Center move not in offing http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1094667Oct. 18, 2001, 12:01AM Center move not in offing Rockets see few options By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle The next step -- or at least picking a direction to turn -- could have been clear. The Rockets had a minimum of two weeks to consider the possibility Marc Jackson would not be theirs and what they could do about it. They learned Monday the Golden State Warriors would match their offer to the second-year center. On Wednesday, the Warriors finally got around to keeping Jackson on their roster. But when it became time to move on, the Rockets were not sure where to go. Indecision is not the problem. They know they would like to add one more big body. But by now, the options are severely limited. And even their own centers' potential remains too difficult to define for the Rockets to be certain where they stand. "We're going to look at different situations and see what comes up," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "It might be a free agent. It might be a player on a team, or it might be no one. We're going to look at a lot of things." The disabled player exception by which the Rockets made their offer to Jackson expires at midnight Monday. Tomjanovich said it is not essential the Rockets act on their limited-time offer. The top frontcourt free agents are forwards Anthony Mason and Chris Gatling. But the Rockets made no move toward either when Maurice Taylor was hurt. They signed Jackson the day the exception was allowed and have shown no inclination to add a forward, even temporarily, to the roster. Conversations with center Shawnelle Scott, who has since signed with the Denver Nuggets after the injury to Antonio McDyess, offer another indication the Rockets would prefer to add a center, if anyone. But the free agents available are unlikely to offer much more than the centers already on the roster. Kelvin Cato has played well in the preseason, particularly on defense, where he has generally shown more discipline than in previous seasons. But when he crashed to the court in Monday's third quarter and bruised his right wrist, the injury, though not considered serious, reminded the Rockets they do not have a center ready to play from start to finish if one of the others goes down. Jason Collier's return from last season's knee surgeries was stalled by surgery to remove a cyst, and his two appearances since have displayed his rustiness. But he also flashed the shooting touch that drew the Rockets to him in the first place, and he had a strong showing in Wednesday's practice to help ease minds. "I like our guys," Tomjanovich said. "We were thinking, with injuries, we probably need three centers. Eddie (Griffin) can play some center against the backups. We're going to look at everything before we rule anything out. (Using the exception) is not a must. We're still looking at it. We have to see what's there, then measure and analyze where we're at." The Rockets could use the exception, worth $3.25 million this season, to make a trade that otherwise would not work with the salary-cap rules. But centers have become the most coveted of commodities. The Rockets' best option, or at least most handy answers, might be the centers already on the roster. "I think it's going great," Cato said. "My teammates have been proud of the way I'm getting better every day. The coaching staff seems to be proud of me, and I'm pleased with how I've been performing. I've just been maintaining and not making stupid mistakes and just trying to get in the rhythm of playing." With the exception of an early stretch Monday, Cato has shown improvement by being less likely to fall for fakes, keeping him in better position defensively and on the boards. That improvement could be the key to his ability to play the kind of minutes the Rockets will need and factor into their decision-making this week. "That's more along the line of maturing and listening to the coaching staff telling me to stay down," Cato said. "They say when I just get out of position, I hurt the team more than when I try to help by blocking shots of my own man. I'm learning still." Cato and Collier, coming off injury-filled seasons in which they combined to play just 58 games, did not take offense to the Rockets' pursuit of Jackson. But Cato said he would have used Jackson's arrival as added incentive to earn his starting position. "I'd love to have Marc Jackson on this team," Cato said. "You never know how the process goes. But if Jason Collier stays injury-free and I stay injury-free, I think we can do a good job and we can take care of this. "You always need help. If they brought Marc Jackson here, and it helped the team in situations or helped me be on my guard a little bit more to hold on to my starting position, I have no problem with that. We really thought he was going to be here. But with him here or not here, I think we have a legitimate shot to try to win a title." The Rockets have been pleased with Cato's play and Collier's improvement in recent days. Ike Nwankwo has shown enough for the Rockets to consider him more than a training-camp body and perhaps the third center. Nwankwo, who knew the loss of Jackson could open a spot for