See today's Chronicle. Over / under on next multi-game inactive stint (not necessarily IR): 8 games ------------------
Cato comeback? Rockets center Kelvin Cato's rehabilitation has gone so well that he has set the Rockets' Dec. 16 home game against the Nuggets as a target date for his return from a high ankle sprain that has kept him out since the season's second game. "So far, so good," Cato said. "I'm just glad the hard part is over, when I was going through the rehab part. I'm going to start my conditioning later this week, and hopefully I can be back on the 16th. That's my target date. I don't know what the doctors say. I'm thinking I can play on the 16th at full strength. "If I keep working the way I am, if Missy (Leget, the Rockets' assistant trainer) keeps pushing me through my rehabs, and (strength coach Anthony) Falsone keeps pushing me through my workouts, I think I'll be right there." Rockets trainer Keith Jones said a Dec. 16 return date is very realistic. "He's been lifting, working really hard," Jones said. "He's done really well every day with Anthony. I think he's starting to enjoy it. He's been walking around without a shirt on." Two weeks is too long without a backup and a fasting Hakeem.... ------------------