Boston Herald: Celts take a double dip: Yao, Rockets add insult to injury

Interesting...

 

It's time to start MoT. It's no longer a hint JVG, other "great" coaches are letting you know. Yao jump shooting and MoT to draw the double out are the key to getting Yao involved.

 

I hope JVG heard this.

olliez: what is wrong with you and your captions? get your mind out of the gutter please.

 

definitely a lesson learned from a coach who has nothing to gain or lose from that comment being that he is in the East...now, this does take into account that Boston plays small, so Cato's effectiveness is limited....but being that i am Tivo freak, I have been watching Cato all year in slow mo and the reality is that he cannot guard anyone beyond 5 feet of the basket. In fact, he has terrible skills outside the paint and in fact, is soft and not willing to guard outside the paint. There are numerous times I watch him sag as his man just floats unabated...

I know he is helping, but we do not need 3-4 defenders helping Yao Ming IMHO..Cato or whoever, needs to have the quicks to sag, but get back and against Boston Sunday we did not hav e this...

 

What gets me is that when JVG was describing his defensive startegy early in the season, he said that all NBA teams now play one guy who has no offense, and his defense takes advantage of that. This would explain Memphis and Dallas losses btw.

However, he plays Kelvin Cato at PF. Cato's doing the bes the can possibly do, but the guy is not a PF, and I firmly believe he can average 10/10/2 on 50% in Philadelphia or Milwaukee for example.


He's done a great job, and I know he loves it here, but I think it's best if both him and the Rockets move on.

However, I don't recommend trading him unless we get a semi-starter type to replace him. Someone in the Nazr Mohammed, Calvin Booth, Jerome James, or Marc Jackson mold. Another option would be, for example, if we get Rasheed, and he can backup the 5 easily.

 

I don't think that is a knock on cato per se, it is more of a tribute to Yao and MoT. Padgett to some extent as a specialty player - spot shooter. It really emphasizes the fact the Rox are not spreading the floor offensively and the weak side or zone is really more Cato's man doubling Yao. especially if JVG's "O" is trying to low post Yao with cato in the game.

O' great one, read the Boston paper please. If not, SF, ignore the coach and show the forwards how to spread the floor....

 

Cuttino demonstrating (visually) what he did to Paul Pierce last night.

 

This is an interesting point. Arguements both ways. Here are the reasons to start Cato at PF. First of all, he is that 'muscle' that everyone wanted at the beginning of the year. Everyone had suggestions, from B.Grant to A. Davis to whoever. I think it is quite safe to say Cato has been just that.
Second, Cato brings that intensity thats been lacking of some players this year. He plays hard, and tough D. He uses his fouls well in the 28 minutes he plays. Not as many dumb fouls as last year. And NO easy layups! U think Mo or Yao will floor people trying to sneak one in?
Third, Cato is actually finishing around the basket this year. When he gets an offensive rebounds, he will actually go back up and make the layup of dunk! Especially lately. His % has gone up from 37% to 42% in the last couple weeks.
Fourth, starting MO would leave our bench w/ no scorers at all.

BUT, even with all that said, there are reasons to start Mo as well. First, the reason Cato's % was down to begin w/ is cause he takes that WIDE open 15 footer thats given to him....and he cant make it unfortunately. Mo can.
Second, Mo(or even Padget) makes Yao's offense better. Evident by the Boston game. And this could be a big reason to start Mo. When Yao starts good, it effects the team as a whole. And when Yao starts good, he boards better, blocks better, runs the floor better, and gets more minutes.
Third, we NEED quick starts. 2 years ago, Mo was the main reason we got off to quick starts. He would constantly get 8 points in the first frame. Now w/ Mo getting open looks, and Yao able to operate in the paint, we might be able to get our offense rolling.
Fourth, and this is another BIG reason. Yao is a little worn out by the 4th quarter sometimes. So i dont know if having Mo in there w/ Yao helps that much by then. I think it would help more if they started together, as Yao is more efficient at the beginning of games.

So what do u do? Offense or Defense? Go for better starts against a weaker bench? Tough one....I am ok either way..... but if they get off to another slow start against Minnesota(as i shall be at the game), i'll be pissed!

 

Padgett is sitting there and supposedly Spoon can score (at least more than Cato)

I like Cato and what he brings. Yao was getting his due to different floor spacing with Padgett and the fact they were not forcing it down low so much, he hit some jumpers off pass outs on the pick and roll. A lot has to do with the spacing and inability to leave the PF on defense.

Maybe Posting Cato instead of Yao and using Yao as a more PF type scorer would help when he and Cato are in the game together. Hopefully, JVG is slowly getting it on "O" and will implement what some of the others are showing him is available.

 

I think Taylor coming off the bench is a good idea. I like his offensive spark. I like having Taylor on the floor when Yao is resting because it always gives us one post up option on the low block. And I think our offense runs MUCH more smoothly when we have a post up option. When we dont we look helter skelter.

I think in the LONG RUN we need to get a PF that is a bruiser but also can hit the jump shot, someone like PJ Brown etc. But for now Cato is servicable. And late in the games you will probably see Yao + Taylor.

 

someone made a great point.. why not post up Cato and have Yao run the PF plays.

J

that way Yao can get some spot up jump shots and cuts to the basket.

 

Now I begin to realize why the Pistons can not score much last season and why Larry Brown wants B. Wallace to be a low post threat.

If one of the starters can not score, no matter how valuable he (B Wallace) is in the other areas, the team's offense will suffer.

 

Isn't this the Rudy refrain? And didn't Cato just come off one of his best offensive games of the season, tossing out 6 or 7 assists?

Not to mention his defense & rebounding...

 

``It opened the floor for them,'' said O'Brien. ``(Backup power forwards) Scott Padgett and Mo Taylor have to be honored from the top of the circle. When we heard that Cato was not going to be in there, I said, `Darn.' '' [/B][/QUOTE]

Yes indeed it was an interesting comment by O'Brien, the fact to the matter is, base on my assumption during the sundays game against the Celtics, quick rotation on the defense was not there for Cato, that's why the Celtics find a lot of open shots, unlike with Taylor and Padgett on the floor, they can easily go back into defensive end of the floor.And that's why they got torch!!!!

 

No.

What did cato do against Boston - either time...