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Saturday December 9, 2006 6:49 PM


Head's Up


Rockets guard becoming clutch shooter in second season


Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON -- The Rockets have a two-time scoring champion in Tracy McGrady and one of the league's best big men in Yao Ming.

So who is the team's best clutch shooter?

Luther Head, of course.

"He is without question our most clutch shooter," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said.

Surprised? Don't be.

The second-year guard has emerged as the Rockets' dead-eye shooter and sixth man heading into Saturday night's showdown with the Washington Wizards.

Head, 24, has expanded his game this season by attacking the basket with increased frequency and even playing more point guard, but his biggest plays have come from behind the three-point line.

He made a trio of late three-pointers in Houston's win over Miami late this season and he hit two huge three pointers against Memphis on Nov. 25 that sealed a home win.

The 6-foot-3 guard has drilled at least one three-pointer in 17 consecutive games and is fifth among NBA sharpshooters in three-point shooting percentage at 50 percent.

Head's touch from the perimeter has provided the Rockets (12-6) with a consistent scoring threat from beyond the three-point arc.

"I'm in a good rhythm right now," Head said. "Tracy, Yao and Rafer (Alston) are finding me when I'm open and I have a lot of confidence in my shot. I've just got to come out and keep shooting."

He hasn't been short of opportunities to do just that.

Since McGrady and Yao were dealing with injuries throughout the 2005-06 season, Head wasn't getting many open perimeter looks as a rookie. He ended up shooting 36.1 percent from long range, which was still good enough for sixth among the league's rookies.

Head's three-point shooting percentage, however, has shot up with McGrady and Yao drawing the attention of opposing defenses.

The Rockets guard has scored in double figures in 11 games and sunk at least a trio of three-pointers in eight different games. He entered Friday's action as the team's leading scorer off the bench with 9.7 points per game.

"I didn’t have a lot of experience playing with Tracy and Yao last season, but with them on the floor, I'm getting a lot of good looks," Head said. "I'm always going to get an open look because of those guys."

Head's hot shooting has coincided with learning how to play the point guard position.

Since Houston is young and inexperienced at the position behind Alston, Van Gundy asked Head in the preseason to provide minutes at the point.

Head played some point guard in high school and college, but has had to adjust to running a team in stretches instead of just finding a spot behind the three-point arc.

Alston said Head is doing a good job of learning the position on the fly.

"Luther was a good player coming out of college and the team is just asking him to do even more as a pro," Alston said. "He can score a lot of points from the perimeter and he's adjusting to playing some point guard. I just try set an example for him by how I approach and handle the game in my role."

Head's coach added that he wants the guard to expand his game beyond shooting.

"He has been shooting the three really well," Van Gundy said. "The thing with Luther is being consistent when he isn't making shots. How do you play well when you’re not shooting well? Can you get a layup or two? Can you handle the ball well so that you’re not a turnover player? Can you help defend and rebound? He needs to do those things so that there is consistency to his game even when he doesn’t make his shots."

Head had that sort of a game against Cleveland on Dec. 2. Despite shooting a pedestrian 4-of-10 from the field, the guard recorded season highs for rebounds (seven), assists (five) and steals (three).

He wouldn't mind stringing together those types of numbers on the nights that he's not missing.

"I've just got to continue working on my game," Head said. "I'm learning what coach needs from me and I'm trying to do everything that he asks."

Until then, he'll just settle for being the team's best clutch shooter.