Honestly I think we put to much pressure on Kelvin and had to high of expectations to be the next "Dream" when we got him. As Rockets fans we have been spoiled by great centers and although Kelvin has all the physical attributes, for some it just doesnt click. Or maybe its the work ethic who knows. Eitherway I think there are 25 other teams in the league who would love to have him as a starter. While we "USED" to bash him left and right. Im on the Kelvinator bandwagon again as well....
There will always be people that will be happy/unhappy with those stats (the higher ones). But the fact of the matter, MOST people thought that 6.6ppg/7.0rpg WAS NOT worth 42mil. I think the issue was whether or not he improved.
well...atleast his freethrows are going in more often now. He is husstling more. I just wish his rebounds came down with more athority, he was given them away by being stripped too many times.
I didn't say that I though he would. I suggested that the fans and Rockets staff would have expected (demanded) 15ppg from him to justify a starting center getting 42mil.
Cato is a starting quality C. He just needs to be on a team where he's not involved with the actual offense, and gets his points off of rebounds/hardwork. The difference with Cato is that, he's finding that he's getting rewarded for working harder by getting some points and extra fan support. Cato is averaging 14+ rebounds a game per 48 minutes, and 12+ ppg in 48 minutes. Assuming those numbers are skewed, you dont' think he could average 10pts, 12reb, 2 blocks? Do you know how many teams would murder for that? I'd say around 20 teams. Watch how much interest he gets this summer. Unfortunately, I admit that we're going to have to give him up, because we can't afford 2 starting C's, and theire are tons of FA's in the summer who can play the shortened minutes he'd be getting with Yao improving his stamina. Elden Campbell, for example, would be a nice FA addition, could back up the 4 and 5. I'd like to point out that we have worse contracts though. MoTaylor's contract is absurd, unless he tops what he did in his best season (2 seasons ago, Rockets). Moochie Norris' contract is also worse. ANOTHER thing I'd like to make clear is that Cato makes (on average) almost 2M less than the average C, and make 0.1M more than the average starting C. Are you telling me 10pts/12reb/2blk is AVERAGE these days? No way. Cato is a hot commodity. Must I remind you that we kept Cato in case Yao Ming wouldn't produce anything this year, meaning they had faith in him as the starter after last year's inspired play. Yes, he played excellent basketball last season, regardless of stats.
You clearly overrated Cato. He's a great backup center in this leauge and that is. He only put up 6.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.27 bpg last season. What made you think he can get 10 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 bpg? Okay he did improve but by this much? And 12 rpg would put him tied for 3rd in the leauge with Tim Duncan so you are telling me that Cato is as good as a rebounder as Duncan? He still is a player with no offensive move and is a huge liability on the offense so that's no way a team with the right mind (espeically those contending teams) would play him 40 mpg. Ben Wallace averages 6.6 ppg, 14.6 rpg, 3 bpg in 35 mpg. That's no way Cato can do better or even close to that.
And Rockets management clearly overrated Cato just like you or else they wouldn't give him such a big contract.
Hey DavidS did you even bother to read the "connecting" post that promted my supply of the stats? Can you read and comprehend at all or you just post like a loose canon? Gooosh.....if you do not understand the situation...butt out. A fellower BBSer said he had a GREAT 2001-2002 season (albeit second half) so I provided the facts in the form of stats to dissprove his claim - QED. Cato has not improved - he is just doing what he does well i.e. playing descently as a backup center. Sane There are not stats or trend or history to back your claim that Cato is a legitimately NBA starting center. He does not have the desire and work ethic it takes to be one even if it does not take much these days to be a starting center in the NBA. You are simply reaching and your motives are best known to you. Enough of the per 48 minutes stats (which many atime paints a distorted picture of the reality) - lets discuss his past "STARTING" years because many can play off-the-bench and put up all star per 48 minutes as well. This same distorted view was the reason why the Rockets commited 42 million USD to him for 7 years - even Hakeem thought it was ridiculous.
Cato wouldn't do better, you're right. But Cato is a much better offensive player than Wallace, and is neck-n-neck with Wallace for best rebounder per minute in the entire league. A few games ago, Cato was #1, but as of now, he may have slipped to #2. Here's a list of teams that would GLADLY take Cato's salary for his production: Miami (Does what Grant does for half the money) Orlando Milwaukee Memphis Dallas Utah Philadelphia New Jersey (half of Mutombo's salary, better athleticism) That's off the top of my head.
Why do Miami want Cato? Apart from Brian Grant, they have a guy called Vladimir Stepania who is 3rd in rpg for 48 mins. By your logic, he could also be a starting center on any team.
OK, let's play that game. So you went through the list and eliminated Miami. So all those other teams are OK for the deal? Just for this argument's sake, I would like to note that Miami has inquired about Cato in the past. That's just FYI.
Fegwu, Please do me a big favor and RE-READ my post. I said that Cato played great during the second HALF of last season, not the entire season. You totally misread that part. Let's look at the facts: Cato in December 2001: 29.7 minutes per game 62.0% FG percentage 9.5 pts per game 8.4 reb per game (13.6 reb per 48 minutes) 1.2 blocks per game Cato in January 2002: 30.8 mpg 59.3% FGs 5.5 ppg 9.5 rpg (14.8 reb per 48 minutes) 1.5 bpg Cato in February 2002: 26.1 mpg 68.1% FGs (unreal) 7.0 ppg 6.9 rpg (12.7 reb per 48 minutes) 2.1 bpg His numbers (and minutes declined in March), but this is the kind of effort I'm talking about. Cato's production increased significantly coming into the 2002-03 season. He was playing well long before we drafted Yao Ming, guys. If we hadn't drafted Yao Ming, Cato would be playing 33 minutes per game, and averaging about 8.5 points on 53% shooting, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks. It's unfortunate for Cato that Yao was drafted to Houston, but Cato's play would make him a starting center on many teams in the league. I love the way he plays, but with his contract, we may have to trade him eventually, just because of Yao.
Sorry I am not bothered to play this game with you. My point is very clear. Cato's a great backup center but he's overpaid for a backup role-playing center, that's all.
He is overpaid for an average backup C, but he happens to be one of the best if not the best backup in the league, so therefore I understand why so he is getting paid so well. If only he had an offensive game, then maybe he'd be top 10 C in the league. Overall, his aggressive play is very important to the Rockets. No one else plays with his intensity for the Rockets. MoTaylor is overpaid. I could name a lot of PF that is better than he is, but getting a lot less.
If you want me to butt out, you can put me on your ignore list. But if you do, I will continue to quote your post for all the group to see if I disgree with one of your points. It's called free speech. Disagreements and debate are fine with me. But telling me to butt out...well, that's another story. How do you measure, hustle? How do you measure defensive stops? How do you measure forcing turnovers? How do you measure, picking up your first foul late in the 2nd quarter? How do measure, boxing out properly? See, you need to open up your eyes. It's obvious you don't understand all facets of the game in terms of "playing smarter." I never said that he was worth 42mil, but I did say that he has improved. But it's hard to tell because he's coming off the bench and he never had the chance to prove it as a starter (not that I want him to start).
BTW, couldn't you see my point? Rebs for 48 mins are not a good indication of a player's ability and whether a player could be a starting center or not in this league. Otherwise Vladimir Stepania (anyone knows who he's?) would be a starting material as well right?
