Braggs Better Than Cato

To be frank, CATO is not qualified for PF, especially at the western division. CATO cannot shoot. His defense is not effective to western PF. I would like to see that he become a backup C.

Also ROX need a good backup PG.

 

I disagree with you on this. There is a reason why Bragg is in his late 20s and have never stuck to an NBA team. That is not to say that Braggs could not have done well and been a decent stop gap fit at the PF position.

Cato is a better rebounder, shot blocker and defender than Braggs. Cato gets up and down the court very well for a man his size and is athletic.

Braggs is probably better on the offensive end than Cato but I don't think he is any more than a role player off of the bench that could supply some quality minutes.

Cato is not a guy that the Rockets are willing to give up right now because he provides something that Braggs does not even begin to provide and that is a quality center behind Yao Ming.

I think Braggs lost his job to Alton Ford because the Rockets beleive that Ford has the potential to be very very good. Braggs is never going to be any better than he already is and just got caught in a numbers game. If the Rockets could carry an another man I think Braggs would still be here and probably getting some quality playing time.

The other two Power Forwards on this team are MoT (who I happen to think should be starting ahead of Cato) and Scott Padgett. Braggs IMO is a better overall player than Padgett but Scott has a superior outside shot. Braggs just is not in the same class as MoT as a basketball player.

 

Cato has been exceptionally effective as a PF defender this year. What are you talking about?

Having said that I would like to see Cato backing up the 4 and 5 spots.

 

Sorry Crash, I don't see how he was effective to defend Brad Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, Antoine Walker, Zach Randolph, AK 47 and even Clifford Robinson.

Those western Conf. PF all put up big number when played against us. Check the boxscore.

They are all quick and can shoot outside jumpers. Cato maybe a good post defender, but his speed is slow and his perimeter D sucks.

Can't blame him, because he is not a PF.

 

I like braggs, but i think alton ford will turn out to be a very good player, the very few minutes i've seen him play show that he is a very though player.

 

Yeah, and I think Rodderick Rhodes is better than Jim Jackson

 

I like Cato and JVG/Ewing seem to have found the player in this guy. His offense is for s**t but he is no longer a bust. But he would serve us better as backup 5/4. I keep hoping that Mr Glass will not show up. Knock on wood.

And Cato would be highly coveted in the East, so if we could package him with one of our guards....

Sorry, sorry. Couldn't help myself. But it's true. Cato has become a prized commodity. Imagine, if you would, Cato in Cleveland. He is more of the center that the Cavs need. I think he fits the running game they want. Not that we need Ilgauskas, but when I envision 3-team trades, Houston and Cleveland are often two parts of that triangle.

 

Your analysis is very unfair. Here is a break down of Cato’s match ups so far this season. Cato has held his opponent below their season averages in almost every occasion including games against AK47 and Zack Randolph. He played exceptionally well on the defensive end against Duncan in both games. He has out rebounded his opponent in most of the games as well. Cato’s problem is not defense it’s offense. I think he should come off of the bench for both PF and C positions.

Carlos Boozer was held to 1 for 6 by Cato. The 16% field goal percentage is far below Boozer’s average of 50%.

Duncan was held to 10 for 31 in two games against the Rockets by Cato making only 32 percent of
his shots. Cato held Duncan well below his 52% f/g average in both games.

Zach Randolf ate his lunch. Bad game by Cato.

PJ Brown hit 50 percent of his shots but only took 8 and finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds. Cato was much better than PJ in this game dominating him on the boards and blocking 4 shots and scoring more points.

AK47 had a great game but Cato only played 24 minutes and did play effectively when in the game hitting about 60 percent of his shots and blocking a couple of shots. Taylor played the bulk of the minutes and was the one that was on the floor the most. BTW, Rockets won this game.

VRad was 3 for 15 in this game for a whopping 20 percent f/g%

Brad Miller was awesome and just dominated Cato and anyone else on the team that tried to guard him.

