Cato started the first 10 games, why not give the season some symmetry? Mr. Mean has less confidence in Ming than a 10 yr old condom he picked up off the street.
To clarify, Cato brings a lot - he hustles, rebounds, defends, finishes at the rim. He's a valuable, essential role player. But Mean clearly does not inspire Ming to new heights. There is fatigue, there is foul trouble, then there is BS. Yanking Ming at the first sign of trouble is BS.
Cato is great coming off the bench! Thats just my opinion. Ming's confidence appears to be shot. I don't know why, maybe it was the Shaq game. But to tell you the truth, I think the lose(sp?) of Rudy has affected Ming more then any1 else. Rudy is a players coach and i think Ming really admired Rudy and felt close to him. More then anything else, I believe these troubles Ming has had are mental, not physical.
I really want to know what is Larry Smith's head. I really miss Rudy in spite of the fact that I was not really big on him. The Rockets will win but make no mistake about the fact that Larry Will have little or nothing to do with it. Larry is the only coach I know that alters a winning team and game plan (I am talking about the root of the mini funk the Rockets are in). Rubbish Larry. As for Cato, he is really doing a good job but I still cannot find a way to forget the BS he brought to court in three previous seasons. He almost did not care until Yao showed up.
Situation substitution maybe? On the pre game show Larry Smith said that he wanted the Rox to "match the intensity" of the Nuggets. Wow, I would think that they would want to impose their will on a less superior opponent.
Yeah I heard that too. I thought it was a slip of tongue because it just did not make any sense. Matching the intensity of an under dog at home?
Look's like Yao Ming's season just got restarted after Larry Smith took over. Playing just 15 minutes as a starting center? That's freaking rediculous. It is not like Yao is playing horrible or anything. He still got 11 points.
Sorry I was being sarcastic in the first post. Nothing against Cato, I think he's our most improved player. It's just with Ming going through a confidence crises, 6 total 2nd half minutes and zero 4th quarter minutes over the last two games shows a clear coaching preference and a vote of no-confidence. Mr. Mean has chosen the 2000-2001 Rockets style - Iso, more Moochie, drive and kick, Mo down low. I'm afraid the results will be the same - best record for a team that doesn't make the playoffs. Except this time a 7'6" elephant is sitting on the bench.
You know what, I'm really torn on this Larry Smith situation. On one hand Yao's a young player and we need to help his confidence, and benching him is just not the way to do it. Look what at what it did to Kwane Brown. Yao seemed to grew because of Rudy's players coach style. Despite his early struggles, Rudy continued to play him until he he started to hit his stride and then proceed to start him and continue to start him even when Yao hit the wall till Yao got past it. On the other hand, maybe Yao's being babied a little too much by Rudy, who is a real players coach. Now all the fans here complain how much Rudy let the Cat and Steve gets away with, but Yao gets away a lot too. He does play too passively, it has nothing to do with trying to be the next Shaq or what not, when you are 7'5 u need to atleast try to grab every board or block every shot. And some one comes into the lane, send the dude to the floor if you don't block the shot. Yao's our center, not a 7'5 sf, it goes with job description. I don't know, I just hope Yao can recover so the Rox can get better themselves.
Gee, Yao has 4 fouls (yes 4 fouls in 15 minutes) and a whopping 2 rebs. He did a nice job from the free throw line and had a couple blocks. Cato comes in, shoots 6-7, grabs 6 boards, and swats 6 shots. You play the person that is playing better.
To add to my previous post, what is going to do Yao's development more good: Playing in a playoff series, or playing 5 extra minutes against the Denver freakin' Nuggets? Right now, we have to do whatever it takes to make the playoffs.
This guy makes a great point. Cato is playing way better then Yao lately. He should get to start and he actually runs up and down the court.
You know what, when Eddie Griffin played like sh*t a month ago, people here talking about what Rox should do to avoid hurting his confidence. Right now I will say Larry smith really did a great job destroy Yao's confidence. I am not saying Yao cannot get benched when he doesn't play well, but a starting Center playing average 20mins and sit entire 4th QT in a row. That is too much. Well, seems coach Larry finally realized Rox' future is Cato. Good luck to him.
Enlighten me, please. Just FYI, I'm not a Yao-only fan, while I have nothing against them - the more the merrier. Please don't look at my handle and make assumptions (not saying anyone, specifically). But when you watch your franchise center sitting dejected the entire 4th quarter of the Spurs and Nuggets games, you've got to wonder if it's not just harsh, but counterproductive. Think about it this way - If Mean can get Yao going, is there any doubt we can win more games down the stretch?? While Cato brings good things - watching him shoot is painful.
