Guys, I really liked the way Padget plays the 4 position with Yao at center, he is a much better passer, ball handler and shooter than Cato, and he stretches defenses with his 3 point range, thus allowing Yao to get more room to work on the block. I think Cato should go back to his role as backup center and let Padgett and Mo T get the majority of minutes at the PF position. We need 5 players who can pass in order to be effective, and Cato, though defensively strong, is simply not a good offensive player. In fact, I would trade Cato while his value is high to an east coast team if you could get a good player for him. DD
Not sure if I want him starting since Cato gets the defense going early in the game. Padget has been playing well though, and I'd like to see him play more minutes.
I sorta agree with Old Man Bernie. I don't want Padgett starting..but I don't really like Cato starting either. Padgett, Cato, and Taylor are all wonderful..fantastic backups. I think we should split the time. Padgett is great...fundamental just plays the game..does a little of everything..and tries. Cato provides energy and intensity and defense. We need his effort and motivation. Taylor is also good offense and solid backup. Split the time! I'm not sure about Cato starting because...defenses just leave him open. This is not good for our offense.
I think Cato has earned it. He's been doing a great job. And it's exciting to see Steve throw him an alleyoop pass But I also think Padgette should get some playing time..
I think Padget will only really shine when he comes into the game in spurts, i don't think he is starter material. I think Cato is doing well now, but we still need a PF that can Bring Mo's Scoring ability and Catos Rebounds and defence
Starting? Too early to give Padget the starting position unless the gameplan justifies it. He needs to earn it. However, it's nice to see Padget coming into the rotation. Like Ben Wallace, Cato should develop some offensive moves. Ben has really some nice moves
It is not the defense that is the Rockets problem, but the OFFENSE. Cato is terrible at passing the ball from the high post, and Padget is good at it. Not to mention that Yao gets more room to operate if he is the only one on the blocks. I think Cato is a hinderince to the teams offense. DD
C's coach O'B said he wished Cato had started. Pretty telling. Cato = good back up 5, good for some minutes at 4 when D is called for against post up 4. I wish KC were the team's biggest problem...
Padgett cant rebound (dont let 12 rebounds the other night fool you) and wont be able to hold Duncan, Brand, etc etc. You may say that Cato cant either, this is true, but remember Cato is leaps and bounds better than Padgett defensively (he did hold his own against Shaq). Also the success of our defense not only hinges on Cato controlling the paint, but the fact that hes a good rebounder and keeps the other team from getting 2nd chances.
In this case, I think less is more. The rotation actually can produce pretty good numbers for the slot. We don't need any more superstars clogging up the works. Mark Jackson may be just what the dr ordered, letting lil stevie cool his jets occasionally. And stop dribbln that damn ball in the hallway son ! ok, here we go. Yao is generating some crazy talk from calvin, so things may be getting ready to take off. In relative terms of course. Suddenly second round is a possability.
I like the idea of Padgett as the starter. The idea I'm referring to is a power forward with range from the 3 point line; just not necessarily Padgett. That is, OK for now, depending on the matchup. But an outside-shooting 4, such as one of the "ee's": Rasheed or maybe even Shareef (well, he hits the long 2 pretty well, not the 3 pointer; I guess Mo can do that, too). We hit on something by accident with Cato being out for that game. Ultimately, I like Cato coming in as the backup 5/4.
I still like the idea of Cato being the starter. Padgett does need more minutes though. he looks great out there.
Why was Padget let go from Utah? I like his game. He's the Bullard for the 90's, er....what do we call now? the 00's? He's the kind of guy we need coming off the bench to win championships. He's a great bench depth guy who is actually capable of producing. Horrible idea. Keep him where he's doing well. Within a week the fickle masses would be screaming about his horrible defense against most PFs in the league. No go.
It was just one game. Padgett did well against boston, but I dont' think he can do that consistently against other team. Boston had a small lineup, walter is basically a small forward, and he had no inside game. I don't see how Padgett can compete against other legit pf. I like moT starting, but then there would be no offense coming off the bench.
.... Why do we want a PF that goes out there and shoot 3s start? The Rockets are relying on their defense to win most of their games. Having a PF that shoot 3s.. isn't that what we all complained about Eddie Griffin last year?... and the year before? Not to mention it will kill any possibility of second chance points with Yao getting boxed out with no weak side help. Cato's playing exceptionally nice defense this year with good intensity. He's also developing a sweet spot jumper around the free throw line area. If he can work on that shot and nail it consistantly... (a la Horace Grant), that could free up Yao in the future while the defense stays at the top.
I think Cliff Robinson would be nice for this team. Decent size and defense, excellent long range shooting, good overall skills. Someone in his mold would be perfect. Since we're discussing our PF slot, do you guys think the Suns will cut McDyess? If so, you think he'd sign with us for the rest of the year? (Back home, contending team, need some toughness, can afford the hit if he goes down)
Difference between a guy like EG and a guy like Padgett taking 3s is Padgett is actually good at making them. EG's ugly flat shot always made me cringe. Wile I agree Cato isn't an offensive threat, I think in the longrun having him on the floor would be beneficial. He adds that toughness the Rockets lack in the frontcourt. He was great support for Yao in the Lakers match and did an excellent job on O'Neal. I dunno if he'll have time to provide the same kind of help defense when Malone comes into the picture but he'll still be there to atleast try and contain Shaq. He also did a pretty good job against Duncan from what I remember. Granted the first game we had against them, nobody could score worth a damn and the second game the Spurs lead was so big in the 4th they rested Duncan, but he didn't have his usual numbers when Cato was guarding him. The only guy he couldn't guard at all was Garnett, and that's because Garnett has more of a perimeter face up game, and is quick off the dribble to go around his man. He does have a good fadeaway jumper but for the most part his game is around the perimeter and was just much quicker then Cato when he was on the floor. The downside to that game was when MoT or Padgett would come in, they would both get outrebounded by Garnett because of his long reach and good vertical. Truthfully no one could guard him, and no one could score off of him either. And in the Spurs games MoT kept getting stuffed by Duncan and was such a blackhole he was more of a liability on the floor then Cato was. Everytime he was in dunking range, Duncan was right behind him, and no matter how many pump fakes MoT put up, Duncan wouldn't budge and would just stuff him. As offensively complete as MoT is in comparison to Cato, he never seems to do a damn thing against longer, taller power forwards, and those are the exact PFs the Rockets will be facing if they're going to the playoffs. Truthfully all the big 5 teams will be giving us fits at the PF spot, with the only ones around the same heigh as MoT being Webber and Malone. Nowitzki's a flake on defense but then again Dallas is the same team that's beaten us 5 times in row with leads in the double digits everytime I believe. Rotating the PF position for MoT when he's similar sized PFs or just flakes on D wouldn't be a bad idea, but with guys like Duncan and Garnett keeping Cato in the starting rotation would be more beneficial. I actually believe Cato's defense is more vital to the team then the offense. Barring the occasional mental lapses he makes in taking consecutive mid range jumpers that go off the backboard, he knows when to take his shots, and for the most part knows his range. That equals to more shot opportunities for the other guys on the floor. Also with all the talk I keep hearing from JVG, he's so high on Cato I don't think he'll take him out of the rotation anytime soon. From the sounds of it, he's taken him on as a project at the PF spot in the offseason. It sounds like he'll get him to work on his midrange jumper and drop some more weight to be a bit quicker off the ball to defend guys around the perimeter. In conclusion, I think JVG thinking in the longrun and will have Cato more ready by the offseason to handle the PF spot a bit more.