AK47 - he scored 23 points but shot 45% from the floor which is below his season average of 47% shooting. AK47's six rebounds were also below his season average. Cato did have 14 rebounds in this game.

Chris Wilcox - 1 for 6 from the floor for a whopping f/g % of 16. Cato also out rebounded him

Zach Randolph - was held to 6 of 19 shooting for a 31% shooting. Far below his season average. Cato also out rebounded him 11 to 8.

Cliff Robinson was awesome in this game. The only thing good I can say about Cato is that he had more rebounds but was severely out played.

Dalembert - He had 8 pts 8 boards and 4 blocks. Cato had 7 points 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. You decide who was better.

Jerome Williams had 8 points and 11 rebounds while Cato had 6pts 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Another toss up.

Amare was held to 7 of 17 shooting by Cato. His 41% shooting was below his season average of 45%. Cato also out rebounded him 10 to 9 but Stoudemire had more blocks 5 to 4.

Nowitzki killed Cato. Bad game for big Kev

U. Haslem was held to 1 of 12 shooting be Cato. His 8% shooting was well below season average of 42%

Juwan Howard had a very good game and Cato lost this battle. However Cato did out rebound Howard 11 to 7.

Brian Scalabrine was held to 3 of 11 shooting. His 27% shooting is below his season average of 33%.

Tyson Chandler was held to 3 of 8 shooting for 37% shooting which is well below his season average of 49% In all fairness to Chandler he did out rebound Cato by 17 to 8.

Paul Gasol was held to 6 of 16 shooting. His 37% shooting percentage is far below his season f/g% of 45%. Cato also out rebounded Gasol 7 to 2.

Nene had 14 points 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Cato countered with 13 rebounds and 10 points.

 

First, Brad Miller is not a natural PF either. Miller is Vlade's heir apparent at Center and will take over there as Vlade plays fewer minutes due to aging. Miller is at PF because of Webber's injury.

Secondly, what aspect of Brad Miller's perimeter D is markedly superior to Cato's? It's a fair question to ask - Why aren't all these vastly superior opposing WC PF's beating up the Kings if Miller is approximately Cato's perimeter defensive equal?

I don't have time do go back and check the tape, but I strongly doubt that Clifford Robinson scored all of his 23 points on Cato given that Yao played 35 minutes, Dampier 45, Robinson 36, Cato 31 and Braggs 17.

I also don't consider Zach Randolph a perimeter player. That's why Rasheed is now Portland's SF.

Good NBA defenses are more than just 1 on 1 matchups. They are about doubles and rotations. While Kelvin Cato may not have the quickness to defend Nowitski on the perimeter, it is the secondary defenders and Yao that must provide help.

Dirk Nowitski is one of the toughest defensive assignments in the NBA and averages 19 ppg sharing the ball with Walker, Jamison and Finley. IOW, not very many players can stop him period. The only problem with Cato is not his perimeter D, it's the fact that (whether at C or PF) Cato's offensive game is a work in progress and his matchup doesn't have to expend a lot energy when Cato is on O. I'm a confirmed optimist and I can foresee that changing over time. Look at how much his amazed us in the past 15 months sinc Yao got here!


Oh...and I liked Braggs but he just isn't the long-term answer at PF. He's Kenny Thomas's size without any of KT's moves.

 

The thing that bugs me about Cato is that he turns our offense into 4 on 5, and I think that's why it has bogged down lately. Opposing coaches, having no fear of Cato's O, let their PFs run around and double whoever necessary, usually Yao.

This was clearly a factor in games against Utah and Minnesota, where AK47 and Garnett had huge defensive games and Yao was not able to be a factor.

I think JVG HAS to put MoT in as starting PF - just to keep opposing defenses honest and to get Yao and Steve off on the right foot in games. Tell Cuttino to focus on defense and that he can become the #1 or #2 option as soon as Yao or Steve takes a break - then you'll get the effect of having a punch off of the bench.

