Obviously, everyone is aware how much better he is playing, but did you see those two plays last night? Both involve him jumping in front of passes on the defensive end. The first one he poke the ball away, outran the freakin' point guard, got control of it and then slammed it. On the second one, he stole the ball again and when it appeared to be going out of bounds, he threw a perfect behind the back pass over two defenders to set up an easy fast break dunk. This is from the guy who couldn't even catch a pass on a dish to the bucket earlier this year. Do they sell Cato jerseys?
Kudos to Cato...he is playing much much better. Still, I am more happy that he has increased his trade value, as he still manages to let the Ostertags of the world light him up way too often.
He has always had the talent. Motivation has been Cato's problem. When he feels like playing, he can play.
His play has been much better. Not enough to keep me from wanting to trade him though. The thing that I really like and really makes me hesitate is this: it seems to me that he has finally accepted his role on the team and is happy to fill that role. No grumbling about minutes or shots; no 'since you won't include me in the offense, I won't try of defense' bull. It's good to have someone who will just do their assignment and keep out of the way of other people who need to do theirs.
I'm sorry, but those two plays just had me busting my gut. Cato was very lucky they both worked. I admire the effort he put in last night, but in no way should we expect Cato to be successful with behind the back passes, or dribbling downcourt after a steal for a slam. That said, it looks like he is having fun, and if he's having fun then I think we can expect him to be much more interested in the game, and better production on both ends of the floor. B
Someone should show him a tape of Ben Wallace and tell him to "do that Cato". If it was only that easy. The sad thing is he could do it if he tried. ________________________________ milo
I understand why you feel that way but the reality is that we'd better keep him. We need solid 5 play. If Cato can sustain this level of play, there is nobody worth trading for. I'm not sure if I'd even take Dikembe since he's older now and that would hurt our long term nucleous. I wouldn't trade for Morning or Robinson either. If we dump Cato, we better replace him somehow. The problem is, there aren't any better options. I don't think the Rocks will be successful if we don't get consistent big man play.
Those weren't plays. That was purely a result of Cato's defensive hussle. You can't call it lucky when we wouldn't even be having this dicussion if he hadn't made the steal. Anything after that is just gravy. Be happy it resulted in a score but to call it luck doesn't seem appropriate since it it happened by his, and his alone, accord. Call it amazing, call it great, call it anything but luck.
I'm opposed to trading Cato. He's playing fantastically and will fit in well with this team as a solid center but not one who needs the ball a lot. He's becoming a defensive AND offensive threat to other teams now.. I truly think he can and will become a player who averages around 12 ppg give or take 2 pts, 10 rpg (unless KT keeps up his excellent rebounding and Griffin starts to rebound well again.. there just won't be enough rebounds to go around ), and 2 bpg... as long as he keeps up the enthusiasm. Props to Cato and his improvement, keep it up!
Cato will never be the ideal center for this team, until he develops a consistent mid-range jumper. The only thing that he does consistently now, is dunk it. While that's a definite improvement over previous years, it's not enough yet. The notion that we don't need a center that has to have the ball in his hands to be effective, is somewhat flawed. There are going to be times when the outside shots are just not falling. That's when we'll need to go inside. The problem right now, is that Cato doesn't have any range on his shots & therefore, commands no respect from his defender. With the zone defense, Cato's defender can cheat away from him & be in position to seal off the lanes from our slashers. If Cato stays consistent & develops a mid-range or better jumper this off season, then I'll jump on the Cato bandwagon. Until then, he's just a career backup in my book.
Cato needs to attend a big man school over the summer and develop some low post offense. He has decent shooting technique on free throws so I think there's hope. If he could expand his range from dunk to about 10 feet it would enhance our offense immeasurably. Would not trade hime now unless we get an offer we can't refuse. Also he's become the best flopper on the team Wonder where he learned that? Dallas Rocket
He doesn't need a mid range shot to be effective. What he really needs is to play hard every night and just develop the standard Rockets big man jump hook. Through the yrs from Sampson and Hakeem,Jim Peterson, even Othella had a nice jump hook. When you're 6'10 and up, elevate and shoot the jump hook, its pretty much unstoppable. Thats what he needs.
Hottoddie, I agree, we need that inside presence when the outside shots are not falling. But it does not necessarily have to come from Cato. I can actually see it coming from Griffin in time. He can hit the mid range jumper and as he gets stronger, he'll be able to develop some post moves. Quick Cato question for anyone. Was Cato basketball inexperienced coming to the Rockets? I was under the (maybe mistaken) impression that he didn't play much basketball growing up. And I know he didn't play a whole lot his first couple of years in the NBA (he is in his fifth year). Are we just seeing the maturation process of a talented but inexperienced basketball player finally learning the game?
I think what you see is a player that plays hard when he chooses to. When he was in Portland and the little time he played, he played hard, blocked shots and everything. Now he plays in spurts since he was handed the fat contract. He'snot as lazy or as talented as say Elden Campbell, but he's pretty close. Most time you can tell by someones third yr what kind of player you will have. Seeing this is his 5th, i think we need to improve that spot.
You missed my point. I'm not saying he needs a mid-range shot to be effective. I'm saying he needs a mid-range shot to make the team more effective. Thus, opening the lanes up a bit. As for the other centers that you mentioned, our offense was primarily a low post game during their time, but now it's more of a perimeter/slashing game involving, primarily, the guards. Our center needs to have some shooting range. A nice hook shot would also be welcome.
If offered, I would trade Cato plus our number 5 - 8 pick for the No. 1 pick, plus cap fodder, and then take Ming. This assumes that Cato has positive trade value, which I think he now carries.
now im not askin for a hakeem caliber center (well, is there any out tehre in this day n age???) but cato sucks ass... im sorry but hes pittiful.. he should be avg. at least a double double... the 5 is the rockets weakest position and they are crazy loaded at the forwards spot... next year it will be francis n mobley in the backcourt, prolly griffin at the 3, mo at the 4, and hopefully not cato at the 5.. we still have rice, the wizard, kenny thomas have left over... id deal one of those guys for a 5.... but then again, a good 5 is hard to get these days... now ppl are realizing the loss of dream... back to dream for a sec tho, u kno when he had that big knee surgeery in liek 98? and then he became a 10-10 guy... then pippen came, and he was avg. 18-22 ppg every nite... man i still wish pippen never left and him and barkeley cuolda worked things out... things would been great (sorry for the reminisce)