him, said he would not change his approach. But despite taking an elbow to his broken nose Monday while warming up, he quickly sopped up the blood and refused to let coaches know he was hit. "I didn't want them not to play me," Nwankwo said. "I just want to keep playing hard, playing defense and rebounding, and we'll see." Collier just wants to stay well and hopes that being able to work hard will allow him to shake off the rust. "It's been tough a little bit," he said. "But you've got to dwell on every positive you possible can. There's been a lot of negatives that I feel personally. A lot of people see it differently. But I have to go do the best I possibly can." If even Cato can be so cheerful, the Rockets can consider their next move without panic. Without Jackson, there is considerably less margin for error, but at least they have reason to hope they won't need it. "I feel great knowing I'm supposed to be the starting center and only I could take that away from me right now," Cato said. "If I go out there and continue to do what the coaching staff wants me to do and do things the right way and make my teammates happy, I think I'd be able to hold it tighter and do it OK." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes Rice gets new ache Typical of the Rockets' preseason health troubles, good news on Glen Rice's condition had to be tempered by a new injury concern Wednesday. Rice's first preseason game test of his sore left foot and right Achilles' was deemed a complete success, and he returned to practice Wednesday. But Rice was hit by a hard back pick set by center Ike Nwankwo, forcing him to miss the rest of practice. "It was like a shot," Rice said. "I just had to get a little treatment. God, I hate missing practice. The feet are feeling really good. I don't think this (the back) will take too long. It's more of a back spasm. This is the best the left foot has felt in a year. I'm very excited about that. I'm looking for great things to happen." Mobley practices Rockets guard Cuttino Mobley returned to practice for the first time since suffering a strained hip flexor Oct. 4 and could be ready to play in the Rockets' preseason game Friday at Orlando. "It's OK," Mobley said. "I'm going to try on Friday to see where I'm at. I'm anxious to get back, but I don't want to hurt it. We'll see how I feel (today). I might play Friday; I might not play." Mobley didn't like missing the Rockets' first four preseason games. "It was terrible," he said. "I don't have any hobbies. I was in pain. I was watching a lot of The Godfather and a lot of Scarface." Griffin on mend Elsewhere on the Rockets' injury front, forward Eddie Griffin had been hoping to return from his sprained right ankle Friday, but he is more likely to see his first preseason action Sunday against the Spurs. Walt Williams, who missed the past two games with back spasms, was able to run Wednesday. But he did not go through the contact portion of practice and is questionable for Friday's game. -- JONATHAN FEIGEN
After watching Cato the last few games and hearing him speak to straightforward men like Feigan and Berman I think that cunning swine Blineberry should be fired.
I like what I hear from Cato, but for me, Cato needs to speak in actions during the regular season. He sounds like he has a better attitude, he looks like he is taking the right approach now, but the most important thing for him is to make this a habit. He can't let this be a one or two week improvement. If he can focus on improving for the next 30-90 days, it should become habit, and most of us will pleased with what he does on the court. A productive Cato at center, and a healthy Rice could help this team go a little farther than last season. (Not to mention what a productive Griffin, Morris and Torres could do.) B
Smeg, why? Just because he doesn't pre-plan a story to fit around a conglomeration of dastardly metaphors that just happend to come out of his ass that particular morning.
Fran Blinebury needs to eat hot mayonaise. These are quotes, folks, not that crap he was throwing out a week or so ago. Go Taurus cbfc
Busty, It's always positive from Feigan, he writes the facts great, which is excellent but his angle is usually positive, and from my point of view and a limited number of others not everything is perfect and super with the rockets roster. The front court is fairly ordinary and defense is illegal. Feigan's articles which are always good reads, seem way too positive. We didn't make the playoffs last year and although we have some absolute studs, our front court as it stands is a large downgrade fro last year and so now we have just disappointingly missed out on a major improvement to our frontcourt so how does he spin his story about Kelly's improvement, Collier and some guy who won't play, just sounded like the media release from the rockets to re-assure everyone that the team, inparticular the front court is dandy and make sure the organisation gets bums on seats. Smeg PS After years of everyone on this board ripping shreads of Cato, i cannot believe the response to Mullet boys Cato article. PPS Everyone reads Feigan's article and goes nice read, ho-hum and moves on, now a Mullet story really riles up the readers and surely that can't be a bad thing.