 

If your offensive game is as bad as Cato's is, I expect almost dominant play on defense and rebounding. While Cato is a hard worker that comes to play every night, the Rockets are going to eventually have to find a permanent solution at the 4. Braggs sure as hell wasn't a solution either though.

 

Cato is better suit up for back up center, he just not have a good perimeter jumper for PF, but I compliment him for being a good defensive player.

Overall, Rockets needs to get a good rebounding and good perimeter shooter.

 

Crash and Gater,

I think I should make myself more clear. First Cato's rebounding is excellent. I never discredit him on that. Second his post D is good, above average. I just think his D is not enough to offset his offense.

He do have trouble against those so called "Good" PF in the west, I am not worried about those average or below average PF, what harm can they do to us? 12pts or 7 rebs like that at the most. That is why I list PF Brad Miller (he do play PF now in Sac), Zach, Dirk, Walkerm AK 47 and Clifford Robinson. Those are good PFs by most standerds in the west.

Because Cato almost have no offense ability. None other than dunk. So to offset oppenents' PFs as much as possible, he has to lower their points, shooting pecentage signifiantly , Yes, signifiantly . I know it is unfair to him, but when your offense ability equals Zero, you have to play defense like Ben Wallace, you have to block shots like crazy and grab rebounds like crazy. 5 pts , 8.1 rebs and 1.7 blocks so far is good but not enough (except rebounding) for our starting PF.

Let's see further more:

Against Duncan, Cato played D extremely well, Duncan played a lot post in this two games, I said Cato's post D is good, but don't forget we double teamed Duncan a lot in two games, so his low score and low shot percentage cannot all credited to Cato. But he did have two excellent defense game.

I think he was totally lost in the games against Zach, AK47 and Brad Miller. We had to use Yao to defend Zach in the end against Portland and Mo T took most mins in fourth QT in two Utah games. His defending weakness is totally exposed in these games, slow speed, mediocre footwork and bad rotation. He is soo used to staying under the basket, play D in the post. He is a C after all and you can see how uncomfortable he was to come out to defend perimeter.

Overall, I don't think Cato is our long term starting PF as long as we want survive in the western conf. which loaded with star PF. But he is too expensive playing backup C, so trade him might be a good idea in the end.

 

Damn no edit, I mean he have to play his D to lower his oppenent's score significantly.

 

I'm with you. Cato has to go back to his center spot, or start hitting 10-12 footers. At defensive end, it's ok if he can't stop Zach or Dirk...i mean, these guys are almost unstoppable on 1 on 1 play.

 

I agree with ivanyy2000.

 

Braggs is a little better offensively than Cato but not near the post defender or rebounder. On top of that he was an undersized 4.

WHAT IS BECOMING APPARENT is the 5 on 4 defenses we routinely see with Cato on the floor, usually double teaming Yao and/or SF. Cato is then shamed into bricking a 15 footer.

Would like to see MoT inserted into the starting lineup and let Cato backup Yao for 18-20 minutes/game, as it is apparent that Yao's stamina just ain't there (which is worrisome). He looks winded after 6-8 minutes and the team suffers. He can also backup MoT with Padgett spotting in depending on matchups.

Cato's offensive ineptitute is really being exposed and it's hurting the team now. Time for a change.

D R

 

I hope the Cato experiment ends soon. I appreciate his stepping up, but he is hurting the team as ivannyy2000 says. I'd rather see MoT in there. The bad thing with that though is our bench scoring goes down. Your substitution would want to leave at least 3 starters on the floor at all times - subbing in shifts. What's Ford's shot range?

 

The point isn't that Brad Miller is a better powerforward, the point is that Brad Miller had a career day against our powerforwards. He almost put that game out of reach by himself and it was the Rockets worst loss by far.

The Rockets aren't going anywhere with their fours, I also appreciate what Cato has done, and right now I believe he is still a better option than Mo, given that this team is relying on their defense, but it is a problem that will have to be addressed.