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**Mr. Predictable** · 10-17-2005, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Getting a Head count
Rockets rookie Luther Head got his first start Saturday, replacing point guard Rafer Alston in the starting lineup. That did not mean, however, that the Rockets were ready to consider Head a point guard.

"I don't want to label him, because I don't know what he is," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "I like that he has an innate sense of confidence in his own ability. He's one of the few young players that knows his place — quiet, dignified — goes about his job in a professional manner. What does that turn out to be as far as a player? I'm not sure yet."

The Rockets had trouble getting into their offense early in the game before Tracy McGrady took over initiating it. In the second half, when McGrady was out, Head initially ran the offense but struggled at times until he was replaced by Moochie Norris.

"Rafer's a one," Van Gundy said. "Moochie's a one, McGrady's a one, and Luther can defend ones."

Quote:

Trying to find his shot
Rockets shooting guard David Wesley continued to struggle to find his outside shot, making one of seven shots in San Antonio on Saturday. He also was 1-of-7 in the first preseason game before getting the night off in the second.

I'm pretty sure we've been reading that about Wesley for a while now. Remember when he was on fire last January? Well he's basically been in a year long slump since then. Add that to the fact that Luther can't run the team but is effective knocking down outside shots and playing defense and you have a new starting 2 guard. Atleast by January, as it's going to be very tough for JVG to bench one of his "heady" veteran guards. I love Wesley's defense but he just seems like an offensive liability right now. It is embarassing when he tries to finish on the fast break and he can't knock down shots unless he is absolutely feeling it, which happens for one-month every year. Alston running the team with Head at the 2 guard doesn't seem like too bad of an idea to me. If we have a slow 6'1 guard defending SG's right now, it's not going to be a big dropoff to have a 6'3 rookie guard them.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...bk/bkn/3399100

**Yao Mania** · 10-17-2005, 06:30 AM

McGrady's are 1, and a 2, and a 3, and a 4.....

And once again you've completely left DA out of the equation MRC. DA isn't that bad! I love Luther but I'd rather him come off the bench for some energy to start off, no matter how good he is.

**Hakeem** · 10-17-2005, 06:40 AM

I think Wesley's year-long slump may actually be a myth. From looking at his month-by-month 3-pt%, he appears pretty consistent, though he did have that one amazing stretch. He was 37% from beyond the arc in January, 52% in February, 41% in March, and 38% in April.

It's true that he can't really do much else in terms of scoring than knock down open shots, but that itself is pretty valuable, and aside from very good defense, he also brings hustle, good passing and a seemingly good attitude (I obviously don't have much to go by, but I feel he was really good for chemistry. He's one of those guys who looks like he's offering encouragement on court and who leaps to help people up). Luther Head may also have all those things, but I wouldn't be too sure after just three preaseason games (especially after he played very ordinarily in the one game in which he started).

McGrady · 10-17-2005, 01:29 PM

Uhh... why does MRC hate DA?

Pasha The Great · 10-17-2005, 01:51 PM

The reason I think Wesley goes through those slumps is because hes old and gets tired easly. He'll be more useful if he came off the bench.

tone wone · 10-17-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Roger's Cardigan

I'm pretty sure we've been reading that about Wesley for a while now. Remember when he was on fire last January? Well he's basically been in a year long slump since then. Add that to the fact that Luther can't run the team but is effective knocking down outside shots and playing defense and you have a new starting 2 guard. Atleast by January, as it's going to be very tough for JVG to bench one of his "heady" veteran guards. I love Wesley's defense but he just seems like an offensive liability right now. It is embarassing when he tries to finish on the fast break and he can't knock down shots unless he is absolutely feeling it, which happens for one-month every year. Alston running the team with Head at the 2 guard doesn't seem like too bad of an idea to me. If we have a slow 6'1 guard defending SG's right now, it's not going to be a big dropoff to have a 6'3 rookie guard them.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...bk/bkn/3399100

Derek Anderson?

of thats right...he doesn't exists

nevermind

sherwin · 10-17-2005, 03:26 PM

Why would Luther get the start over Derek Anderson? No way JVG makes that move.

Wesley is struggling because of his knee surgery. He basically has to learn how to shoot again since his elevation is different. But he may find his rhythm and take off from there.

**Mr. Predictable** · 10-17-2005, 06:29 PM

Why would Derek Anderson get the start over Wesley, though? Doesn't play defense, is stagnant on offense and commits way too many TO's. I might be overestimating Wesley's slump as Hakeem pointed out, but I think if Head is knocking down shots consistently and making better decisions on the court by January, we could use him as a starter. We've seen JVG try plenty of new things with this Rockets team, disregarding his conservative philosophy, so I'm not ready to count this out just yet.

**Minstrel** · 10-18-2005, 11:58 AM

I think it's an exaggeration to say DA doesn't play defense. He does play defense and isn't terrible. He's just not a major asset defensively.

arcangle · 10-18-2005, 12:08 PM

Wesley should start over DA when the season starts.
He defend better than DA though his shooting is slugging due to the surgery.
His shooting will be back.

But JVG should limit his playing time to around 20-25 minutes.

Ballscientist · 10-18-2005, 09:11 PM

Rockets have a good chance to win the conference in the regular season. Wesley and DA look really old. How about Head to start the game.

Rockets starters would be youngest in the West.

**Yao Mania** · 10-18-2005, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballscientist

Rockets have a good chance to win the conference in the regular season. Wesley and DA look really old. How about Head to start the game.

Rockets starters would be youngest in the West.

Sorry BS but gonna combine your thread with an older one, pretty much the same topic, and I gave my views on the subject already.

Rocket Man · 10-18-2005, 10:11 PM

Alston should start at the 1, that is why we got him - so we could have a(true) point guard. Wesley's shooting right now is horrible but his defense is still sound. While we really don't need that much point production to go along with the other starters I don't want other teams to be able to use their player matching up against our 2 to be able to provide double teams on Yao and T-Mac. I DA can come in and knock down some shots that would work. If matched up with slower guards Jon Barry might work. Don't laugh now but I could see Moochie getting time the way he has been shooting in preseason(If only he was not such a defensive liability.) Head can come in in spots to disrupt quicker guards but I do not believe that Gundy will start him. When putting the starters together we should also be thinking about what guards we are going to have coming off the bench to provide some scoring punch. I think Van Gundy is going to take his time in installing the guard rotation - especially at the 2 and just use who is hot and who matches up best.

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