Smeg I hear ya. But you know theres really no need to put a positive spin on a young man who just moments after silencing the crowd into shock with the sound of his body hitting the hardwood, returns with a heavily bandaged hand and re-enters a preseason game and helps his teamates in victory.
I feel llike Im reading about my 4 year old telling me about how much his preschool teachers liked his connect the dot picture. HEY CATO...SHUT UP AND PRODUCE ALREADY!!!!! At this rate, he should be playing to his potential by the age of 45.
NJR, if you -- like seemingly everyone -- won't be sold until he plays consistently well in the regular season, lay off until he has an opportunity to actually play a regular season game. It isn't his fault games don't start until Halloween. He's playing well in games he has the opportunity to play in. I was very encouraged to read, not the Feigen article, but the quotes by Cato in the Feigen article. He's saying the right things and if there is spinning going on, it's Cato not Feigen. I like to hear that he's feeling a reward that he values coming from his team when he plays well. Even if it were a 4-year old mentality (which I don't think it is), it can still be relied on for some positive reinforcement to continue with the approach he's taken to preseason games.
Man, cut the guy some slack! Cato is showing me something! All I wanted him to do was work hard, try and produce, and have a good attitude, and he is doing all of that. People told him to produce in the preseason, and he is doing it. I know there are people saying "well I want to see him produce in the regular season", well he can't do that until the regular season starts!
You guys won't be dogging Cato anymore once he's leading the NBA in rebounding, like he did last year!
I'll admit that Cato has performed admirably, thus far, in the preseason. However, there is no way that I'm going to jump on the Cato bandwagon, until he plays this consistently at least 20 games into the regular season. At that time, I'll be man enough to stand up & congratulate him on his improved game. I had planned on doing the same for Walt last year, but he went back to his same old inconsistent self. It seems to me that some poster's opinions change like the wind. The fact is, that Cato has shown some improvement in the first 3 preseason games, but he's still having problems hanging on to the ball. What good is getting the rebound if you drop it or let the other team knock it out of your hands? Is stickum allowed in the NBA? I do like the improved hustle & attitude, but he has to do it consistently to win me over. Like "B" said, talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words. The last time he played like this, the Rockets gave the man a contract that so many of us have complained about & has made it so difficult to find a taker for him. Cato has the God given ability to be a monster center in the NBA, but does he have the heart to back it up, play through pain, & not get depressed when criticized? Cato, "The Man", is the only one that can elevate his game to a level that'll make us not miss Dream this year & for years to come. Only time & consistentcy will convince me that he's the real deal & not just a creme puff.
I'm not on the Cato bandwagon and my opinion never changed. The problem is that people are pounding on Cato so much they forget why they're doing it. The reason Cato has a bad rap is because he was lazy and had a bad attitude. Well that is changing so far, so how is it going to hurt to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and actually root for him and hope he improves? What's the fun in pounding the guy night in and night out? If you want to see consistency you have to give it time. The guy has done NOTHING to bring on negativity this preseason other then that garbage by Blinebury. I've been critical of him, but only because I wanted him to play hard. My opinion never changed, just the circumstances. People want him to play hard he does. So now they want him to produce, and he does. Now they want him to have a good attitude, he does. People want him to improve he does. People want him to play hurt, he does. Now it doesn't matter because it's preseason!? You don't have to jump on the Cato "bandwagon", just give credit where credit is due. People are quick to crack him when he does something wrong, but when he does something right they ignore it or blow it off. I'm still keeping an eye on him, he can still slip back into the old Cato, who knows. But I'm willing to allow him to prove himself without trashing him constantly. Besides if riding the "bandwagon" means being happy our center is showing effort, producing, and coming in with a new attitude and is talking championships, then hey guilty as charged!
Well said, JuanValdez and RocksMillenium. Like others, I bashed Cato during the summer, but just before pre-season I, like others, said I would give him the benefit of the doubt. Well, so far, Go, Cato, Go...good job!
Who said that Cato was showing signs of depression last year? Maybe he's taking Prozac or some other wonderdrug. Anyway, I'm with the "Get off his case until the regular season is well underway" group. I'm tired of b****in' about the same topics, the same guys. I'm more concerned with how Nwankwo looks if the Rockets are going to go with the current group. I can guarantee that at some point Collier, Cato or both will be out.
