Luther is not going to have much but spot minutes at the point, and Lucas has been absorbing those lately as well. So in summation i feel his overall ceiling is limited by his height, and i feel that he has come pretty close to that, only being able to maybe produce a few more points and be slightly more clutch for us, other than that i think we have seen the bulk of the improvement we have from Luther.
I really think good handles are the only significant difference between Luther Head and Ben Gordon. This kid can be really, really good. If he can somehow develop very good handles and learn how to use them to create a shot for himself, he could be an unstoppable scorer. His release is exceptionally quick, and his ability to make shots under pressure rivals or even exceeds McGrady's. I've seen him make some ridiculous shots with just barely enough space to get them off. His problem is the handles. Poor handles prevent him from being able to create shots for himself.
I do not think that passing ability can be taught. It is either with or not with you ever since u start playing ball. Luther at maximum can only become the next Gordan, but not agent 0
Luther tends to score above his average when both Yao and T-Mac are gone...so I don't think you can attribute all of his production to the two superstars. Besides, he's only a second year player.
ya but if teams were actually game planning against him it would be a different story than an injury or those last games against golden state and portland where he played exceptionally well.
I hate how people use "Tweener" as if its a bad thing. When you think about it, most of the great players were Tweeners. Charles Barkley was too small to be a PF, but too fast to be an effective SF. Even our own Tmac is a tweener between the 2 and 3 positions. What Head needs to learn to do is to be able to use his speed to his advantage when he is being guarded by a bigger guy. He also needs to figure out how to effectively guard an SG. I don't think he's gotten to that point yet.
If T-Mac and Yao are gone...who else do you game plan for? Last year (and mind you, that was his rookie year), he played with Juwan Howard as the other main scoring option during the period when both T-Mac and Yao were injured. For example, from January 10th to the 18th when both our stars were injured, Luther averaged 14.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.6 apg, 2 spg, while shooting 38.6%, and 35.7 % from 3 point range. Considering the roster of our team during those games Bowen, Baxter, Lucas, Wesley, Mutombo...who else do you seriously game plan for? Obviously, its Head and Howard. I'd say he played pretty well for a rookie down that stretch.
Gordon's also unbelievably strong. He's really good finishing with contact. Luther has a long ways to go to be as good as Gordon, but the comparison isn't completely invalid.
OK, lets review: Luther Head: - great shooter - likes to dunk over Frenchmen - terrible defender - terrible ball-handler - terrible passer Conclusion: If Head doesn't improve in the last 3 areas, his potential will be what it is now... a great shooter coming off the bench. Nothing more, nothing less. He will probably be our 6th man for years to come.
Luther's Potential = Barbosa's Potential. Both started their careers with limited ability to get a shot off consistently in the half court and were relegated to being primarily spot up 3 point shooters. Limited ball handling abilites, incapable of running the point effectively. Luther is ahead of Barbosa in terms of production in their rookie and 2nd years.
One thing is clear, he has not reached his potential. We continue to see improvements, month by month. I don't see superstar potential, but I see a maturing player who could become the team's third scoring option, which, in some ways, he is now. Head and Hayes are major components of the team.
I've always thought that Luther had above average passing capabilities (much better than Cuttino, for example). If he could just get his handles right this would show up even more.
it all starts with his need to improve his dribbling. sad thing is I think Battier needs to improve his dribbling for a SF, too, and when you see matures, smart players like Battier being unable to become an average dribbler for their position, you begin to realize it is not that easy to improve your dribbling I do believe Head's value to the team will continue exceeding his trade value for a few more years, just by becoming more comfortable and continuing to improve his shooting (like adding catch n shoot coming around picks).
Don't get me wrong, I love Luther... But to say he has as much potential as Barbosa or Gordon is a bit hogwash to me... Both of those guys are 10x faster with the ball than Head. Poor man's (very poor) Ben Gordon? Sure.
I agree. Luther has better-than-average passing for a 2 guard. He's a very good classic 2-guard (as opposed to the big swingmen that are the norm now). His biggest perceived limitation is that he's not a PG. I also agree that he'll get better the longer he plays with the same team. He could make the kind of off-ball plays that Rip Hamilton makes.
If Head had Rafer's point guard skills, or if Rafer had Head's stroke (insert joke here), we'd really have a real chance to get to the finals, consistently.
His roll will be like Steve Kerr. Some skills better, some worse. Head can give more points, more physical, less ball handling, less offensive efficiency, a little more defense. Both are cold hearts down the strech. Overall luther may be little btter. But basically the same role they played. I don't think Luther can develop much more than a 'rich man' Kerr. He will not get MCL salary. He's no barbosa.
Luther was a key cog on that great Illinois team and he will also be one during our championships.How much of Luther's game was blown up by Williams?How much does he benefit from playing with Yao and Tracy?Who knows but he's a winnerYou know,depsite his youth,I see him as true pro and a team player...already more than capable of playing big at this level. CD nailed this one. Head can flat out shoot the rock and that skillset alone would assure him being a solid pro for years.But there is much more there. Luther's athleticism isn't really being utilized yet......... This guy has subjogated his game. In my mind Head has already pulled even with Cat as someone you want on a team going for the title. I wouldn't hesitate when the time came to lock him up unless we were able to pull in A LOT via trade.
